Rainy days and music have always enjoyed a pretty happy marriage. When
the powers that be have decided to use your day off to demonstrate the word
'monsoon' and your streets have been turned into something Noah would think
twice before taking his ark into, there is always the trusty radio or
stereo sitting in the corner. While outside, people are dashing around like
mad because they've either forgotten to bring umbrellas or to roll their car
windows up, inside it's safe and warm and you have the companionship of
music.
Michael Tomlinson's CD, "Watching the Storm Roll In," is one of those
rainy-day CD's that just seem to fit the moment perfectly. Imagine a gentle
rain falling as you sit and listen to a songwriter/storyteller sit on a
porch, strumming a guitar, and spinning his musical tales. In fact, this CD
features nothing but Tomlinson's acoustic guitar and his vocals. He reminds
me a lot of a James Taylor who has chosen to celebrate life and nature, and
he, at least for me, fits comfortably into the niche Kenny Loggins vacated
when he left Pooh Corner to fly into the Dangerzone.
This CD features close to an hour and a half worth of music with a very
respectable 14 songs included. Seven of them are new songs and the other
seven are new versions of some of his more familiar early material. The
melodies he creates remain simple and memorable. He never tries to milk fire
from either his voice or his guitar, but instead lets his singing and
strumming drip like rain onto the waiting ears of the listener.
Tomlinson's voice is a vibrant tenor, and his music can on the whole be
described as uplifting. Though there are songs of longing and loss on the CD,
such as "Raining Away" and "I Knew You Well," the songs are for the most part
about celebrating this gift of life we have and enjoying the people and
things around us. One of my favorite songs on the CD, "Barton Springs," is a
paean of sorts to hitting the open road. It describes the journey from
Washington down to a place in Texas in a sense of the trip not being taken
for a reason but just for the sake of traveling.
There is a certain drawing power to his voice and his melodies and there
is a universalness to his lyrics that leave the listener saying "I've often
thought that myself, but wasn't sure until now how to express it." As the CD
winds to a close with the last song "One Breath," Tomlinson leaves us
with what might be his central message in life: "Here, sing these words and
feel all this pain and fear fall apart at last when we take one breath and
just forgive ourselves."
I am very much enjoying the fact that I received this CD (and my editor
is probably very much enjoying the fact that I finally submitted my review).
Though I enjoy sweeping, orchestral, throw everything in including the
kitchen sink music as much as anyone, I had almost forgotten the simple power
of an acoustic guitar paired with good vocals and an enjoyable story to tell.
Michael Tomlinson has reminded me what I've been missing.
