Despite some brilliant songs, 's followup albums to his stunning debut were uneven until this, his fifth, produced by his friend . Here, 's always finely-tuned sense of absurdity once again collides with his ability to depict pain sympathetically for a whole album, typified by a neat statement of his philosophy, and "Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone," perhaps the best depiction ever written of life on the road in the entertainment business. ~ William Ruhlmann