Crossing Muddy Waters

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Two and a half decades into a career that's never delivered the stardom forecast by legions of champions, John Hiatt has settled into a niche that's about as comfortable as a maturing singer-songwriter could ask for. No longer a major-label priority, Hiatt has hooked up with the stalwart folk label Vanguard for his 15th release. Crossing Muddy Waters adroitly captures Hiatt's comfort and confidence. Not so much blues as blusey, Crossing Muddy Waters features 11 new Hiatt compositions, half of which feel instantly familiar. The rambunctious "Lift Up Every Stone" sounds a little like some of Tom Waits's more accessible recent efforts, while "Take It Down" is a love-lost lament that's as heavy as a foggy evening. Crossing Muddy Waters was cut in three days and features only two accompanists--the uncommonly sympathetic Davey Faragher and David Immercluck. Just goes to show that Hiatt moves just fine when he's not dragging a lot of added weight and heavy expectations behind him. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

Lincoln Town
Crossing Muddy Waters
What Do We Do Now?
Only The Song Survives
Lift Up Every Stone
Take It Down
Gone
Take It Back
Mr. Stanley
God's Golden Eyes
Before I Go

Amazon.com

Two and a half decades into a career that's never delivered the stardom forecast by legions of champions, John Hiatt has settled into a niche that's about as comfortable as a maturing singer-songwriter could ask for. No longer a major-label priority, Hiatt has hooked up with the stalwart folk label Vanguard for his 15th release. Crossing Muddy Waters adroitly captures Hiatt's comfort and confidence. Not so much blues as blusey, Crossing Muddy Waters features 11 new Hiatt compositions, half of which feel instantly familiar. The rambunctious "Lift Up Every Stone" sounds a little like some of Tom Waits's more accessible recent efforts, while "Take It Down" is a love-lost lament that's as heavy as a foggy evening. Crossing Muddy Waters was cut in three days and features only two accompanists--the uncommonly sympathetic Davey Faragher and David Immercluck. Just goes to show that Hiatt moves just fine when he's not dragging a lot of added weight and heavy expectations behind him. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

timeless.......2007-01-31

My boyfriend bought this CD in 2000 and it was phenomenal. We played it over and over on our first vacation together. Then we played the last track as we left our wedding reception in 2001 with flying rose petals. Just last month I was on a trip with my father and my 2 sons and I'm still playing it. My dad liked it so much, I sent him a copy to thank him for taking a trip with us. My husband and I are great Johan Hiat fans and this particular CD will always be on my top 10 list.

Recommend to Your Friends.......2006-07-14

This is such a great album. John Hiatt has always been the Daddy of the singer/songwriter clique, but he has cemented his positon with this extremely insightful and helpful group of meditations and musings.
I bought a copy of this album for my friend who recently lost her husband, and she told me that she listens to it every day. I can see why

Courage.......2006-01-30

John Hiatt's title song is the bravest work of art I've ever experienced. He uses the title as a metaphor for his first wife's suicide: she's crossed the waters, leaving him and an infant daughter to struggle alone on the other side.
At night when the wind blows he hears her moans of remorse in the trees. But the waters have widened and there's no crossing back.
Hiatt's simple arrangement makes the song even more evocative by providing a haunting melody that doesn't drown his words in molasses.
It took amazing courage for Hiatt to express this achingly sad experience in song and share it with the world. "Crossing Muddy Waters'' also highlights his artistry: in less talented hands the song would sound mawkish, i.e., Nashville mainstream.
That Hiatt, a recovering alcoholic, has lived on some of life's highest peaks and in its deepest valleys makes his music so much more meaningful than the canned crap rolling out of the Acme Music Factory that Nashville has become.

Fantastic Acoustic Album.......2005-03-27

John Hiatt's music has always been a little difficult to categorize, and this may be one reason he hasn't received the attention he deserves over the course of his career. If Hiatt was overly concerned about this, he wouldn't have released "Crossing Muddy Waters", with its unusual blend of musical styles. Fortunately, Hiatt seems to value quality work over huge commercial success, or we'd have missed out on a spectacular album. I don't think there's a weak track on the CD, from the driving opening track "Lincoln Town" and the haunting title track, to the uplifting final track "Before I Go". The acoustic "format" isn't that far removed from some of Hiatt's other work, but it is somewhat of a switch, and Hiatt handled it masterfully. One of the best albums from a guy who always delivers!

Style change with STYLE!.......2003-08-06

Disagree with just about everybody here. Hiatt's bluegrass turn is just fine and even includes a couple of good rockers (Lincoln Town--which has plenty of sass & Lift Up Every Stone--excited gospel stylings). Crossing Muddy Waters is a great slow song (and I love the pun in the title) and Gone is a jaunty little divorce number that Emmylou Harris would have been happy to have recorded in her prime. I love Slow Turning & Bring The Family but I hate to think that Hiatt should have to keep recording in that vein forever. The best since Walk On. Hope you enjoy it too.

Tracks:

Lincoln Town
Crossing Muddy Waters
What Do We Do Now
Only the Song Survives
Lift up Every Stone
Take It Down
Gone
Take It Back
Mr. Stanley
God's Golden Eyes
Before I Go

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Album.......2007-04-18

I went to a Hiatt concert a couple years ago and have been intending to purchase a couple of his DVD's since then. The reviewer below says it all. This has to be the perfect album. His music (at least on this CD) is decidedly American, with equal amounts of blues, bluegrass, country, and folk rock as well as the landscape that defines us. Hiatts sound stays fresh no matter how many times you listen.
This CD is not easy to find. If you are a US distributor reading this - you need to make this easier (and cheaper) to come by.

Crossing Boundaries.......2005-10-18

For an artist that has changed styles so often and yet retained his own unique sound this album only strengthens one's impression that Hiatt is possibly one of the most gifted artists on the planet. Even if you've never heard another Hiatt album this album stands alone on it's own merits. An eclectic mix of acoustic, blues, bluegrass and rock/roots. These songs are exceptionally well crafted, lyrically outstanding and superbly played. How this album never won the grammy it was nominated for, is beyond my comprehension. This is another must have Hiatt album.

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