.
http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/65695ee73f45c27470db05d486c2f14d30cf002a.jpeg Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns

John Hiatt

Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns

New West
Rolling Stone: star rating
Community: star rating
5 3.5 0
Comment
0
By 
August 15, 2011

"Damn this town/ I mean it this time," barks John Hiatt on the opening track of his 20th album. That song – a portrait of a middle-aged ne'er-do-well fleeing his dead-end hometown – sums up what Hiatt does best: character sketches of sketchy characters, set to sturdy roots rock, delivered in his craggy country-soulman's voice. Hiatt's craftsmanship is as sharp as ever. "I Love That Girl" is chugging, catchy power pop; "Detroit Made" is a loving ode to a gas-guzzling Buick. The songs are smart, but there are a few lapses of taste throughout Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns: The 9/11 ballad ("When New York Had Her Heart Broke") is a must-miss.

Listen to "Detroit Made":

Related
• Random Notes, Rock's Hottest Photos

prev
Shabazz Palaces, 'Black Up'
Album Review Main Next
Sly Stone, 'I'm Back! Family & Friends'

Picks From Around the Web

ADD A COMMENT

Community Guidelines »
loading comments

loading comments...

COMMENTS

Sort by:
    Read More

    Music Reviews

     more Reviews »
    Daily Newsletter

    Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

    Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
    marketing partners.

    X

    We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

    Song Stories

    “Oh Sherrie”

    Steve Perry | 1984

    Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

    More Song Stories entries »

    Follow us