CD REVIEW: TOM ODELL – Long Way Down

Label: Columbia

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Having reviewed the EP earlier this year (http://magazine.100percentrock.com/cd-reviews/201305/16823), I was looking forward to the full length release and I am not disappointed at all.  Songs like “Hold Me,” “Another Love,” “Sense,” and “Can’t Pretend” set the stage for the rest of the tracks on this release.  Opener “Grow Old With Me” sets the pace with a beautiful piano opening that blends well with Tom’s voice and highlights the writing on the disc.  You won’t find any hard rock gems or pop classics on this collection, but you will find great songs that are emotionally charged and well played.  Another track to feature this is “I Know.”  The band lays great groundwork for the vocal and piano duet that drives the track.  “Till I Lost” is a song that seems to drive itself.  The groove and rhythm of the track stand out compared to others here, with its heavy instrumentation and pounding piano pieces that help make this one of the stronger tracks on the disc.  Returning to a mellow feel, “Supposed To Be” and “Long Way Down” slow down the pace and energy of the disc, but not to the detriment of the tracks or disc.  The songs help highlight Tom’s vocals along with the rhythm section on the former and the piano on the latter.  “Sirens” helps close out the disc in great fashion.  This song seems to draw from all the previous tracks and pulls all the cool components into one nice piece that well represents the rest of the disc.

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Category: CD Reviews