Lone Star State of Mind was Nanci Griffith's commercial breakthrough, largely because it was her first step directly toward mainstream contemporary country. Instead of diluting her introspective folk songs, the full-fledged production actually enhances her music, as the steel guitars and dobros add body to her songs. Griffith responds in kind, delivering the most textured and nuanced vocal performance of her career, as evidenced by her version of "From A Distance." Of course, her songwriting is as good as it ever was; "Ford Econoline," "Sing One for Sister," "Beacon Street" and a revamped version of "Mary Margaret" called "There's A Light Beyond These Woods," are all terrific, ranking among her best songs. Lone Star State of Mind is one of the rare commercial moves that actually improves and artist's music instead of compromising it.