What critics say about "IN THE FALLING DARK" (Vanguard 1995):

"In the Falling Dark is another strong, consistent album for Dave Mallett."
--DIRTY LINEN

"...a strong collection of eleven songs that draw deep from folk and country traditions, while maintaining a sparkling, modern sound. The whole thing is a pleasure to listen to, thanks to Mallett's clear, warm voice and easy-going guitar work."
--THE PERFORMING SONGWRITER

"Dave Mallett may hail from New England, but his songs on In the Falling Dark...stand up to comparison to Texas greats like Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark."
--CMJ NEW MUSIC REPORT

"Mallett...is one of the more literate and capable craftsman in the genre and his latest tunes keep up his well-deserved reputation for producing sensitive, intelligent and highly listenable material."
--WORLD FOLK MUSIC ASSOCIATION

"Listening to Dave Mallett conjures up images of sitting by the fire in a log cabin in some snow-covered New England town. There's something to his honest vocal quality and true to life songwriting that brings the listener some state of ease and stability.....If you're looking for great imagery and a soothing voice, look into this one."
--GAVIN REPORT

"In the Falling Dark is filled with 11 of the most approachable, compelling songs of Mallett's career.....This disc illustrates artistic growth from one already known as a 'writer's writer,' and a solid live performer. Pick it up!"
--AQUARIAN WEEKLY, Montclair, NJ

"Mallett's songs have been covered by hundreds of artists, ranging from Emmylou Harris to Pete Seeger to John Denver to the Muppets, but somehow his music is the most powerful when he simply picks up his guitar and sings his songs himself."
--ALBUM NETWORK

Other reviews

"Mallett always throws himself into his performance 110 per cent. He is a man who lives life inch by inch, and every one of those inches is honed to perfection for the joy and the education of his fans.
--Richard Binder, NASHUA TELEGRAPH

"When I returned to my appreciation of folk music some ten years ago, it was an intense performance by Dave Mallett at the New Harmony series that convinced me what a single human with an acoustic guitar could do. I haven't been the same since."
--Ed McKeon, NEW BRITAIN HERALD

"Always compelling, always musical...there is something about Mallett's phrasing that lends an urgency and boldness to his songs. His deep clear voice has a storyteller's naturalness to it, a poet's intelligence."
--Scott Alarik, BOSTON GLOBE

"I know of no other songwriter who can so convincingly capture that fleeting sense of being perfectly at one with a place and time. This is at the heart of why Mallett has won such a loyal following and holds such hope for the future."
--Michael Hughes, PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

"Dave Mallett may be the only artist working today who's portraits and stories, derived from the American heartland, can come close to being compared to the works of Stephen Foster."
--Steve Lacrosse, POPULAR FOLK MUSIC TODAY

"In Mallett, you will hear gentle, tuneful folk music of intelligence and heart. It's deeply rooted American music that can snap you awake like a rooster's crow or keep you quiet company on the porch swing at dusk."
--Don Ruiz, TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE

"Mallett, at his best, can stand toe-to-toe with Lightfoot, John Prine, or any of the best of the '70s singer/songwriters."
--Gordon Ely, RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

"Ya wanna know what's going on in contemporary folk music? Start here. David Mallett has the warmth of a flannel shirt, the comfort of a quilt, and the heart of a poet. He sounds like somebody you'd like for your best friend."
--Robert Oermann, MUSIC ROW

"He's a trenchant writer. No matter what he's singing there's no reason Mallett's own performance shouldn't be played on country radio. He has a rich warm baritone that falls lightly on the ear. What Mallett doesn't have is the look of a guy who just stepped out of a GQ photo session, or a factory direct stetson to proclaim him one of Nashville's finest. But a haircut or a uniform can be close as the nearest mall, talent is in the genes. Or in Mallett's case, in the jeans."
--Randy Lewis, L. A. TIMES

"Folk poet Dave Mallett continues to write thoughtful, potent songs about changing America - small town Main Street, relationships disintegrated or strengthened by distance and fast-moving times, the vast chasm between this nation's poverty and wealth."
--Allana Nash, STEREO REVIEW

"Mallett is a first rate folk singer and writer. His portraits and townscapes are camera sharp, and his knowledge of his subjects is profound."
--Ed Morris, BILLBOARD