Reviewed by Chris Tozer

Pierce Pettis has timed his return to Greenbelt to coincide with the release of his fifth album.  Continuing a precedent set on his last two offerings, he again kicks off with a Mark Heard song.  A blistering version of "Tip Of My Tongue" is the ideal overture to introduce 10 of the best songs that Pierce has ever written.  All manner of life is here, from a daughter's growing up in "My Little Girl" through the young love of "Neutral Ground" to the heartbreak of "Just Like Jim Brown".  Gordon Kennedy's Spartan production leaves much to the imagination and perfectly complements Pettis's open ended lyrics where so much is said between the lines.  However, there is no ambiguity about the statement of faith in "God Believes In You" and his portrayal of St Paul in "Kingdom Come".  One can but marvel with his word play with line like "It was just too true to be good".  Garth Brooks had the wisdom to include a Pettis song on this latest album and it can only be a matter of time before someone like Mary Chapin Carpenter does the same.  Don't wait that long to discover for yourself Alabama's best kept secret.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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