John Hiatt is a musical lifer: a craftsman so obsessed with his work that he’ll likely make records until he’s no longer physically able. He began recording in the early '70s, and while his commercial peak came in the late '80s and early ‘90s (when he had the push of a major label), his albums have remained consistently strong. This summary of the eight albums he recorded between 2000 and 2012 is as smart and well-selected as one could hope. Fans will find some personal favorites missing, but newcomers trying to figure out if Hiatt is for them will hear a decent cross-section of what he does. “My Old Friend,” “Everybody Went Low,” “Love’s Not Where We Thought We Left It," and “Master of Disaster” feature a mix of careful midtempos tracks and tougher upbeat grooves, all with heartfelt and clever lyrics that resonate long after the songs are over. There’s even a “new” track for the hardcore fans: “Here to Stay,” with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, is a tough, strutting rocker that attests to Hiatt’s staying power.