Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes 2013 album review. 4 star rating.

Tom Keifer

“The Way Life Goes”

2013 release from Merovee Records.

Tom Keifer – Solid Ground music video.

Tom Keifer – Vocals, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, keyboards. Greg Morrow – Drums, percussions. Michael Rhodes – Bass. Tony Harrell – Piano, B3, Wurlitzer, Clavinet.

Artist location: Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

 

4 out of 5 stars rating.

Reviewed by David.

1. Solid Ground.
2. In A Different Light.
3. It’s Not Enough.
4. Cold Day In Hell.
5. Thick And Thin.
6. Ask Me Yesterday.
7. Fools Paradise.
8. The Flower Song.
9. Mood Elevator.
10. Welcome To My Mind.
11. You Showed Me.
12. Ain’t That A Bitch.
13. The Way Life Goes.
14. Babylon.

 

Well it took 19 years for us to hear anything new from Tom Keifer. The Cinderella frontman had not released anything new since the band’s last studio album, 1994’s “Still Climbing”, before releasing this, his first, solo album. The resulting record is one that has been ten years in the making.

As I stated before in my review of Jeff LaBar’s solo album, Cinderella is one of my favorite bands of all time, so I was beyond ecstatic when I heard this was coming and I had it preordered long before it ever released. Unlike with LaBar’s album though, I did have the pleasure of hearing a couple of tracks from this one before it released. I loved what I heard, which made the wait even longer. As soon as I received it, I broke into it, sat down, and listened to it from start to finish. The long, long wait was worth it.

While this is closer to the Cinderella sound then anything his bandmates have released over the years in thier various projects, this is still not Cinderella. Sure, there are definite similarities present, but this is a much more introspective and personal feeling record with a softer tone then anything the band has released.

This album is exactly what you would expect from Keifer. Songs of the best quality. Blues induced songs full of his signature vocals and slide guitar that we all know from the Cinderella albums. Rockers, mid-tempo numbers and ballads all find their way onto the record and Keifer does a fantastic job with them all, never giving us a boring moment or a filler track among them.

Keifer sounds amazing here. I am so glad he has been able to overcome all of his vocal problems and, amazingly, he comes out here sounding as good, if not better, then ever. He is truly in top form throughout the whole album.

Everything is on point with the album. From the songwriting to the musicians, to Keifer’s vocals to the excellent production. This one doesn’t fail on any level. Tom’s wife, Savannah, co-produces and sings back-up on several tracks. She also has some writing credits to her name here.

Don’t go into it expecting to hear a “Night Songs” or “Long Cold Winter” sounding album because it is not. Open your mind a little and just let the album speak for itself and you will not be disappointed.

Definitely highly recommended for fans of Cinderella, Keifer or bluesy rock of the highest order. So pick this one up, enjoy it and pray it doesn’t take another 19 years for us to get another album from this incredible artist.

Really not a bad track on the album, but here are a few that stand out to me personally.

 

Standout Tracks:

 

Solid Ground.

In A Different Light.

It’s Not Enough.

Cold Day In Hell.

Thick And Thin.

Ask Me Yesterday.

The Flower Song.