Customer Reviews

The Tiki Bar Is Open

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last year, I fell in love with "Crossing Muddy Waters". It was a very different John Hiatt album with a very simple, stripped down feel to it. It made for great listening while enjoying my coffee every morning and it was great to drink too on those lazy evenings. In that one, he came across sounding more like George Jones than the John Hiatt that all his long-time fans had come to know and love. It was a nice change of pace, but I'm so glad that he made a "return to form".

From the opening of "Everybody Went Low", we know we're in for something great, then the song kicks in with almost a garage-rock sound and the band is rocking out. I bought "The Tiki Bar is Open" about five hours ago, and it's all i've been listening too. Every single track on here is great. There are no highlights here. The whole damn thing shines. It's really hard to believe how good it is. I know, right now, I'm barely scratching the surface. There is a lot of structure to songs like "Hangin' Round Here", "Rock of Your Love", and "My Old Friend".

I almost don't want to go to work tonight. I just want to stay home and listen to this all night. Up until a year ago, I was only a casual John Hiatt fan, but after picking up "Crossing Muddy Waters" on a reccomendation, I began to dig a little deeper and explore a lot of his other stuff. It's amazing to me that he is so underrated. He's got a voice that is all his own and fans of Steve Earle, Tom Waits, and Neil Young should really check into him.

This is a John Hiatt record that sounds like much less on first listen than it really is. You think the man has just reverted to solid, simple rock to grab back the audience lost to his last acoustic outing, "Crossing Muddy Waters." But there is so much more to "The Tiki Bar is Open." Take, for example, this classically revealing and gut-wrenching Hiatt follow up lyric to the description of a child left alone by drug wasted parents in "Come Home to You": And I've been that kid, yeah it's true. . .and I've been both those parents, too." There are so few songwriters like Hiatt capable of capturing the dichotomies and ironies in life so well. It is a record filled not only with Hiatt's effortlessly complex and clever lyrics, but also beautiful guitar work by both Hiatt and the masterful Sonny Landreth. Hiatt harkens back to his musical roots with Dylanesque cuts like the harmonica driven "My Old Friend" and the startling "Farther Stars," a George Harrison meets Ravi Shankar jam worthy of "Revolver". Finally, as always with Hiatt, there are beautiful melodies and the scorched heart depths of his ballads, as in "I'll Never Get Over You." While not Hiatt at his zenith, "The Tiki Bar Is Open" is filled with musical pleasures.

Following on the heels of "Crossing Muddy Waters," "Tiki Bar" signals John Hiatt's return to the electric guitar. Recorded with The Goners (his old band), Hiatt's new album is joyfully noisy and genuinely peremeated with bluesy soul. From the boisterous opener, "Everybody Went Low" to the thoughtful closer, "Farther Stars," it is clear that Hiatt has crossed his muddy waters and landed on the shore of straight ahead rock. Featuring his usual quirky, yet brilliant, lyrics, "Tiki" shows that Hiatt is having a helluva lot of fun as he grows older. Solid from top to bottom, this album ranks up there with Hiatt's best work ("Bring The Family," "Stolen Moments," "Slow Turning," and "Walk On), and it should garner the maestro quite a few new fans. It's about time Hiatt got the recognition he deserved. There is no filler here; Hiatt delivers the goods just like he has always done.

For this release, John Hiatt has reunited with the Goners, his road band in the 80's who featured on one of his finest albums, Slow Turning. The Tiki Bar Is Open finds Hiatt having abandoned the mostly acoustic experiment of Crossing Muddy Waters and the slick commercial production of his Capitol albums in favor of the simple 2 guitars, bass, drums (and occasional keyboard) that marked his best efforts. The Goners are in fine form here, especially Sonny Landreth's virtuoso slide guitar that NEVER overpowers the song while still adding immeasurably to it.

