John Hiatt - Walk On

Simply one of the best albums ever!

If you like the American singer/songwriter genre you must buy this. A masterpiece by a master songwriter...and keep listening because it just gets better with time.
Soon you'll find yourself at a John Hiatt gig singing along with the best the world has to offer.

August 3, 2008

A Hiatt Triumph

This can be truly called an album all Hiatt fans must have! Rarely does an entire album consist of quality songs back-to-back. Solid and inspired, this album has it all. Hiatt rocks out with a more mellow sound than GUITAR and brings us back home to some of his roots. A true quality offering. Recommended! May 10, 2008

Withstands the Test of Time

Most popular music has a relatively short shelf-life, and only a very few rock albums withstand the test of time. This is one of them. Eleven years after I purchased "Walk On" it remains a mainstay of my CD library. There is not a bad song here. The songwriting is consistently good, and the musicianship ranges from solid to inspired throughout. "Cry Love", "Native Son" and the title track are standouts, and "Shredding the Document", boasting lyrics both sarcastic and satiric and a fantastic arrangement (note the background vocals) is truly inspired. It's a shame that the weaker songs - "Ethelyne" and "I Can't Wait" - were included. These aren't particulary badly written or performed, but the overall quality of the others makes them seem so. September 12, 2007

Introspective and laid back

I'm inclined to say that this is about as country as John gets. That wouldn't really be fair however-- it's not a country record per se, but it has that feel to it. It's just John relecting on life as usual, and getting a little melencholy, perhaps. But the songs are beautiful, and he throws that classic Hiatt humor in there on a few for good measure. Pick it up! August 11, 2006

The nostalgia

I first listened to this CD many years ago, just borrowing it from my uncle. I didn't quite know what kind of music I was into, and still trying to find what I'd like. I don't even remember any point where I started liking this CD - if I fell for it right away, or if it had to grow on me. All I remember is that at some point along the way, I was completely struck by it. The music, the lyrics, the voice (which I *do* remember being slightly annoyed by at first..), it all just worked. Sometimes, listening to it, I'd just get completely caught up in it, and it would be amazing. Occasionally, I'd even get all misty eyed at a song or two, the empathy was so strong.

Then, well, I moved on to other things, started actually acquiring my own CDs, and ended up focusing primarily on ska, which is to say, completely neglecting John's genre. And then, for reasons unknown again, I decided to purchase some of his other CDs, and basically fell out of my chair, figuratively. Most of his stuff is remarkable. And yes, I finally got my own copy of Walk On. Now, most of the CDs I had borrowed back in the day, I had listened to so much that I practically am bored with them by now. This CD was no exception in terms of play time, but it feels brand new again, and I've already listened to it at least 5 or 6 more times in the last day or two that I've owned my own copy.

And that is the end of my life story. Bottom line: this CD would be a great place to get into John Hiatt, or just another good purchase towards completing your collection. And personally, if I had to recommend other CDs of his along the way, I'd go with Slug Line, Little Head, Bring the Family, the Tiki Bar is Open, and, well, whatever most of the people on here seem to be suggesting already. October 4, 2005

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