Mark Heard always had a preference for acoustic-based pop music, but most of his early said efforts were either wimpy or sketchy affairs that lead to understandable yet unshakable comparisons with James Taylor and other uninteresting singer-songwriter types. After a mediocre
Eye of the Storm in 1983,
Heard took giant steps in perfecting his craft with this album, his most consistent to date. Here he enlists the services of ex-
Alpha Band and
Bob Dylan picker and future
Bruce Hornsby sideman David Mansfield to adorn his intelligent pop songs with acoustic guitar, dobro, and fiddle. While
Heard concentrated on rock-oriented material for the next several years, this recording would be the foundation for his early '90s masterpieces
Dry Bones Dance and
Second Hand. ~ Dave Sleger