John Hiatt - The Tiki Bar Is Open

For much of this album, his 16th in 26 years, Hiatt reunites with his best band, the Goners, and takes a giant leap back to his still-hungry days as a jag-edged, Costello-esque rocker while hewing to the soulful, blues-based songwriting he perfected on 1987's Bring the Family. The withering pub rock of 1979's Slug Line--as well as a nod to fallen hero Dale Earnhardt--seeps into the title track, while the roaring guitar, courtesy of the brilliant Sonny Landreth, and tight rhymes of "All the Lilacs in Ohio" suggest the streetwise edge of 1983's Riding with the King. But it's with ballads such as "Something Broken" and "Come Home to You" that Hiatt's musicianship, songwriting, and deeply soulful vocals truly convince and offer the most moving moments on this, his most memorable album in many years. --Roy Kasten Amazon.com

His best

He's rarely made a record since 1987 that wasn't worth having, but this is - no arguments will be entered into - his finest hour.

The nod to Guillaume Apollinaire in "Farther Stars" ensures John of a bed at our place any time if his luck should ever drive south. November 30, 2007

10 of the all time best

John Hiatt is unquestionably one of the best songwriters around. Many have covered his tunes to huge commercial success (Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Healey, Buddy Guy), but none have approched the honest and real delivery that Hiatt is also gifted with. His albums are so consistently good that it is hard to actually pick one that is the best, but Tiki Bar manages to satisfy on all levels.
From the opening track "Everybody Went Low" with it's trademark Hiatt hooks to the surreal closing track "Farther Stars" everything works perfectly. Many of Hiatt's best songs ever are showcased here - "My Old Friend", "Rock of Your Love", "I Know A Place" and the album's masterpiece "All The Lilacs In Ohio". Hiatt cleverly blends blues, bluegrass, folk, and grunge and makes it all work seamlessly. The Tiki Bar Is Open - come on in and open up your mind. Thanks Mr. Hiatt - you are the man! June 30, 2007

Typically wonderful Hiatt

Most of John's discs jump right out at me as fantastic pieces of work. There have been 2 exceptions- "Little Head" and "The Tiki Bar is Open". My first go round with these two, I thought that maybe John was missing that spark. Nope! I was. The more you listen, the more you appreciate. In my opinion, pretty much everything from 1983's "Riding with the King" til now is phenomenal. Unlike Dylan who ebbs and flows, Hiatt is consistently inspired and inspiring. August 11, 2006

My First John Hiatt purchase...

While waiting on something new from Sonny Landreth and the Goners, I decided to purchase a John Hiatt cd. I chose this one and am not disappointed. Good lyrics, music and musicians.

I love the reflective lyrics of "my old friend" and the lyrics of "all the lilacs in ohio"

I will be purchasing more of Hiatts music. It's just the right combo of blues, folk, rock and roll that I love. Heck, the 70's were my favorite era of music.

"Farther Stars" is kinda a hippy-trippy song that reminded me of the Beatles. (I miss George Harrison.)
And I thought it was their way of paying tribute to one who has offered so much to the music world we know and love today, while not losing individuality. April 19, 2004

"Thank God the Tiki bar is open, thank God the Tiki torch still shines..."

The Goners return to accompany John Hiatt on "The Tiki Bar Is Open", 13 years after they first appeared as Hiatt's backing band on the classic "Slow Turning".

"The Tiki Bar Is Open" is filled with tough, bluesy roots rock which swings and grooves on folksy mid-tempo shuffles like "Hangin' Round Here", "Rock Of Your Love", "My Old Friend" and the title track, and which rocks and rolls with a vengeance on harder numbers like "Everybody Went Low" and "All The Lilacs In Ohio".
There is also room for the lovely, melodic ballad "Something Broken", and for a really hard-rocking version of 1993's melancholy "I'll Never Get Over You" (which is on some European versions of the album "Perfectly Good Guitar").

As usual, John Hiatt's raw, throaty vocals are just right for these songs, and the band is terrific as well. Louisiana axe-man Sonny Landreth plays some sizzling slide guitar; his leads on the title track is particularly mouth-watering.
And while I usually take out the disc before the odd nine-minute album closer, the psychedelic "Farther Stars", there is barely a weak track to be found here. "Tiki" doesn't quite reach the high-water mark of "Bring the Family", but it is certainly one of Hiatt's better albums, and that's saying a lot. 4 1/2 stars, for instance. August 1, 2003

More reviews at Amazon.com ...