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John Hiatt - Master of Disaster Audio CD

A fair review of the John Hiatt "Master of Disaster" 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: Master of Disaster
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-06-21
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Master Of Disaster 2: Howlin' Down The Cumberland 3: Thunderbird 4: Wintertime Blues 5: When My Love Crosses Over 6: Love's Not Where We Thought We Left It 7: Ain't Ever Goin' Back 8: Cold River 9: Find You At Last 10: Old School 11: Back On The Corner

Master of Disaster
Hiatt's vocals sound scruffy and like he smoked between the recordings of songs. Master of Disaster being Hiatt's 18th record and 2005 release is a sound that I have heard so many times and whilst it is not bad it is not that great either. Allmusic gave the album 3. 5 stars but I think this is a little to generous so I give it 3/5. The booklet has all the lyrics included but they are not easy to read because of the clunky font. 3/5.


Finally, Some Stories Again
Although he has made some pretty good recordings over the past few years, they have never been up to the level he established with those three remarkable releases. John Hiatt has made a number of excellent recordings, most notably the great trilogy of Bring the Family, Slow Turning, and Stolen Moments, three consecutive masterpieces that in retrospect seem to have worn the poor guy out.

One of the problems was that he got away from writing songs that told stories, stories that were populated with colorful characters such as Trudy and Dave. Instead, we got songs about getting old and good old love problems. There were some good songs along the way, but in Master of Disaster, Hiatt seems as though he may be doing a slow turning toward telling stories once more, as in "Cold River," a sordid tale that really will send cold shivers up and down your spine. We also get some Great American Iconography, something Hiatt is a master of, in the delightfully engaging "Thunderbird. "

Interestingly, Hiatt has made this recording not with his old band, the Goners (featuring the slick slide guitar of Sonny Landreth), but with the guys from the North Mississippi All-Stars. I thought that would mean we would be in for some real hot blues and raunchy guitar sounds, but the overall sound is pretty laid-back. All in all, this is a really excellent release; not quite up to his very best, but awfully darn good nonetheless, and certainly most rewarding. (But what on earth were they thinking when they designed that cover?! It's a disaster, all right; in fact, I would guess, it's enough of a disaster to impede sales. Ugh. ).


SACD is incredible!
Jim Dickenson (JH's co-producer) mentioned in an interview that they recorded MofD using the new Sonoma DSD recorder and said if it catches on it will revolutionize the recording industry. Most reviews here have focused on the CD version but where this recording shines is on a SACD player. He went on to say that the Sonoma system is like being in the room with 1st generation audio. That being said, the sonic quality of this recording is awesome. . . I listened to the SACD then listened to Bring the Family SACD (an excellent recording in its own right) and the difference was amazing. The new SACD had subtle sounds that are simply not on the BtF disk. An example - On the track "Back On The Corner" after the 1st verse, a dobro cuts in (it sounds like a door creaking open) and you can only hear it in the left front channel. On the CD, the sound is no where to be found but in 5. 1 it's clear as a bell. If ou close your eyes and listen to this SACD you'll think they are playing in your living room. . . A quantum leap forward in recording quality.


Just a wonderful bit of American music
Beautiful folk, like the wistful "Howlin' Down The Cumberland" is balanced with rockers like the title cut and the anguished "Love's Not Where We Thought We Left It," as good an example of the stripped down sound of rock in its purest form as you'll find.
Hiatt has a delightful capacity for capturing the beauty of Americana; MASTER OF DISASTER provides a sampler of a variety of music that's truly American. By the time you get to pure country cuts like "Ain't Ever Goin'" and "Old School" that wouldn't be out of place at the Grand Ole Opry find there place next to a hard edged story like "Cold River" with it tales of a hard life on the road, you'll realize this is special record. Closing with "Back on the Corner" and its up beat rhythm that belies its lyrics, it's a song that you'll just want to play again and again. A fine work by one of music's under appreciated artists; it just doesn't get much better than this.
.


Master of the music.
Always good when a songwriter sings their own songs. Great CD for a change from the usual mass market stuff. Very fun!.


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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