Longtime

Thom MacFarlane has listed some very famous musicians as his influences, so we would expect a commanding performance on his debut album. That is exactly what he has put out with Longtime, from the first song to the final note. The songs vary in structure from the complex Laura Nyro influenced tunes, to the simpler more lyrical Bob Dylan influenced tunes.A fine example of the influence Laura Nyro has had can be found in the third track, "Turn Away," with it's layered keyboards and strings.Track seven, "Jesus Is An American" is a perfect example of the influence Bob Dylan has had on this artist, with it's compelling lyrics and harmonica. You can hear influences from Elvis Costello on "In Between The Sheets," and influences coming from Simon & Garfunkel on "Long Time." This seems to be the focus of the album, to showcase the influence these artists have had on Thom Macfarlane's music.What this release is lacking is originality.If this was a tribute to a certain artist, then the focus should be on that artist, but this is suppose to be a Thom MacFarlane original piece of work.There are three songs that show very original creativity, the other tunes might just as well be cover tunes.The album is still well done, and is worth your attention, if you're looking for something that will fit like those comfortable jeans you favor so much.