Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
To his credit, John Hiatt has never been a guy with much interest in doing the same thing twice in a row, and it's not uncommon for a new Hiatt album to seem like a reaction to the last record he made -- a quiet, acoustic-based album will often be followed by a tougher, more rollicking set, and if he was thoughtful and introspective last time, it's a fair bet he'll sound tougher and wilder the next time he goes into the studio. Since 2011's Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns boasted the slickest production to grace a Hiatt album in quite some time, it's paradoxically appropriate that Mystic Pinball, appearing just 13 months later, sounds a lot looser, funkier, and more lively, as if Hiatt and his band rolled in and cut these songs without much fuss. As it happens, Dirty Jeans and Mystic Pinball were both produced by the same guy, Kevin Shirley, but the finished product certainly sounds and feels different, and the rough and ready tone of these sessions fits the material well, especially the crunchy, blues-shot "My Business," the witty but ominous "Wood Chipper," the marvelously cranky "One of Them Damn Days," and the Stones-style groove of "You're All the Reason I Need." If the production is simple, Hiatt and his band -- Doug Lancio on guitar, Patrick O'Hearn on bass, and Kenneth Blevins on drums -- are locked in tight enough to sound sharp and satisfying without being gimmicked up, and there's a sense of fun in this album that was often missing on Dirty Jeans. And for a guy who has cranked out four studio albums in five years, Hiatt is having a great run as a songwriter -- on this disc, the shaggy dog stories are funny, the blues numbers are full of righteous swagger, and he can sing about love like a guy who is still learning a few things at the age of 60 (and his voice is in fine shape, too). Who knows what sort of about-face John Hiatt will deliver the next time he feels like recording (prog rock, maybe?), but for a guy whose 40th year as a solo artist is appearing on the horizon, he's sounding as full of ideas and energy as a guy half his age, and Mystic Pinball confirms he's still delivering the goods in an impressive fashion.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
John Hiatt, MainArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. obo Oval Track Tunes, MusicPublisher
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
Album review
To his credit, John Hiatt has never been a guy with much interest in doing the same thing twice in a row, and it's not uncommon for a new Hiatt album to seem like a reaction to the last record he made -- a quiet, acoustic-based album will often be followed by a tougher, more rollicking set, and if he was thoughtful and introspective last time, it's a fair bet he'll sound tougher and wilder the next time he goes into the studio. Since 2011's Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns boasted the slickest production to grace a Hiatt album in quite some time, it's paradoxically appropriate that Mystic Pinball, appearing just 13 months later, sounds a lot looser, funkier, and more lively, as if Hiatt and his band rolled in and cut these songs without much fuss. As it happens, Dirty Jeans and Mystic Pinball were both produced by the same guy, Kevin Shirley, but the finished product certainly sounds and feels different, and the rough and ready tone of these sessions fits the material well, especially the crunchy, blues-shot "My Business," the witty but ominous "Wood Chipper," the marvelously cranky "One of Them Damn Days," and the Stones-style groove of "You're All the Reason I Need." If the production is simple, Hiatt and his band -- Doug Lancio on guitar, Patrick O'Hearn on bass, and Kenneth Blevins on drums -- are locked in tight enough to sound sharp and satisfying without being gimmicked up, and there's a sense of fun in this album that was often missing on Dirty Jeans. And for a guy who has cranked out four studio albums in five years, Hiatt is having a great run as a songwriter -- on this disc, the shaggy dog stories are funny, the blues numbers are full of righteous swagger, and he can sing about love like a guy who is still learning a few things at the age of 60 (and his voice is in fine shape, too). Who knows what sort of about-face John Hiatt will deliver the next time he feels like recording (prog rock, maybe?), but for a guy whose 40th year as a solo artist is appearing on the horizon, he's sounding as full of ideas and energy as a guy half his age, and Mystic Pinball confirms he's still delivering the goods in an impressive fashion.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:45:55
- Main artists: John Hiatt
- Label: New West Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
2012 New West Records, LLC 2012 New West Records, LLC
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.