With Mission of the Crossroad Palms, Steve Forbert turns in an album of craftsmanlike tunes on his seventh album, including story-songs such as "It Sure Was Better Back Then" (a working man's reminiscence) and "The Trouble with Angels" (in which an ex-beauty queen robs the till to pay for her infertility treatments). There is also one of Forbert's philosophical treatises ("It Is What It Is [And That's All]") and the humorously multi-referential "Lay Down Your Weary Tune Again" (risky territory for a former "new Dylan"). But the best song may be Forbert's ode to infidelity, "Don't Talk to Me." The point, though, is that he has flowered into a distinctive, broad-based songwriter and that, in E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent, he has found a sympathetic producer able to showcase his voice and lyrics properly. Now, if he could just reconnect with his audience.
Label upon label gave up on Steve Forbert in the years following "Romeo's Tune"; not many deep pockets seek spare change vocals. Take away who he was supposed to be (the next Dylan, and who's not?) and who he never became (no Tweedy-esque rise & what a shame) and you'll find a truckstop-busker at ease with a creaky middle seat. "Oh, To Be Back With You" haunts, but pleasantly; tune sweet & voic...
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 "Mission of the Crossroad Palms")
