Tom Gillam – Had Enough?

Maybe it’s due to the drastically large volume of talent here in Texas, or maybe it’s becaus I can often be clueless, but many times, I feel like I am way behind when it comes to certain artists that I finally get around to “blogging” about. Tom Gillam (Official / Myspace)  is one of the cases that makes me ponder that very question. Gillam’s new album, Hard Enough? (Smith Entertainment), has thankfully made it impossible for me to keep from discussing him any longer.

Gillam has several records under his belt and is a respected veteran of the scene in Austin and around Texas. Ed Jurdi from Band of Heathens and and another Austin icon, Guy Forstyh, even lend a hand on “Million Miles Away”, a number that showcases Gillam’s ability to slow things down a tad without killing the album’s momentum. There are plenty of other gems on this self-co-produced record that display a satisfactory range of sounds that keeps listeners from easily pinning a label on his overall vibe. Don’t get me wrong, this is a rock record - the opening track, “Real Thing” is a classic Texas fist-pumper – but there are enough bluesy touches in tracks like “Ride” and “Hard Enough” to give the album a roadhouse-tested swagger and edge.

LISTEN: Tom Gillam – “Real Thing”

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