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Tom Stevens
Home
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Pop

Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
1. Ghost Train
2. Belladonna
3. In the Basement
4. I Don't Know
5. Death Wish
6. Flame Turns to Blue
7. Tornado
8. Away from the Great Cold City
9. Home
10. Flying out of London in the Rain
11. Weekendland

CD Details

All Artists: Tom Stevens
Title: Home
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Avebury Records
Original Release Date: 6/19/2007
Re-Release Date: 7/17/2007
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Pop
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 0634479541438, 634479541438, 063447954143

Synopsis

Product Description

During his long and prolific musical career, Tom Stevens has recorded over a dozen albums, both solo and with Magi, The Long Ryders, Danny & Dusty, Chris Cacavas and Junk Yard Love and Jack Waterson. As a solo artist his blistering guitar playing and depth of songwriting speak volumes, both on stage and in the studio on Stevens' three solo albums: Another Room, Points Revisited, and his latest release, Home. While still a teenager in Indiana, infatuated with 60s garage and hard-edged rock and roll, he joined regional heroes Magi, a dual-guitar, kick-ass rock and roll band. When Magi packed their gear and moved west to Los Angeles, they found their angle had gone out of style, replaced by the vibrant punk energy of Black Flag and X. As other band members moved home, Stevens stayed in Hollywood, absorbing the raw sounds and urban sensibilities of the L.A. musical landscape. It was during this period that Tom first began seriously writing songs. Taking a cue from the thriving DIY punk scene around him, with the help of some friends, he took those songs and produced a six-song EP on Pulse Records, 1982's Points of View, which eventually sold out its original pressing and started him on a solo career. This was quickly side-tracked as a fateful series of events one day led him to join the soon to be acclaimed roots-rock godfathers, The Long Ryders, in late 1983. During his 3-1/2 years as a Long Ryder, Stevens saw the release of three albums - Native Sons, State of Our Union, and Two Fisted Tales (the latter two on Island Records) - all featuring Stevens-penned songs - as well as lengthy worldwide tours, many international magazine covers, a UK top 40 hit ("Looking For Lewis & Clark"), long runs on European and U.S music charts, and several live TV appearances. Stevens was also a member of the legendary Danny & Dusty, whose album The Lost Weekend made the year-end top ten best albums list in the New York Times. Additionally, he performed as stand-up bassist with Gene Clark of The Byrds on some of his final live L.A. performances.

CD Reviews

Keeping the "Home" fires burning

Lina Litonjua | San Pedro, CA | 11/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tom Stevens is an artist who has inexplicably flown under the musical radar for the last several years.

Since his departure from seminal alt-country heroes The Long Ryders in late 80's, Stevens has come out with some excellent solo efforts - "Another Room" Another Room and "Points Revisited" Points Revisited, both of which delivered on the fine promise shown in the criminally few songs he was allowed during his Long Ryders tenure.

With his 2007 release, "Home", Stevens has proven himelf to be not only a skilled songsmith but an amazingly adept multi-instrumentalist, handling nearly every instrument on this album.

The songs themselves are stylistically diverse and top-notch, ranging from the reverb-heavy, psychedelic-pop of "Ghost Train", through hard-rockers "Belladonna" and "Tornado", country-rockin' "In the Basement", and the poignant "Flying Out of London in the Rain", on which daughter Sarah assists with beautifully etheric background vocals.

Other standout tracks: the lovely "Flame Turns to Blue"; "Away From the Great Cold City", a stream of consciousness slow-rocker; and title track, "Home".

While the songs are stick-in-the-brain melodic, Stevens does not lack for bite. The guitars crunch as much as they jangle, the beats are driving and hypnotizing, and yes, you can dance to it.

Stevens' lyrics are yet another revelation. Ranging from the sardonic and sarcastic, to the heart-breakingly romantic, and the just plain fun, he manages to inject into each song some real intelligence and cleverness.

The words are not just a means to an end here. The stories they weave within each song draw you in and compel repeated listenings.

With so much going for it, "Home" is undeniably a "must have" for any music-afficionado's collection, whether you are a fan of The Long Ryders or not, whether you've ever heard of Tom Stevens before or not.

Do yourself a favor and get this record. You will not be sorry.

"

Great solo effort

John D. Ramsey | Carrollton, TX USA | 01/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not familiar with any of Tom Steven's previous solo work since leaving the Long Ryders but this is excellent. Long Ryder fans should understand that this is jangly folk-rock with very little of the country influence that the Long Ryders had.That being said, this is a superb album, with Tom proving that he is a singer and songwriter of the highest order."