From the photo on the inner sleeve, Tom Heyman looks in a bad way, like someone who's come second best in an altercation.
Heavy set, black-vested and cold-eyed, he looks like the kind of guy who gets into his fair share of scrapes and I'd certainly be inclined to cross the road to avoid him.
Heyman's CV includes work in Chuck Prophet's band and he cites Gordon Lightfoot as his musical hero. He's from San Francisco and this is his second UK release.
On his right arm he sports a tattoo with the name 'Deirdre' emblazoned across a heart. From the desolate tone of many of the songs, you might imagine this is the name of a woman he has recently split up with. However, since the photo was actually taken by one Deirdre F. White perhaps there's a silver lining after all.
Nevertheless, the mundane days and drunken nights documented in this downbeat set of songs present him as a man who knows all too well what it's like to view the world through the bottom of a glass.
For instance, In The Nighttime World finds him trudging deserted streets or spending dead time home alone while on Chickenhawks And Jesus Freaks a lonesome pedal steel lends added poignancy to the bleak settings of motel rooms, parking lots and late night bars.
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"Life doesn't stop for sadness" he laments on Cool And Blue, the nearest thing to a title track and on the closing number, Losers Like Me, he imagines not even having the saving grace of a benevolent God.
There's not much cause for lightness although on Time And Money, he at least recognise the negative effects of his self destructive tendencies. This song expresses gratitude to his family for putting up with his wayward nature.
Heyman says he wanted a late night, low down groove for this record and he achieves this so effectively that you can't help wishing he'd balanced it with more optimistic songs.
Tom Heyman's website
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