The Reivers - End of the Day (1989)

Austin, Texas pop band formed in 1984 as Zeitgeist.

Continuing the pattern of a new album every other year, End of the Day came out two years after 1987's Saturday. John Croslin was beginning to gain experience as a producer, doing more than half the tracks without co-producer Andy Metcalfe. This would lead to his total production of their next album, plus his future endeavors after the breakup of the Reivers. A very good album, marred slightly by a distracting too-high-in-the-mix drum sound, it continued in the same vein as their previous release. A sort of theme about the idea of "home" ran through this album, though, with songs like "Almost Home" (later covered by Hootie and the Blowfish), "Star Telegram," "End of the Day," and "Cut Above." Tying in to this was the album artwork which included family snapshots hung on a refrigerator. Musically, one of the highpoints was an impassioned electric cover of the Broadway musical number "Lazy Afternoon." As with most of the Reivers' albums, a number of additional songs were recorded, but didn't make it on, in this case live favorite "Tell Me So" was a casualty.