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91
Wall of Sound
An album of stunning acoustic folk-blues... Hiatt is at his absolute sharpest in terms of songwriting, and the arrangements, most often just guitar, bass, and mandolin or a second guitar, are fully fleshed out and never feel spare or slight.
80
Q Magazine
These songs snap at the outer edges of country, blues and folk, their emotional turmoil leavened by moments of bone-dry humour. [Nov 2000, p.107]
80
Sonicnet
Hiatt holds down the drummerless rhythm with his acoustic six-string and a National resonator guitar. The boisterous atmosphere (everybody hoots and hollers) evokes a back-porch picking session, and Hiatt's songs draw from similarly down-home sources.... a recording that reflects the spirit of musicians who live to sing and play.
70
Mojo
Hiatt's misfortune is your guaranteed entertainment.
60
All Music Guide
The most natural and relaxed John Hiatt album in years...Hiatt's voice has never sounded better; its course edges sometimes straining for high notes works perfectly with this craggy, unpolished music.
The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Bruce C. gave it a 9: Hiatt has earned plenty of starts over his long career, but "Crossing Muddy Waters" is a highpoint--despite the fact that it's atypical. While "The Tiki Bar Is Open" is fine, fine effort--his best electric album in ten years--you can't help but wish he'd do more records like this one.