Prine's sound slickens considerably here, as producer Steve Cropper fashions
a commercial-friendly album of light funk and rock. Unfortunately, the
cloying production overpowers the lyrics and relegates them to an almost
cursory notion, and it doesn't help that Prine hasn't come up with much
new material of note. His wit is still sharp, but it no longer shines;
consequently, Common Sense has the unfortunate distinction of being the
worst of Prine's Atlantic albums. The exceptions are "Come Back to
Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard" and "He Was in Heaven
Before He Died."
(by Jim Smith, All
Music Guide)
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