620 W. Surf

The album was produced by Don Gehman and coproduced by Brian Koppelman, who had signed McDermott.[8][9][10] On many songs, McDermott's voice is supported only by his guitar and harmonica; McDermott wrote all of the songs.[11][12] Bruce Hornsby contributed to 620 W. Surf.[13]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
Chicago Sun-Times	[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[15]
The Republican	[16]

The Austin American-Statesman wrote that "A Wall I Must Climb" "suggests that his most stirring songcraft also is the simplest, while much of the rest practically begs for McDermott to lighten up a little and submit to some judicious editing."[17] Newsday concluded that "McDermott squanders his feelings and insight on excessive verbiage."[18] The Republican opined that "though far too musically derivative at this point, McDermott is a very capable lyric writer."[16]

The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that Gehman "unleashes a full-throttle rhythm section only where necessary (as on the rocking 'Sacred Ground'), which gives the album a sense of drama and development."[19] The Washington Post concluded that "it probably will take a couple of albums before McDermott sheds some of the stylistic affectations that occasionally get in the way of his storytelling."[20]

AllMusic noted that "the arrangements throughout the record are very effective, and are generally enhanced by McDermott's passionate vocals, though his occasional vocal excesses can become grating and interfere with the introspective tone of his songs."[14]