TJ McFarland

He's all country, the Oklahoma bred TJ McFarland, but you can feel the edgy vibe of both Dylan and the Stones lurking a little beneath the songs of his latest full-length release, Rosenbum's Gin. The young songwriter even makes reference to them both at points throughout this story-rich set which goes from twangin' to rockin' and folksy to epic from song to song. The band kicks along with a variety of moods enhanced by all manner of musical coloration including sweeping Hammond B3, fiddle, slide guitar (Dobro and lap) and mandolin.

But you're not doin' too bad when you have members of both Dwight and Lucinda's band backing you up. Included are hot players like Doug Pettibone, Mitch Marine, Taras Prodaniuk, Skip Edwards and Keith Gattis, among others. Legendary LA session guitarist Waddy Wachtel also provides a fair amount of electric guitar work here. But that's no distraction from the presence of McFarland whose strength emerges front and center with a direct, honest and rural delivery that recalls a bit of John Prine smoothed out by James McMurtry. But ultimately, McFarland sounds like a country boy who got wise to the West - Los Angeles now his home - and the West has welcomed him. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music