After nearly two weeks during which time I saw 59 bands 58 of which have already been reviewed I am back reviewing albums so the short summer break is over, its time to get back to the music as well as the forest.
Back To The Forest is the debut EP by Robin Ross & The TW Howlers who feature the legendary Wharton Tiers on Drums, which is reason enough to buy this record. The TW is TW Howell and he and Robin Ross are also joined by JoJo Gaetani, Nancy Isola and Kristin Grazevich who recorded at Baa Baa Leaf studios in Milford Pennsylvania, the mini album was engineered and produced by Robin alongside Johnathan Duckett.
The mini album opens with the title track Back To The Forest a loose bluesy song trying to encourage us to go back to nature, step out of the rat race and live a more natural life, towards the end a short and incisive guitar solo livens things up.
Little Bit Older but are they a little bit wiser too, or have they fallen off a cliff of sensible behaviour, going out in a hail of bad behaviour, well the Crazy Horse style organ led backing, hints at wild times ahead, while the lyrics are darker asking questions about the treatment of veterans and other hot button issues, while I can't believe the restraint that Wharton Tiers plays the drums on this.
Pass The Line has a Sympathy For The Devil vibe musically, while they encourage you to know where that line is and then to pass it when you really need too. But never forget no one rides for free, your actions will have consequences. Simple Simon says he's fed up of being called Simple Simon, but he'll let that go this time, mainly because the laid-back blues guitar sounds magnificent.
Walk With Me is laid back, referencing Elton John and all sorts of other things while dishing out sage advice, from a life well lived, listening to Country Bluegrass and blues, this has a stately majesty to how they are asking you to Walk With Me.
Whiskey And Ice is in praise for their tipple of choice, while also being sad that a favourite bar is shutting down, so they won't so easily be able to get the Whiskey And Ice that sets them free of their normal inhibitions.
Find Out More at https://robinross.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-the-forest https://robinrossmusic.com/music https://www.facebook.com/rockinrobinross/
