Search - John Hiatt :: Same Old Man (Deluxe CD/DVD Combo)

Cherry Red Hot

Dubtone | Bono's place | 06/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Hiatt is the thinking mans Springsteen, he never fails to deliver. This collection as per usual, offers new delights with each listening ... he simply creates songs that wrap themselves around you and etch his lyrics on your brain as you identify with the emotions he delivers.



'Same Old Man' is a coming to terms with life, whether it be past hurt n pain caused to a loved one or just the jaunty groove of 'Thats what love can do'. John Hiatt has created another masterpiece to ease us through lifes ups and downs - its Hiatt as only Hiatt can. Listen till your ears turn cherry red !"

Wistful and Bittersweet

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 06/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If anyone doubted that John Hiatt has a way with words, those doubts are laid to rest on Same Old Man. As the industry reviewer notes, Hiatt's voice is front and center once again, delivering a clutch of wistful and bittersweet songs of life and enduring love.

The whole CD is mostly first-rate and a la Van Morrison's recent advice, he's keeping it simple. Hiatt has long had a talent for picking the right musicians to back him and on Same Old Man it is no different. The music seems to fit his lyrics like a delicate glove, highlighting them but never overpowering them.

My favorites here are: Old Days, which provides a nostalgic and sometimes comic trip through Hiatt's career; the rocking On With You, the swaying What Love Can Do; the catchy Cherry Red; a good mid-tempo rocker with Two Hearts; and the pleading Same Old Man. About the only song I didn't care for is Our Time, which features some great music but some of the hokiest lyrics imaginable. It has to be some kind of inside joke. John?

Some may be vacillating between buying just the CD or this CD/DVD package. My advice is almost always to buy the package, especially when the price differential is so small. That advice holds here. If you buy just the CD you will miss some great early Hiatt performances, several of which feature backing by the outstanding Sonny Landreth.

My favorites on the DVD are the exuberant Memphis In the Meantime, the bluegrass of Crossing Muddy Waters, and the rollicking Perfectly Good Guitar.

The dual CD/DVD sets are often the first to disappear from the market and many are subsequently sold at a substantial mark-up over the original price. If you like John Hiatt, you ought to eat this up. Get the combo package while its still reasonable."

DVD extras

Derek M. Koch | KS United States | 06/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just wanted to clarify whats on the DVD.Six songs, two from each time John has performed on Austen City Limits. Which means if You own The Austen City Limits DVD your only getting 4 new songs. Maybe this signals more releases of John Hiatt from this excellent DVD series"