It's only a matter of time before
Russ Tolman's hard-luck stories find their place on "progressive" radio playlists. Better than a boatload of
Del Lords imitators,
Tolman's directness, literate wordplay, and liberal populism imbue his material with a strength that transcends even the hokiest conceit or belabored point...Backed by a fairly jake band (Jon Klages, guitar; Dave Provost, bass; Dave Drewry, drums),
Tolman reels and rocks through tales of children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families -- real '90s topics...If anything...often his phrasing sounds clunky, forced, and overly dramatic...It's obvious that
Tolman wants to become a contemporary storyteller, a rock and roll chronicler of the disenfranchised. And while he has his moments, he occasionally gets in over his head... ~ John Dougan, Option 37_91