Though it received little attention at the time of its release,
Motives is a good album at least on par with 1977's
Shiver In The Night. No track on the record shouts instant classic, but most songs are strong in melody and retain the unique musical and vocal quirkiness (i.e. falsetto) that is the hallmark of
Pratt's style. Much to his credit,
Pratt doesn't sanitize his music after his apparent conversion to Christianity. The last cut, "Cross On A Hill" quotes liberally from the Bible, but
Pratt, as is often the case, sounds as if he is still struggling with issues of faith and belief. The opening track, "Love Insurance," is the one of the catchiest and certainly the funniest thing he has recorded, advising readers that "you can't collect a new heart if you lose your girl." "Savior" has a pleasing jazz-like ending with pianist
Pratt and guitarist Shane Fontayne trading tasty licks.
Pratt's use of shrill falsetto, always one of his trademarks, is in liberal use on the album and shows up in nearly every song. It is evident after listening to this album that
Pratt is an accessible but not mainstream talent whose unusual style is not going to land him on the top of the charts as many predicted. Nonetheless, with this album and others in his catalog,
Pratt emerged as one of the most unique singer-songwriters of the 1970's. ~ Michael Ofjord