|
 
John Hiatt
Beneath this Gruff Exterior
(New West)
Various Artists
It'll Come to You: The Songs of John Hiatt
(Vanguard)
First Appeared at The Music Box, August 2003, Volume 10, #8
Written by T.J. Simon
Along with Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle, John Hiatt is a true American
original. One needn’t look any further than his back-to-back masterpiece albums
Bring the Family and Slow Turning to recognize his genius.
Although he never achieved the massive crossover success of Indiana’s other
roots-rock John (Mellencamp, that is), Hiatt is still widely regarded as one of
the best contemporary American songwriters alive. With the release of two
separate collections of Hiatt’s material — a new studio album and a compilation
of classic songs performed by other artists — his fans have cause to rejoice
this summer.
Beneath this Gruff Exterior, the new studio album, is the bluesiest
effort of Hiatt’s 30-year career, largely due to the slide guitar accompaniment
of Sonny Landreth, which creeps through the background of nearly every song.
From the current radio single My Baby Blue to the pure pop for pet people
My Dog and Me, Landreth’s guitar combines with Hiatt’s gruff vocal growl
with engaging results. His band turns in a Cajun shuffle on both Circle Back
and Uncommon Connection, and the entire disc is chock full of the
absorbing lyrics one would (and should) expect from Hiatt. For newcomers to the
Hiatt party, this isn’t necessarily the disc with which I’d start — try Bring
the Family first — but the already-converted will be generally pleased with
the quality of this new release.
It’ll Come to You: The Songs of John Hiatt isn’t so much a tribute album
as it is a collection of Hiatt’s songs that were previously released by other
artists. Three of the numbers were recorded specifically for this disc, but most
of the songs contained in this package are probably scattered throughout your
music collection already. Those unfamiliar with the breadth of Hiatt’s influence
over modern roots music will find themselves repeatedly saying, "I had no idea
Hiatt wrote that one." Bonnie Raitt’s Thing Called Love? Hiatt’s. Eric
Clapton & B.B. King’s Riding with the King? Hiatt’s. Buddy Guy’s Feels
Like Rain? Hiatt’s. Throw in Nick Lowe’s She Don’t Love Nobody and
Willie Nelson’s The Most Unoriginal Sin for good measure, and the record
company has cooked up one fine compilation. Weak moments include tracks by
Freddie Fender, Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise, and Buddy & Julie Miller,
but at least they’re singing songs by John Hiatt, so how bad could they be?
Beneath this Gruff Exterior — 
It'll Come to You: Songs of John Hiatt — ½
Beneath this Gruff Exterior is available from Amazon.com.
To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
Click Here!
For UK orders, please Click Here!
It'll Come to You: The Songs of John Hiatt is available
from Amazon.com. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
Click Here!
For UK orders, please Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003
The Music Box
| 
