[5] McDermott supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with the BoDeans.

[6][7] The album was produced by Don Gehman and coproduced by Brian Koppelman, who had signed McDermott.

[13] The Austin American-Statesman wrote that "A Wall I Must Climb" "suggests that his most stirring songcraft also is the simplest, while much of the rest practically begs for McDermott to lighten up a little and submit to some judicious editing.

"[16] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that Gehman "unleashes a full-throttle rhythm section only where necessary (as on the rocking 'Sacred Ground'), which gives the album a sense of drama and development.

"[19] The Washington Post concluded that "it probably will take a couple of albums before McDermott sheds some of the stylistic affectations that occasionally get in the way of his storytelling.