Tom Willner
Rescue Me

Review By Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
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  Tom Willner's Rescue Me is a fine album because of several things, but primarily because of its consistency. It gives you those warm and fuzzy feelings right out of the gate.

The lead off and title track is a funky rhythm filled romp as good as it gets. It is the best choice of tracks to kick off the album. The following track "If Women Ruled the World," is a great tribute to the female of the species, all set to a reggae beat. This music is all about life and relationships. It is understandable that the artist is inspired to write and perform songs like this as he survived cancer and came out of it with entirely different perspective on life. He wrote every song except "I Could Always Make Her Laugh," where co-writer Ed Schieblin provided the lyrics. Ben Wakeman helped with the words to "Over You" and played guitar and added vocals on tracks 1, 3, 5, 8 and 11. Willner also did all of the programming and played everything else you hear on the CD. This project is an exceptional achievement. Yet another triumph for a man that feels there is nothing he cannot overcome so it does not surprise me at all.

The mixture of rock, pop and blues suits Willner's vocal style just right. He throws in a little change of pace, showing off his prowess as a piano player with an instrumental ragtime rollicking foot stomper called "Tom's Boogie." Besides that one instrumental treat, he stays with the pop-rock-blues format while telling his heart warming and inspiring stories. Interesting enough there is a sequence to the stories being told as well, there is no coincidence that "Rain" is followed by "You Are My Storm."

This music wasted no time digging its hooks in me, by the time I listened for the third time I was sold, hypnotized by the words and music. This album will grow on you faster than grass after a mid July shower, and the fragrance is just as sweet.

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