Search - Tom Freund :: Collapsible Plans

Wise and introspective...typical Tom

Tito | Los Angeles, CA United States | 01/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every now and then you discover an artist, you realize instantly is not well known, and you can't for the life of you come up with a good reason why.



Tom Freund is just such an artist, and Collapsible Plans, his fourth full-length album, is a perfect testament to both his incredible gift at writing a song that somehow pulls you in - to its mood, or emotion or scene - as well as the puzzling reality behind his relative obscurity as an artist.



Freund is a long time friend of Ben Harper's, and Ben lends production, vocals and lap steel guitar skills to the effort. To Harper's credit, he doesn't "Ben Harper up" the record; his influence while noticeable (many who are familiar with him easily recognize his guitar style) is still subtle: he allows Tom's personality and style to shine throughout the album, from the sweet opening track "Collapsible Plans" (which features a Harper solo) to the re-working of Tom's "Copper Moon" (from a prior album).



When I read a fan review of an artist I'm not familiar with, I basically want to know two things: 1) who is this artist like (or who else do you, review writer, like), and 2) is this album a good representation to be a first-purchase of the artist?



The answer to the 2nd question is unequivocally yes. While Freund does mix up the tenor somewhat from album to album, he doesn't make each record an exercise in wild experimentation. He blends a perfect mix of consistency of style, without ever sounding repetitious. If you've heard one Tom Freund song, you definitely have NOT heard them all. If you've heard one Tom Freund album, you definitely have NOT heard them all.



The answer to the 1st question, in semi-free-association, is John Hiatt (on the lyrical side, being personal and mature), Freedy Johnston (when Tom shows his humor and playfulness), John Lennon (melodies) and Jackson Browne (arrangements). These are just gut level impressions, I'm sure some rock scholar-cum-journalist would disagree with me.



Highlights of this album include the brilliant opening/title track, the sweet "Without Her I'd Be Lost", the driving "Unwind", the jazzy "Comfortable In Your Arms", the poignant anti-war "Concessions", his beautiful cover of "Can't Cry Hard Enough", the mid-tempo elegy "Why Wyoming". "Copper Moon" and "Comfortable In Your Arms" both appear on previous Tom Freund albums. Jackson Browne is featured on several songs.



Thankfully, Tom doesn't let his jazz inflections slip too far into the background. His talents as an upright bass player shine on a few tracks (he also plays guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica, and who knows what else!)



I'm loathe to use the over-used phrase "singer-songwriter" to describe a style (I mean, isn't Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys a 'singer' and a 'songwriter'?), but it usually seems to evoke certain folky or jazzy or country sensibility with simple (but not simplistic) if not spare arrangements. In such a sense, Tom Freund has few equals and no betters among his contemporaries. Get his stuff, and you'll definitely 'get' him.



This album is as good a place as any to start, and Tom Freund is one of my all-time favorites."