Description

At a time John Hiatt was once considered America’s answer to Britain’s Elvis Costello, and it’s an early album like ‘Two Bit Monsters’ that gives truth to that statement, at least vocally. Whereas Costello came out of the blocks an angry young man venting his spleen through strutting and swaggering rock and roll, Hiatt is all quirky clockwork pop with little agenda other than having a good time. At the time of its release, ‘Two Bit Monsters’ was perceived by critics as a less impressive follow-up to ‘Slug Line.’ In retrospect, it may be the better of the two albums, boasting an even more simplified musical approach and such notable songs as “Pink Bedroom” and “It Hasn’t Happened Yet,” (later both covered by Rosanne Cash), “I Spy (For the F.B.I.),” and “Cop Party.”