Full Moon Fever is probably Petty's best work. It deserves to stand next to the great albums of rock. You may not like it, but the songs crawl up on you and by the 3rd time listening you will never let them go. This album is very similar to the "Greatest Hits" album, because of the number of successful singles Full Moon Fever spawned. You will be able to play straight through this album instead of just coming for 1 song.
"Free Fallin" - Arguably the strongest song in the album. Tom and the backing guitarist (Jeff Lynne, for that song) play the same thing, a simple set of chords. The singing is easy, too. But somewhere in the notes and music something happened, and the result is a great, my personal favorite song of Petty's. 9.5 out of 10 (The single reached #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart)
"I Won't Back Down" - A great song, but it may take more than 1 listen for it to appeal to you. I'm not sure if I like it as much as I used to. (Also somehow reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1989. Probably not released at the same time as Free Fallin') 8.8 out of 10
"Love Is a Long Road" - This song is one of my favorites. Once you hear the chorus, you might like it. Tom Petty released it as a single, and reached #7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks tracks. 9.0 out of 10
"A Face in The Crowd" - A fine example of a song that crawls on you. It will take some plays to see the beauty of this song. It reached #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, but I think the previous song should have done better.
"Running Down A Dream" - Yet another great song. It actually has a signature guitar riff, and is basically about following goals in a crazy life. It has a nice, long solo at the end of which has no available tabs. Also, a nice video for it on Google video. 9.2 out of 10. (Reached #1 on Mainstream Rock Tracks.)
Here is were Petty starts to wind down. After Running Down A Dream, there is a short message on the CDs from Petty.
"I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" - I keep thinking this is a Beatles at the very beginning. Turns out it's a Byrds cover. But it isn't good enough do deserve being covered. Sounds like an album-filler. (Reached #18 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks) 7.8 out of 10.
"Yer So Bad" Another key track of the album. Reached #5 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. 9.0 out of 10
"Depending On You" - Barly above the rank of album-filler, plus being good. 8.5 out of 10
"The Apartment Song" - Another album filler. He expesses his lonelyness (Tom says "I just feeling lonely tonight" 4 times.) He should go get a backing band and call them the Heartbreakers, eh? 8.5 out of 10
"Alright For Now" - My least favorite song on this terrifc album. Acoustic mainly, nice how the two guitars go together. 7.5 out of 10
"A Mind With A Heart Of Its Own" - I really don't know about this song. Maybe I need to hear it more. Still, better than average. 8.3 out 10.
"Zombie Zoo" - A nice song Tom Petty seemed to save for the end. You need to hear this once fully through to like. 9.0 out 10.
This album is 5 star, and you don't need to skip any songs. Some may be lacking, but they are still good. Really, I give this album 4.8 out of 5.
