The latest chapter in the long musical saga of Devonsquare was the recent release of Tom Dean's solo album, "Your Own Backyard."

Dean, singer and guitarist for Devonsquare, pulls together a fine collection of musicians and a reasonably fine collection of tunes to create a strong, 10-song album that shows us a side of his talent that isn't always evident in his work with D'square.

For starters, Dean went out and rounded up musicians who've worked with some of the best singer-songwriters of the '80s and '90s. Among the musicians on the album are drummer Shawn Pelton (Shawn Colvin), bassist Michael Visceglia and guitarist Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega), and guitarist Jeff Pevar (Rickie Lee Jones). The result is a buttery smooth instrumental mix that hovers around Dean's voice and never insists on getting in the way of his lyrics.

Dean's songs and arrangements are similarly buttery, but a rootsy flavor keeps the best of them from merely melting in your ears. The opening "On the Road" has a driving country feel, while the lyrics share Devonsquare's fascination with Beat writer subjects without lapsing into D'square's hipster pretensions. "Drive On" approaches the tautness of a Fred Eaglesmith tune, while the humorous "My Little Wildcat" exhibits great restraint with a minimalist rock arrangement.
Overall this is a strong album by a seasoned songwriter.

(By Scott Sutherland - Portland Press Herald)  

 Dean's latest album, "Your Own Backyard," is an introspective, quiet, and more than a little sad look at getting lost during life's travels and our ultimate destination -- home, and our backyard. But instead of grabbing your attention with dark lyrics or loud guitars, Dean is content to occasionally tap on your shoulder and whisper in your ear that he's still there. His non-intrusiveness makes it easy to listen to this CD for hours at a time.

Notable: Dean's backup band on this recording include Shawn Pelton (drummer for Shawn Colvin), Michael Viscelgia (bass player for Suzanne Vega), and Jeff Pevar (guitarist for CPR, Rickie Lee Jones, and Donald Fagen).

Production notes: On the inside cover, Dean says that his "vocals and guitar were recorded live with the band, and overdubs were minimal." It's this special touch that gives this CD the personal feeling and instant rapport that hooks you and keeps you listening again and again.

Indie-Notes: The whole CD package is professionally done, printed in 4-color ink on glossy paper. Pretty expensive for most indie musicians, but if you can afford to do it, it adds that much more professionalism to your entire image.

Summary: Tom Dean is the folk musician's folk musician. He writes and produces his own stuff, He has played with Bonnie Raitt, Joan Armatrading, Steven Stills, and Suzanne Vega. He has toured for the past 15 years, and is a member of Atlantic Records' folk-rock trio, Devonsquare. It's the same skills that he brings to all the other venues that you'll find all over the place in "Your Own Backyard." And that's what makes it one of my top choices for male folk album in my vast CD collection.

(Erik Deckers - Indie-Music.com)
 

The first thing that stands out about this album as you listen to the first cut, is the pristine quality and non-linear separation of every single sound. Then once you bring your jaw up from the floor, you begin to dig the groove of the prominent bass line and "boom-chucka" snare beat. This is prime for radio. What an incredible production.

"Kind of starts out like Bonnie Raitt's, "Papa Come Quick" but that's where the similarities end. The intentionally monotonous melody drones continuously like tires rolling along the freeway at 80 miles an hour. A nice compliment to the lyrical intent. "Walking On Ice" There is a certain Guy Clark-meets-Phil Collins influence at work here. It lingers in the air.......it's infectious. The subtle, seemingly transparent touches laced within this cut is nothing short of brilliance at work. My kudos to the chef.

"Love Is Always Gonna Look Just Like You" pop sensibility with the heart of a folk lyric to keep it grounded. The musicianship is about as professional, tight and creative as you'll ever hear. "Your Own Backyard" The intro reminds me of Gordon Lightfoot's, "Sundown". This kind of seductively drags itself like a peacock during mating season. Feel the electricity........feel the heat. Put this over the loudspeakers and the floor will be filled to capacity with dirty dancing, guaranteed.

"My Little Wildcat" Now we hit the bluesy side with this little number. It's a sassy one sprinkled with sultry intentions. Watch out, boys and girls. This will move you. "She's Just A Girl" A romantic ballad oozing with sensitive, laid-back instrumentation. Tom uses this original to flaunt his recitation skills. Groovy.

"The Devil and Robert Johnson" Pounding kick and monster accents bring this song into cult status. It's got an eerie and dangerous beat meant to satisfy that risk-taking side hiding inside of us all. Are you ready to face it?

"After Midnight" Mixing the sweet salvational buzz of the Hammond organ with Tom's mellow vocals almost gives this tune a gospel-like implication. REPEAT.......REPEAT........REPEAT. "The First Time I Saw Mary", is a pretty song. Simple. Beautiful. Strikingly similar to the stylings of Paul Simon and just as poignant in the interpretation. Touching.

The Summary

He's simply one of the finest singer-songwriter-musicians, walking this planet today. His music is exciting, mystical, haunting, impassioned, subliminal. This has to be one of the best independent albums to come out this year. Having never been previously introduced to Tom's music, I have now become a convert. I have missed this kind of sound for quite some time. It seemed to have faded with the Simon and Garfunkel era.......that well-produced sound with intelligent lyrics can be found with this project. If you love music for the quality of the sound and the depth of the songwriting, this is the album to have.

( Independent Songwriter Web-Magazine)

..Tom Dean has finally released a solo album. And it lives up to expectations. Devonsquare is a tough act to follow.

..What Dean has done with Your Own Backyard is make a solid, tuneful folk-pop album with catchy hooks, soulful vocals, and finger-snapping, foot-tapping songs.

..The creme de la creme are "Walking On Ice", "The Devil And Robert Johnson", "On The Road" and "After Midnight". What keeps Dean at the top of his form is the masterful assistance of lyricist George Wardwell and producer Peter Gallway.

..Dean's emotion and passion is evident with both the melody and his voice. And the folk-pop tag is perfect for someone who sounds equal parts Phil Collins and James Taylor.

..Jeff Pevar's electric guitar and Dean's vocal inflections make "Love Is Always Gonna Look Just Like You" sound like a tune that the Eagles could have done with Don Henley at the helm. A love song, hint of twang, slow and catchy.

.."The Devil And Robert Johnson" is my favorite of this disc. There is a bit of blues wrapped up in this tune, but that's not what makes it soar. The conviction in Dean's voice an tempo provided by the rhythm section Shawn Pelton peltin' the skins and Michael Visceglia on bass really stand out. The story, a twist on the Crossroads legend is equally good.

.."After Midnight" is not a cover. Dean penned this one entirely himself and it comes through well. The well-traveled Dean laments of days away from home and longing for love.

..Now that Dean has done the album he's been expected to do, how will he top this?

(Bill Huffman - Jam Magazine)

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