Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0607396604524 Label: New West Records Manufacturer: New West Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: New West Records Release Date: May 06, 2003 Sales Rank: 44995 Studio: New West Records
Album Description: 18th release to date from John Hiatt was recorded in just 8 days with guitarist Sonny Landreth, bassist Dave Ranson and drummer Kenneth Blevins. Digipak. New West. 2003.
Amazon.com: Much to his credit, John Hiatt has never strayed very far from the bluesy garage rock roots of his Indiana childhood. That fact is raucously underscored here, a gritty collection that finds the veteran singer/songwriter co-crediting his longtime band, the Goners (guitarist Sonny Landreth, bassist Dave Ranson and Kenneth Blevins on drums) for the first time--and for good reason. While Hiatt's songwriting efforts are typically strong throughout, with gems like 'Almost Fed Up With the Blues,' 'My Dog and Me,' 'My Baby Blue,' and 'The Most Unoriginal Sin' (originally recorded by Willie Nelson in ‘93) showcasing his tough wit and tender heart, this is decidedly a band effort from the rollicking first notes of 'Uncommon Connection.' Recorded live in the studio, Hiatt and the Goners evoke everything from chugging Sun Records' shuffles to swampy Delta blues, early Ry Cooder and the Band, all of it informed by the almost telepathic sense of interplay these musicians have developed over decades of touring. This is easily the most overtly rocking album of Hiatt's career, but one that hasn't sacrificed an ounce of soul for its joyous energy. --Jerry McCulley
Digital Life Reviews
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Sheer Genius (As Usual)
I'm a big Hiatt fan, ever since I first saw him years ago on Austin City Limits, but I don't yet have all his albums. I own and I'm familiar with maybe a ten of them; he's been around for years now, has tons of records out there.
I am convinced he is incapable of doing a bad recording. Some musicians focus on lyrics, some on melody, some on technical expertise, some on singing, some on making lots of money (or at least enough money to not have to work 9 to 5!); it's tough for one person to attain decent results in all of those categories. I would say Hiatt has reached excellence in most of those.
He's one of our greatest songwriters, a lyricist of phenomenal ability, capable of making you laugh and making you cry. Other performers are always recording his stuff, which is a pretty good gauge of a songwriter's ability.
He's always got a great group of musicians playing on ... Read More
Rating: - John Hiatt rocks out
You can usually trust John Hiatt not to make the same album twice in succession.
Following 2001's "The Tiki Bar is Open", which was dominated by swinging folk-rock shuffles, he put out the harder-edged "Beneath This Gruff Exterior" in 2003, a tough rock n' roll album which again sees Hiatt backed by The Goners, including slide guitarist Sonny Landreth.
The guitars are tuned up on "Exterior" - just listen to the down and dirty blues grind of "Almost Fed Up With The Blues" - and John Hiatt pushes his growling, throaty voice to the limit. There are couple of less memorable songs here, sure, but the vast majority of these 12 tracks are no less than excellent, partly due to the wonderful band.
Highlights include "My Window On The World", the aforementioned "Almost Fed Up With The Blues", the melodic, mid-tempo swagger of "My Baby Blue", and the stomping up-tempo rocker "The Nagging Dark". And ... Read More
Rating: - True Confession
Here's my true confession: I'm a litterbug. I've been a JH fan for twenty years, so I was excited as always when this new release came out. Unfortunately, I was listening in the car. Threw it out the window.
Rating: - GRUFF!
Great album ! Some of the best guitar licks I've heard in a long time , combined with some of Hiatt's best vocal performances (he really does have that gruff voice that sticks to your ribs!) make this one of the best recordings I have in my music collection . All of my friends who have heard this really feel the same way as I do... also has my new theme song , "Window on the World" . This recording sounds like a very tight live jam session.
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- Sheer Genius (As Usual)
- True Confession
