This launched the midwestern live show star squarely onto the national stage, with two huge worldwide hits..the highly conventional "Hurts So Good" as well as the standout "Jack and Diane"; and while the first made him a superstar, the latter proved his terrific ability to weave a tale, a talent he has honed to an exceptional level over the years. This album is filled with catchy rock treasures, such as the minor hit "Hand To Hold On To", the aptly named "Thundering Hearts" and the anthemic "Close Enough". Taken on its own, this album could easily be dismissed as a Top 40 grab by Mellencamp; but in the context of his entire career, this was a watershed moment, a solid album that gave him the leeway to grow as an artist - and listeners worldwide are the beneficiaries.