by Brian D. Holland.

Tom Gillam’s fourth CD, Never Look Back, possesses profound meaning in title alone. The fact that he suffered three heart attacks midway through its production, two of them on the hospital ER table, is surely enough reason for the Philly/South Jersey based slide guitarist/vocalist to look ahead and never look back. That said, the album is basically very uplifting and inspiring, certainly a good way to approach life when looking forward to new days.

I’m sure some listeners of earthy roots rock have yet to hear of this interesting musician and his band, Tractor Pull; that’s quite understandable, as I’m fairly new to them myself. Quite often these days, good music ends up immersed in the shadows of a pop-oriented culture, waiting for a deserved nudge into the limelight of attention. That nudge is finally beginning to exert itself here, because Tom Gillam is getting a lot of praise in certain circles lately. It appears others are catching wind of his mesmerizing music, a sound that’s raw, authentic, and heavy on rhythm guitar and lethargic melody. His 2004 release, Shake My Hand, spent 14 weeks on the Americana Top 10, earning him a Best Emerging Artist nomination from the Americana Music Association. That’s an impressive accomplishment in itself, one definitely deserving of attention. The word is out and the door has been opened for his latest release, Never Look Back.

Listen to "I Ain't Waiting" from Never Look Back

"Another Break-Up Song" starts the album. The driving rhythm guitar quality that sustains throughout most of the album is immediately discernable. Multi-instrumentalist Joe Carroll appears to be behind much of this, lead player Craig Simon as well. Besides being the album’s producer and engineer, Carroll plays guitar, mandolin, lap steel, and more. Tom’s vocal aptitude, incredibly suggestive of Joe Walsh at times, floats along in relaxed verse while leading up to his terse yet stunning slide guitar solo.

"Never Look Back" keeps the earthy, roots rock ambiance going strong. The incredible rhythmic quality sustains, pressed on by the potent drive of drummer Dave Latimer and bassist Tim McMaster. The melody is classic rock in essence, and its approach is pleasing. The song’s lyrical content is enlightening and insightful. Tom’s slide solo, obviously a signature stamp, and extremely diverse and stylish, adds dimension to this wonderful song. It’s actually two slide guitars played in harmony, in an interesting George Harrison vibe.

Dave Latimer’s percussive entrance into "Rescue Me" marches into another potent roots rocker. Tom’s vocal in "Devil In My Heart", in my opinion, possesses that Joe Walsh air once again. The interesting aspect about Tom’s slide work is that he seems to utilize a different approach for each song, keeping them fresh and exciting.

"Where Is Bobby Gentry?" is a bluesy ode to the Mississippi vocalist who fell into obscurity in 1978, leaving fans mystified by her sudden disappearance from the public eye. It’s heavy on acoustic uniformity and it includes a string section that’s grippingly reminiscent of the Gentry hit "Ode to Billie Joe" in places. A resounding harmonica supplements the emotion and Delta atmosphere in an interesting manner.

It's Neil Young meets Joe Walsh meets the Black Crowes in "Rainbow Girl". There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. The resemblances point to performers I enjoy. The lead guitar work is unmistakably like Young throughout. The rhythm guitar has that steady driving flow, and a very satisfying tone.

With its pleasing 12-string guitar resonance, Tom Petty-ish in nature, "I Ain’t Waiting" sounds like a classic rock ballad of yesteryear. It’s a song of love lost and the challenges one has to endure to get over it. Gillam sings: "I listen to Tom Waitts. I think about church. I took all o’ your pictures and threw ‘em outside in the dirt. And you know that it’s true and it’s all because of you, that I ain’t waiting. I ain’t waiting. I ain’t waiting for you no more."

"To Hell With It All" possesses laid-back amiability in melody and instrumental tone, with a lyrical muse dealing with the notion to "go down to the banks of the river where the grass grows so tall. Lay low as the water rolls by, and say to hell with it all." The background vocal "oohs and ahhs" in the second verse, evocative of classic Johnny Rivers ballads, add a nice touch to Tom’s emotional vocal performance. This one has another nice slide solo as well.

"Carolina" ends the album in a subtle and satisfying way. Gillam sings "I’m down in Carolina and everything’s just fine." That sentiment describes the general atmosphere of the album pretty well. Lyrically, musically, and especially with respect to listening quality, everything is just fine with Tom Gillam’s Never Look Back.

Lovers of earthy classic rock, a style gradually becoming a genre of its own, will love this CD. Give Never Look Back a good listen for your own pleasure, and then write me at my email address telling me how much you enjoyed it. I’m confident of its potential.

Never Look Back Track Listing
1. Another Break-Up Song
2. Never Look Back
3. Rescue Me
4. Devil In My Heart
5. Where Is Bobby Gentry?
6. Rainbow Girl
7. Medicine Train
8. I Ain’t Waiting
9. To Hell With It All
10. That’s How It Goes
11. Carolina

"Never Look Back" and "To Hell With It All" written by Craig Simon.
All other songs by Tom Gillam

Treehouse Productions
Release date: September 12, 2007

Tom Gillam: vocals, slide guitar, songwriter, bandleader
Joe Carroll: producer, engineer, guitar, mandolin, mando guitar, baritone, lap steel, b-bender
Tim McMaster: bass, background vocals
Craig Simon: lead guitar, background vocals
Dave Latimer (DL): drums

Links
Tom Gillam
Purchase Never Look Back at Amazon