D.E.7th ; Information (1983)

"Dave Edmunds assembled a self-consciously eclectic roots-rock album for "D.E. 7th" (1982), his first post-Rockpile effort. Instead of returning to a one-man band status, Edmunds hired a new band, which prevented him from returning to the studied perfectionism of his early work. Edmunds is concentrating on roots music this time around, delivering the wonderful bluegrass-stomp "Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)," the countryrocker "Bail You Out," the cajun-tinged "Louisiana Man" and the excellent Springsteen cover "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)." For some inexplicable reason, Edmunds decided to shoot for mass success with "Information" (1983), enlisting ELO's Jeff Lynne to give him a contemporary, synthesized sheen. Lynne steers the guitarist toward generally undistinguished material, with the exception of his own "Slipping Away," which pulsates with a surprisingly infectious synthetic beat and an undeniably catchy hook that manages to be both contemporary and rootsy." (S.T. Erlewine, Allmusic)