After Dark is the second album by the American band Cruzados, released in 1987.[3][4] "Bed of Lies" reached No. 4 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart; "Small Town Love" peaked at No. 39.[5] The band supported the album with a North American tour that included a leg opening for Fleetwood Mac.[6][7] They broke up the following year.[8]
The songs were inspired by Tito Larriva's years living in El Paso and Mexico City.[13] "Blue Sofa" was originally done by his band the Plugz.[9] "Bed of Lies" was cowritten by Lynne Marie Stewart.[14]
Trouser Press called the album "a plain but solid effort" aside from "Time for Waiting", opining that it "sounds nauseatingly like the Eagles."[18] The Los Angeles Times noted the "Springsteen-Mellencamp-Petty territory," writing that "Larriva has developed into a good-enough singer and songwriter in the Little Steven/Southside Johnny vein that the record transcends its obvious reference points."[9]The San Diego Union-Tribune stated that "Cruzados play with the fire of the young Rolling Stones, but the fervor is wasted on a collection of weak songs."[19]
The St. Petersburg Times wrote that Larriva's "desperate vocals and yearning lyrics—coupled with the group's leftover punk instincts—gives After Dark a taut, emotional edge that California-rock always lacked."[1] The Chicago Sun-Times concluded that Larriva "is making music with far greater focus and immediacy than last time through."[12] The Omaha World-Herald determined that "despite the radio-friendly, slick production work ... several tunes here are membrane-thin in staying power."[20] The Houston Chronicle labeled the album "honest, lyrically incisive music that hoists [the band] onto the cutting edge of contemporary American rock."[17]
Track listing
All songs written by Tito Larriva, except where noted.
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