And the songs themselves! From the opening rocker "Everybody Went Low" to the mournful "Something Broken" through the title track (the Tiki Bar as an attitude more than a place), this album takes the listener on a twang-rock ride (ok, I guess it could be called alt.country, or roots-rock...lots of acoustic and slide guitars, tasteful arrangements and tons of energy) that can't be beat. As Hiatt himself says on the album, "I'm proud of my mistakes/And all the love and the trouble that I ever did make/I never meant to hurt no one/And when I did, well it wasn't any fun." No apologies, just explanation...but I can't find any mistakes on this album. Buy, listen, enjoy!

Last year, he put out "Crossing Muddy Waters". While there were quite a few who didn't enjoy the stripped down approach, I loved it. I found it to be a perfect combination of country, blues, and roots music. There were songs about love and loss and there was even a fun track "lincoln town". Unfortunately, many of Hiatt's longtime fans didn't appreciate his change of pace. A year later he releases "The Tiki Bar is Open". For what it's worth, I'm enjoying this one just as much. I've had it long enough now to absorb it and I can gladly say that there are no filler tracks here and it is really hard to pick a favortie.

"Tiki Bar" kicks off with the rocking "Everybody Went Low". Throughout the album, things slow down a bit, mostly for the dark "I know a place". Sonnny Landreth, whom I've always thought of as a highly underrated guitar genius, really shines. His blues riffs are a tough match for anyone and (much like Hiatt's singing) he's created a style that is truly all his own. This is one of my favorite albums all year and it ties a close knot with Billy Bob Thornton's "Private Radio" (a HUGELY underrated and misunderstood work of art).

If "Crossing Muddy Waters" wasn't your thing and you're a little bit leary of this one, don't be. It's a 180 degree turnaround and it rocks like a mother. Just pick it up, put it in, and let the music do the talking. You won't have any regrets, I promise you that. This album will go down as one of Hiatt's career highlights.

The latest effort from John Hiatt is deceptive. Upon first listen, one may be apt to conclude that it is another fine effort, yet ultimately underestimate the craftmanship of the songs, the superb musical arrangements, and the continued lyrical poetry of JH. Several more listening sessions with "The Tiki Bar is Open" will cure one of this initial underestimation. The back up musicians are, once again, the estimable "Goners" (Sonny Landreth, Ken Blevins, and Dave Ranson), last heard with JH on "Slow Turning" some dozen years ago. The sound is evocative of that album. The producer on this effort is Jay Joyce who has handled his duties in a workman-like manner. The sound is reasonable (certainly better than on some past JH efforts such as "Stolen Moments").

This record compares favorably with anything from Hiatt since his superb 1995 release,"Walk On." That album was produced by Don Smith with another excellent group of backing musicians (Dave Immergluck, Davey Farragher, and Mike Urbano).

This record essentially underscores the fact that John Hiatt is brilliant to the point of genius in his ability to craft songs with meaningful lyrics that display raw emotion, hard fought redemption, and surpassing musicianship. The opening cut (Everbody Went Low)is a hard rocking tune that would have been at home on his 1993 release "Perfectly Good Guitar" (his most slashing rock album since 1979's "Slug Line"). However, the follow-up song (Hangin' Round Here) dials the aural attack down several notches, though it is far from a "ballad."

"All the Lilacs in Ohio" offers buzzsaw lyrics that are thrown about like confetti, all to the background of another driving rock tune with a notably infectious musical hook. "I Know a Place" showcases Sonny Landreth's searing guitar work set to a blusey rock tour de force that sounds as though it was from JH's "Bring the Family" album. The title tune of the record is more infectious than at first listen (but then again, so is this entire album), while "Come Home to You" has the same type of tuneful, masterful musical presentation (with equally as involving lyrics) as "God's Golden Eyes" from "Crossing Muddy Waters."

This is a wonderful collection of John Hiatt songs featuring exquisite musicianship, solid arrangements, and amazing lyrical excursions. I would recommend "Walk On" as the superior record, but "The Tiki Bar is Open" is an impressive effort by one of the most talented songwriters and performers to grace the landscape in quite some time. Hiatt defines the phrase "musical talent." He is a national treasure. Buy this album.

