Wrapped in Sky

After parting ways with Island Records, Drivin N Cryin signed with Geffen Records in 1994. The band relocated to California to record their Geffen debut, Wrapped in Sky, at The Plant Studios in Sausalito—a legendary facility that had hosted recordings by Fleetwood Mac, Metallica, and Santana. The album was produced by John Porter, known for his work with Roxy Music, Billy Bragg, and The Smiths. Porter was not the band’s first choice; several higher-profile producers had declined the invitation.

Wrapped in Sky marked a dramatic stylistic shift. Guitarist Buren Fowler had quit the band in 1994, and in his place, keyboardist Joey Huffman brought a new textural dimension to the group’s sound. The album represented a return to the band’s earlier, folkier roots, incorporating Latin influences from the band’s travels in Costa Rica alongside the nuanced, character-sketch songwriting that had distinguished their pre-Fly Me Courageous work.

Sullivan’s drumming on the album was notably more restrained than on the preceding two records. The shift away from arena-rock bombast toward ballad-tempo folk-rock demanded a different approach behind the kit, and Sullivan adapted accordingly. Peter Buck once again contributed, playing dulcimer and mandolin on the album’s opening tracks. 

Critical reception was generally positive. No Depression noted that the album’s songs “run toward character sketches, conveyed at ballad tempo with careful restraint.” Trouser Press determined that the album captured the band’s “broad stylistic ambitions better than on any other album.” However, Geffen’s marketing was half-hearted, and the album failed to achieve commercial traction. The band and Geffen parted ways by year’s end, marking the conclusion of Drivin N Cryin’s major-label career.