SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TOMMY SOLO AND FRIENDS – PASSENGERS AND MESSENGERS

TOMMY SOLO AND FRIENDS
PASSENGERS AND MESSENGERS
INDEPENDENT

Tommy Solo is back with a brand-new album. This time, he is playing with some friends, which is why Passengers And Messengers is actually credited to Tommy Solo And Friends. Passengers And Messengers lets Solo do what he does best. It is an album full of rock, blues-infused rock and some pop songs thrown in for some good measure. It is a strong album that has a hint of nostalgia. Solo ties everything together and, although he plays a great many instruments on the album, as well as writing all but one song, he is smart enough to bring along some friends who can add a little something extra to a number of the songs.

Solo has been around for a while and has a fascinating resume, beyond his own solo albums. He is a well-respected session player, whose playing you can hear on a great many releases. He brings forward the vintage rock sound, both in his playing and singing, and yet keeps the sound fresh and current. On this album he does an interesting cover of “The First Cut Is The Deepest”, a song made famous in Canada by Keith Hampshire. Originally written by Cat Stevens, Solo takes his own turn on the song. With Solo, the song is a more powerful rock song than it is a ballad. The song features a strong section, consisting of Cory Thompson on drums and Mike Bourque on bass. Solo adds his strong vocals, and one has a whole new take on the classic song.

Other friends on the album include Brian Gagnon (from The Hunt) on bass on the rocking “Long Hard Way” and the heavy (almost metal) song “Messages”. Both songs demonstrate Solo’s hard rock sound, and they sound wonderful. David Henman (April Wine) provides some very stylish slide playing on “Good Day”, an excellent bluesy rock song. Elsewhere, one gets songs like Magic Wishes”, a very upbeat pop song with not so upbeat lyrics. A sad boy-loses-girl song, pining for her return home. It works, both melodically and lyrically. Solo’s acoustic playing is a beautiful addition to the strong song.

Passengers And Messengers is a classic rock sounding album that is perfect for the summer. Solo does not throw lyrics away, but the real star of the show are the strong melodies and rocking tunes. But Solo, like the great classic rock artists, uses the songs to get his point across about environmental issues, the state of the world and all points in between. Passengers And Messengers is a well-produced album highlighting just how talented Solo is as a musician, writer and performer.

Artist Link