From its handsome packaging to the heavy hitters on both sides of the studio glass, Master of Disaster carries the hallmarks of a career watershed. Jim Dickinson produces with precious little fuss, while his boys Luther and Cody (otherwise known as the North Mississippi All Stars) team up with Muscle Shoals vet David Hood to give Hiatt a flawless pocket. From this auspicious start, it's all up-Hiatt's songwriting is full of casual brilliance and punches that come out of nowhere. On "Ain't Ever Goin' Back" he conjures epic self-delusion out of a monotonous shuffle. On the title track, Hiatt could be addressing his own descent into hell, replete with alcoholism and the spectre of suicide. "He's the master of disaster, getting tangled in his Telecaster," he sings, concluding, "Now he's just a mean old bastard, when he plays the blues".

Georgia Straight, July 2005