CROSSING MUDDY WATERS/VINYLE ORANGE TRANSPARENT

Description

Two and a half decades after the start of a career that has never reached the fame predicted by legions of champions, John Hiatt has settled into a niche as comfortable as any mature singer-songwriter could ask for. No longer a priority for the majors, Hiatt has teamed up with the folk label Vanguard for his 15th album. Crossing Muddy Waters skillfully captures Hiatt's comfort and confidence. Not so much blues as blusey, Crossing Muddy Waters features 11 new compositions by Hiatt, half of which feel instantly familiar. The exuberant "Lift Up Every Stone" bears a resemblance to some of Tom Waits' more accessible recent efforts, while "Take It Down" is a lost love lament that is as heavy as a foggy evening. Crossing Muddy Waters was recorded in three days and features only two accompanying musicians, Davey Faragher and David Immerglück, who share an unusual sympathy. It shows that Hiatt moves very well when he isn't dragging along a lot of extra weight and heavy expectations behind him.