This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“I do my best thinking sitting on my ass,” cracks veteran roots-rocker John Hiatt over the opening chords of his new CD Beneath This Gruff Exterior. And if we’re really meant to take him at his word, Hiatt must have one numb butt.
This umpteenth release is just the latest splendid entry in the artistic and commercial resurgence Hiatt and his fans have been enjoying for the last few years. All the familiar Hiatt benchmarks abound on beauts like Uncommon Connection, How Bad’s the Coffee?, and the rest of this dozen-cut slate of roots-rock, folk and blues: Raucous strummy guitars, earthy juke-joint grooves, authentic Americana melodies, crack playing by a backing band featuring slide guitar virtuoso Sonny Landreth, and, of course, John’s personable, hickory-smoked twang and wistfully whipsmart lyrics. Gruff exterior or not, Hiatt remains one of the most talented, satisfying and dependable singer-songwriters still drawing breath. No buts about it.
