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I think the biggest problem with Echo is the expanded format of the cd. Where, say back in 1982, TP would have had to choose the best 10 tracks to go onto a record, with the longer playing time available now, several songs were included here that would have best been left off. I Don't Wanna Fight? This is from the man who wrote Boys of Summer? Rhino Skin could have easily been left for disc 5 of Box Set II.

Granted, the really good songs on Echo are great classic TP material. Room at the Top, Swingin' (my favorite on here), Counting on You deserve their places along side of Free Fallin' or Even the Losers. What Tom Petty needed here was a good editor. Rick Rubin's production is flawless (a vast improvement over the Jeff Lynne years), but perhpas he should have exercise a little more control.


An incredible album   April 26, 2004
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I have read many of the other reviews here and I have seen many people say how this album is inferior to Damn the Torpedoes, Full Moon Fever, etc. I am baffled at how underrated this album is. I wasn't expecting much when I bought this, and boy was I surprised. I would argue this to be among his top albums. I grew up in the 90's, and let me tell you it is hard for me to listen to an album as productionally perfect as Full Moon Fever and Damn the Torpedoes without cringing just a little. I love how Rick Rubin has made everything more relaxed. The album has a down-on-your-luck-but-going-to-beat-it feel.

1. Room at the Top - lyrically and musically, an incredible song. Not much else to say.
2. Counting on You - a weaker track, but still a really good song.
3. Free Girl Now - An inspirational rocker that made me think of women in a different way (i'm not joking)
4. Lonesome Sundown - A nice tune.
5. Swingin' - Epic song that inspires
6. Accused of Love - An infectious melody with a great chorus
7. Echo - One of Tom's best ballads
8. Won't Last Long - pretty standard good melody
9. Billy the Kid - Great song.
10. I Don't Wanna Fight - worst song on the CD. Why? probably because it was written by mike campbell. just really bad lyrics, although it gets easier to listen to over time
11. This One's for Me - another catchy song with a good chorus
12. No More - this one is really good and the title explains the feel of it
13. About to Give Out - one of the most country songs he has ever written. The verse is a little cheesy but the strings that are added onto the chorus make up for all of it.
14. Rhino Skin - I have seen a lot of people complain about this song. Well I didn't like it at first, but now it is one of my favorites. I has a very epic feel, especially when the voice harmonizing comes in.
15. One More Day, One More Night - a pretty good song, although the album probably could have ended better with a different one.

This album proves that Tom Petty can still write great material and the Last DJ was just a fluke of crap.


You can do better, Tom   February 7, 2000
 5 out of 8 found this review helpful

This album disappointed me. I was hoping for some improvement after the 'She's the One' soundtrack, but no such luck. 'Echo' would rightfully be considered a notable effort by many lesser artists, but Tom Petty is capable of much more. After listening to the CD several times, that nagging feeling of many of the songs' sounding the same just won't go away. That goes for the music as well as the lyrics. The musical quality is acceptable, of course, since we're talking the Heartbreakers here, but I'll bet they didn't even break a sweat with the uninspired melodies on 'Echo.' Even 'Wildflowers' had a few moments of brilliance that saved it from suffering the Monotony Syndrome affecting this release. Not only do several of the songs repeat the same theme (being knocked down and getting back up again), but they do so with almost identical lyrics. The listener gets the feeling that Petty goes for the easy rhyme instead of making the effort to find some original way to say what's already been said. I listened to 'Echo' again today, and the next CD played by the disc changer was 'Long After Dark.' No comparison....


How could it be better...it can't!!!   April 20, 1999
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

As a long time (20 years) Petty fan who owns every album including his box set, I can't understand how Echo can be considered inferior to any of his other works. Yes, the sound is still the same - you've heard these tunes before - but isn't that what we love about Tom and the Heartbreakers in the first place. Echo is long overdue with a few classics that are among his best. The album flow follows the same patterns of the past, but once you play it through, you'll repeat the disc over and over until sooner or later you won't be able to get the damn songs out of your head. Not being able to put another disc in the player sums it up best. If that's not a sign of a 5-Star disc, I don't know what is. Lastly, just caught Tom and the Heartbreakers in NYC at Irving Plaza. Best show I've ever seen and they still forgot to play almost everyone of their greatest tunes including some from Echo!!! Bottom line: It's as good as it gets.


"Echo" is a pretty good choice   May 17, 2001
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album "Echo" is about what you'd come to expect from this band. Workmanlike and with a few standout songs, there is not a single moment that is either truly great or truly awful. "Free Girl Now" is a single the band might have recorded in 1981 or so, while the opening cut "Room at the Top" is the kind of slow song Tom perfected on his solo album "Full Moon Fever." By this point in his career, Petty has worn a groove for himself that he rarely strays from. He may get a little adventurous sonically with songs like the title track or "Billy the Kid," but he'll never stray far from home. If you're a fan of the Heartbreakers, this album will not disappoint you.