DAVID GROSSMAN
Heaven on Earth
(Warped)

A singer-songwriter in the tradition of James Taylor, Paul Simon. Neil Young, and Sammy Llanas of the BoDeans, David Grossman may be the best-kept secret in the Valley. This, his second release, finds a gifted and mature songsmith on the verge of breaking out.

Leaning heavily in the direction of melodrama, Grossman also has a clever wit which approaches that of a John Prine. Best found in the chorus of "Rudy Black." Grossman describes the departure of an old drinking buddy; "Rudy Black he's back with your brother/He ain't got jack to share or show/Coat on the rack truck back on the jack/He left forever just four days ago.

While most of the material on Heaven on Earth chronicles personal relationships. Grossman also offers a rare political opinion. His slant on life "Way Out West" includes a poignant look at the injustices of the big city. "Way out West" in no man's land/Machines replace the working man/Buildings rise and homes come down/While people sleep on streets in town."

But Grossman seems to be in his element when dealing with issues of love-gone-bad. The tape's best cut, "Alone in Love," is one of the more telling takes on the common theme of one-sided love affairs: "I know you loved me as best you could/Some part of me just misunderstood/"Cause I've been along thinking we were in love."

While the tone is basically low-keyed, Grossman can put some teeth into his tales. "Clock Tower," at times reminiscent of Cat Sevens. has some threads of fury as does "Had Enough," complete with its venomous jabs at the media.

In all, Heaven on Earth should go a long way to getting Grossman some well-deserved attention. It's a long road, but, as Grossman writes in "Way Out West," "It's progress in progress."