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Reviews: In the words of others...
Review of "Blue Roads, Red Wine" from the June 2008 "Victory Review" Acoustic Music Magazine ****************** Review of "Blue Roads, Red Wine"From Autumn, 2008 issue of SING OUT! magazine Tom May is one of those elite journey-man singer-songwriters and interpreters in the school of the young Gordon Lightfoot, David Mallett and Bill Staines. May’s pleasing Irish tenor and solid acoustic accompaniment delight the ear on this CD he co-produced with Billy Oskay and Fuzzy Purcell. He has six accompanists and three harmony singers in various combinations, creating a rich sound that never competes with his voice. Perhaps the title song “Blue Roads, Red Wine”, sums up his musical choice of many journeys and reflecting after a glass of wine by candlelight. May penned six of the ten songs on the CD and chose well for the rest, including “Lovers Heart” by Andy Stewart and Phil Cunningham; “Watching the Rivers Flow” by Chris Kennedy; “”Somewhere Down the Line” by Bruce Coughlin; “Lovin of the Game” by Pat Garvey; and “Hope for One and All” by David Mallett. “Celilo Falls”, authored by May and Purcell, movingly describes the flooding of Native American lands along the Columbia River without any treaty or agreement. May lovingly treats each song, whether his own or by another, and you can tell he truly enjoys singing them. After his song “Yukon Journey, 45 Below”, I expect him to break into reciting “The Cremation of Sam McGee”. His particularly fine song, “The Eyes of Rembrandt”, captures the essence of painting and the artist. For those who miss the sonority and harmony of the folk recordings of decades ago, the sound lives on in this recording. “Blue Roads, Red Wine” is a sweet gift to the ear, and a reminder that beauty and content are not mutually exclusive. Rich Warren Out of the more than 800 recordings Rich Warren received this year, he has named “Blue Roads, Red Wine” his choice for one of the 12 top folk/acoustic recordings of 2008. **************************** "Tom
May himself is the epitome of a balladeer, singing his own songs and
those of others with warmth, humor, and accessibility" "Tom
is a troubadour in a greater sense than I am. He goes out there and
plays, traveling in a car down some very long roads, from one show
to another" "Tom May sounds a little like the young Stan Rogers with a dash of Ian Tyson…His rich, round, full voice caresses each song before he lets it go."--Rich Warren, Sing Out! Magazine "Perhaps
my own favorite of Tom's is the saucy Louisiana/Texas vibe of "The
Rose of the Riverwalk". But you will doubtless come away with
a sense of affirmation from the entire set-for it keeps the music,
and the inevitable currents of faith in mankind, alive in a time that
hasn't welcomed the singer/songwriter with open arms. Very good stuff,
indeed." "Thanks to his fine River City Folk program, which airs on most public radio stations around the country, Tom May may well be the most well-known Nebraskan in the country."--Jon Sirkis, Acoustic Musician "His album’s a delightful showcase of ripely matured musiscianship, blending songwriting, voice and instrumentation that have definitely ‘arrived’."--Folk Roots "One of the most talented performers in the emerging acoustic music renaissance. His voice really rivets one’s attention, whether on record or tape, or in concert. Tom is a real crowd-pleaser.--The Boston Globe "Tom May has a voice that is smoother than silk! When he combines singing with narration in one of our favorite songs, it is too good!"--Folk Music Quarterly "Tom May not only keeps the folk music tradition alive, he enhances the genre with his commentary, his introduction of new artists, and his own unique music."--Howard Lowe, KVNO Radio "Tom May’s music revives the art of listening!"--Cathy Beckham, The Statesman Journal, Salem Oregon "Tom May’s newest Album is a delightful mix, all excellent. The pace of the music, like May’s singing, is gentle and laid back, a portrait of a wandering life, loving and longing…"--Danna Garcia, Canadian River Music
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