John Hiatt reviewed
John Hiatt
Same Old Man
(New West)
Raspy singer-songwriter John Hiatt displays a voice beyond his years on Same Old Man, which makes him sound about 113.
Appearing: Friday, July 18th at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park.
At 55, Hiatt already seems like he’s preparing to whack Old Age in its nuts with his cane. The opening “Old Days” gets some kick not just from his sneer, but a vaguely dangerous imposition alluding to both Tom Waits and Modest Mouse. The 10-song remainder returns to more traditional approaches, but that doesn’t mean Hiatt obediently takes a seat (O.K., but just once with the uncharacteristically mushy “What Love Can Do”). Even “Let’s Give This Love A Try” offers the bizarre come on, “I’d rather be in a barrel of kosher salt and pickle brine with a thousand paper cuts [than] in my own skin.” The wryness doesn’t get old, just better.
— Steve Forstneger
