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John Hiatt - The Tiki Bar Is Open Audio CD

A fair review of the John Hiatt "The Tiki Bar Is Open" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all John Hiatt reviews here, or go back to the John Hiatt tabs.

John Hiatt Band: John Hiatt
Title: The Tiki Bar Is Open
Rating:
Release Date: 2001-09-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Everybody Went Low 2: Hangin' Round Here 3: All the Lilacs in Ohio 4: My Old Friend 5: I Know a Place 6: Something Broken 7: Rock of Your Love 8: I'll Never Get Over You 9: Tiki Bar Is Open 10: Come Home to You 11: Farther Stars

Tiki Bar
Excellent music by one of the most under rated artists of our time. Great John Hiatt music.


The Tiki Bar Is Open
Hiatt has here created a straight forward rock album with similair style lyrics. The Tiki Bar Is Open being Hiatt's 16th studio album and it was released 2001 and was his last record with Vanguard records. The album itself is not bad but I have heard this so many times so it sounds a bit generic at times. It sounds like Dylan without having Dylans quality of lyrics or melody. The booklet is very nice and has an Hawaii feel to it. All the lyrics are included and we get a list of whom plays what on the album. Allmusic gave the album 3. 5/5 which is slightly higher then my grade. 3/5.


Thrilling and Chilling
The Tiki Bar Is Open falls just short of the standard set by those three collections; most noticeably absent this time around are the memorable characters (e. John Hiatt has reunited with one of his old backup bands, the Goners (featuring Sonny Landreth on guitar) to produce what is probably his best work since that wonderful trilogy of Bring the Family, Slow Turning, and Stolen Moments. g. , "Trudy and Dave") who populated some of his songs back then. This time around, most of the songs revolve around Hiatt himself. There's some really good stuff here though, such as the opening cut, "Everybody Went Low," where Hiatt uses one of his old tricks of varying rhythm and volume to dramatic effect. The end result is one of those songs you just can't get out of your mind, and you will wind up singing to yourself those simple words, "Everybody Went Low" as loud as you can--when nobody can hear you. In an entirely different mood, Hiatt sings about his broken heart in "Something Broken," and the effect of the repetition of those words is hypnotic. You wind up feeling for the guy.

It really hurts, though, when you hear Hiatt sing about taking a drink (after 17 years of sobriety) in the title song. If you are familiar with Hiatt's best work, which rose out of the ashes of his nearly ruined life, you will find yourself hoping that he is simply taking an artistic liberty in writing those lyrics. At the same time, I remember how upset I was at the death of Dale Earnhart--and I am not a NASCAR fan. For Hiatt to write about this event causing him to abandon his sobriety seems quite possible. And quite chilling.

Although Landreth plays some tasty slide guitar on this album, I found myself wishing he had been allowed to cut loose even more. With a little more slide guitar and a few more songs that tell stories about believable and unforgettable characters (remember Billy, who would just not wear that silly vest when playing with Sonny and Cher, from Stolen Moments?), John Hiatt would have a new release that matches his best work. But even at, say, 90% of his best, John Hiatt has produced a truly excellent new release that comes out way ahead of much of the stuff I have been hearing lately.


10 of the all time best
Many have covered his tunes to huge commercial success (Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Healey, Buddy Guy), but none have approched the honest and real delivery that Hiatt is also gifted with. John Hiatt is unquestionably one of the best songwriters around. His albums are so consistently good that it is hard to actually pick one that is the best, but Tiki Bar manages to satisfy on all levels.
From the opening track "Everybody Went Low" with it's trademark Hiatt hooks to the surreal closing track "Farther Stars" everything works perfectly. Many of Hiatt's best songs ever are showcased here - "My Old Friend", "Rock of Your Love", "I Know A Place" and the album's masterpiece "All The Lilacs In Ohio". Hiatt cleverly blends blues, bluegrass, folk, and grunge and makes it all work seamlessly. The Tiki Bar Is Open - come on in and open up your mind. Thanks Mr. Hiatt - you are the man!.


Typically wonderful Hiatt
There have been 2 exceptions- "Little Head" and "The Tiki Bar is Open". Most of John's discs jump right out at me as fantastic pieces of work. My first go round with these two, I thought that maybe John was missing that spark. Nope! I was. The more you listen, the more you appreciate. In my opinion, pretty much everything from 1983's "Riding with the King" til now is phenomenal. Unlike Dylan who ebbs and flows, Hiatt is consistently inspired and inspiring.


You can see a complete list of all John Hiatt discography, or go back to the John Hiatt tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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