Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Jeff Berkley. Mastered by Gavin Lurrsen
Desert Music is a great album. It's tight and professional. The album has a cohesive motif without all the songs being too similar. Beeks's voice is a mixture of Bonnie Raitt and Jewel, whose music can also be compared to Beeks's. Some of the songs lean toward acoustic and folky; others use more electric guitar and pedal steel to drive home a rockin' country sound. The first three songs explore the topics of traveling, aging, and becoming successful. "Drive America" is a good road-trip song. "Special Words" and "Good to Be" are uplifting, inspirational tunes without being schmaltzy or saccharine. "Special Words" features hand-clapping and a chorus of voices lifting to a sentimental tone without being overdone. The only thing I wanted more of from the Ordeal is a faster, get-up-and-kick-some-ass saloon song. I'd like to hear the band in a beer bar with the High Rolling Loners.