If you have never heard of John Hiatt and believe it or not a lot of people still go Who's that then do yourself a favor. John Hiatt is in this mans opinion the finest singer songwriter in the world and this is one great album. Everybody went Low is a rollicking start the chainsaw rocker about his other great love, racing minicars. Hangin round here is a fine song about learning lessons in life "just hangin round here". All the liacs in Ohio is a story weaved around a rock song about a drunken affair ,very well crafted. My old Friend is in my humble opinion the king diamond in this treasure,"My old friend, you make me feel young again. Starts with a blazing harmonica and just keeps going, roots rock at it"s finest, I know a Place is laced with searing blues licks by Sonny Landreth and John's incredible blues vocals and Kenny Blevins drums staccattos.Something Broken is a heart rendering song about a man trying to find solace in himself, but is running out of dead ends. First time I heard it I had tears streaming down my cheeks. A little too close to home. The rock of your Love is a beautiful uplifting song for his wife and the Tiki Bar is Open is a wonderful toe tapping gospel blues tune that has a nice piece for the late Dale Earnhardt. Come home to you is song about his tough childhood and the hardships that he had to endure and the wonderful life he now has with his wife and family. Somebody is going to have a hit song with I'll never get over you, since John never gets the airplay he so rightly deserves and last but not least the 60ish feel of Farther Stars. A true anthem for the 21st Century. the music is extremely well done, The Goners are back and John sounds great and the lyrics are as good as it gets. You have heard the raves, buy the cd you will be thankful you did

I have been appreciating this man for about 14 years (yes, the unheralded modern day poet for the common man has a loyal following this far down south as well). His latest effort does not surprise me at all, for he has been a breath of fresh air with every release since "Warming Up To the Ice Age" in 1985.
"The Tiki Bar is Open" has some great tracks reminicent of the best moments from his last 16 years. He is able to re-invent a simmilar theme and massage your emotions to a point where you shake your head and wonder why a major chunk of the CD bying public have not got it yet ?
With a blend of passion, precision and production, I feel the obvious highlights on this CD are Hangin'Round Here, My Old Friend and Come Home To You, although there is a not a weak link on the whole CD, with these he showcases a unique ability to portray music a way that few recording artists will ever come close to. Echoing the comments of others, John Hiatt is one of the most underated artists in world music and with this CD has added to an extremely impressive recording career.
If you don't already own a John Hiatt CD, now is a time to start for you have a lot of catching up to do.

The Goners return to accompany John Hiatt on "The Tiki Bar Is Open", 13 years after they first appeared as Hiatt's backing band on the classic "Slow Turning".

"The Tiki Bar Is Open" is filled with tough, bluesy roots rock which swings and grooves on folksy mid-tempo shuffles like "Hangin' Round Here", "Rock Of Your Love", "My Old Friend" and the title track, and which rocks and rolls with a vengeance on harder numbers like "Everybody Went Low" and "All The Lilacs In Ohio".
There is also room for the lovely, melodic ballad "Something Broken", and for a really hard-rocking version of 1993's melancholy "I'll Never Get Over You" (which is on some European versions of the album "Perfectly Good Guitar").

As usual, John Hiatt's raw, throaty vocals are just right for these songs, and the band is terrific as well. Louisiana axe-man Sonny Landreth plays some sizzling slide guitar; his leads on the title track is particularly mouth-watering.
And while I usually take out the disc before the odd nine-minute album closer, the psychedelic "Farther Stars", there is barely a weak track to be found here. "Tiki" doesn't quite reach the high-water mark of "Bring the Family", but it is certainly one of Hiatt's better albums, and that's saying a lot. 4 1/2 stars, for instance.

Have you been wishing that John Hiatt would write songs that grabbed you right out of the gate, just like when heard your first "classic" John Hiatt and couldn't get enough? Well, he's BACK. Everything grabs you right away (love that Tiki song) and you'll know the lyrics after a few spins and you'll be singing along with the top down. This album is good enough to be your FIRST John Hiatt album if you've been hiding in a cave these last twenty years. You won't resist because you CAN'T resist. Now we just need a solo tour...