Mission of the Crossroad Palms

Mission of the Crossroad Palms was produced by Garry Tallent; it was his second time producing Forbert.[6][7] The album was recorded in less than a week, and followed Forbert and Tallent's work on a song for the Harry Nilsson tribute album For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson.[8] Benmont Tench played on Mission.[9] Its lyrics deal with the regrets and realities of middle age.[7][10]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Calgary Herald	B+[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[14]
Orlando Sentinel	[15]
The Province	[16]

Calling Mission of the Crossroad Palms "the latest of Steve Forbert's mediocre comeback albums," Stereo Review wrote that "while he still has a graceful way with a melody, Forbert has virtually nothing to say."[17] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thought that the album "derives most of its energy from Forbert's mastery of broad musical arrangements and nuanced phrasing that insinuates itself with each successive play."[9] The Philadelphia Inquirer concluded that the "folk-rock tunes ... sometimes match John Prine for lyrical inventiveness."[18]

The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "Forbert often sounds as if he's forcibly squeezing the sounds out of his throat, but his baritone is nice and warm nonetheless."[15] The Chicago Tribune determined that the album "finds the high-pitched, raspy-voiced singer-songwriter couching his searching, midlife lyrics in thoughtful folk-rock arrangements."[19] The Province praised the "conscientious, heartfelt observations" and "attention to simple craftsmanship."[16] The Calgary Herald deemed it "arguably his best."[12]

AllMusic wrote that Forbert "has flowered into a distinctive, broad-based songwriter."[11]