"There are no real surprises on The Bookends. Gales has been doing this a long time and has explored a lot of musical styles. What's impressive about this album is how, as a working artist, Gales can continue to create music that's interesting. Just about every song on this album is solid. The performances are well-done and interesting. And Gales still finds ways to insert himself into his music, something that's hardly a given with any songwriter. The Bookends is a talented artist showing the hard work it takes to make music for almost 30 years, through the ups and downs"