It was on his sixth studio album that
Newman's caustic humor seemed to become mean-spirited. His characters had always been small-minded creeps, but on
Born Again, they weren't presented with any sympathy, and the hand of the author was apparent.
Newman was as clever as ever, just crueller than usual. Except for "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band," his trashing of
the Electric Light Orchestra, that is. They deserved it. ~ William Ruhlmann