Tom Stevens - Home (Avebury Records)

Tom's got a long and illustrious pedigree in the music business, but he's probably best known for his 3½-year stint with
the Long Ryders, with whom he made three albums that all featured songs of his, and then as a member of Danny & Dusty. 
Over the years Tom's also played bass with Gene Clark, and the influence of the Byrds is an audible feature of this new 
solo set, as is the genre which gave Tom his formative musical (performing) experience, garage-rock. Home is actually 
Tom's first record of solo material for 12 years; most of the album's songs were written/completed between 2003 and 2005, 
and inspired by his family's move to a new house where he could get down to a full home recording setup. Many of the 
songs have more levels of meaning than might first be apparent, but there's a consistent quality of hope and general 
optimism about the writing which really appeals. As Tom says in his liner notes: "Music heals, friends heal and life 
heals". Melodically, each track has a catchy hook, though some catch more readily than others, but the production makes 
best capital out of the arrangements, which vary from Burrito-style country haunted by "the happy ghost of Clarence White" 
(In The Basement) to brooding garage (Death Wish), reverb-soaked twang (Ghost Train) to stately and introspective (Away 
From The Great Cold City). Flame Turns To Blue is an economic and poignant expression of faith, while the title track is a 
defiant reminiscence set to an insistent, thumping beat. Tom's support cast is minimal - he plays virtually everything 
himself and the record is a DIY production! - tho' wife Sarah makes two ethereal contributions (violin on Home, backing 
voice on the lovingly atmospheric Flying Out Of London In The Rain), while "Uncle John" Potthast plays banjo and 
Telecaster on In The Basement. At first you may feel that this isn't quite a record to set the musical world on fire, 
but it's solid and feelgood, its musical and lyrical virtues are not to be underplayed and - most important of all - 
I'm increasingly finding it amply repays a deeper acquaintance.

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