Rating: 5 (out of 5) Every now and then, when wading into the murky depths of the independent music world, one is fortunate enough to stumble onto an artist that truly surprises you. It’s that artist who stands in possession of a surprisingly mature sound, lyrics that probe beyond the shallow end of the pool, and an overall vibe that simply sets them apart. Such is the case of Tom Levin and his latest indie release, Tooth and Claw. This Swedish-born artist came into his early form as an exchange student in the wilds of Alaska. Encouraged by his host family to perform after hearing him rock it out in the shower, Levin joined the school choir and took to performing. Yet, after a return home, the artist turned his mind to the more conventional study path of economics. Once the age of 25 rolled around, Levin again was bitten by the music bug and picked up the guitar and started writing. That led to a long road of performances, both solo and as a member of various groups, which garnered the artist a fair amount of airplay on Swedish radio. His hits even found some roots on the side of the U.S., with “Just” and “Please Disturb Me” scoring high on the indie charts. With Tooth and Claw, Levin showcases why he’s experienced such success, both here and abroad. Combining a keen sensibility for well-crafted songs alongside poignant lyrics and a vocal delivery that plays the fine divide between Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash (no small feat, that), Levin delivers a fine album. “For Life Tonight” is a sparse piece that allows a throbbing percussion to drive the track, only accented by occasional guitar until late and ends up playing like an unplugged Snow Patrol B-side. “Sink Your Teeth in the Day” opts for a more subdued route, combining a lilting lyric and flowing musical path while “A Toast for My Drummer’s Wife” is a true highlight. With mid-tempo acoustic flair, Levin crafts a killer hook that will inevitably be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. And you’ll be glad it did, to boot. “Evermore” is a tragically short track that invokes the best of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings, bringing forth ominous piano chords and poetic lyricism with the album’s namesake carrying forth more of the same with more piano and a slightly more pop friendly vibe. “We Know We Can Dance” is pretty straightforward singer-songwriter fare yet “Longing is the Life You Found” conjures up some dark atmosphere with a lovely female pairing vocal and more piano and shuffling brushes on the drums. “Burst Out In Flames” is another moody jam, subtly offering touches of piano and guitar that provide the perfect palette for Levin’s heavily emotive vocal. “Edelweiss” is a bit of a faltering, with simple guitar carrying nicely written lyrics that are hindered by an odd production choice that just doesn’t fit the quality of the other recordings. From there, listeners are treated to the organ-flavored “Gabriel’s Gone Missing,” finger-picking fueled “Hibernation,” and the subtle assurance of “Nothing Will Go Wrong.” By the time Levin closes things out with the subdued tale of “I’m Your Son,” listeners have clearly gotten their money’s worth. Levin’s Tooth and Claw is clearly a diamond in the rough. Perhaps the great land of Sweden is happier having him as their own but, if American audiences get wind of this artist’s chops, Sweden might have to fight for Tom Levin. With lyrics that connect at the heartstrings along with the head and a musical signature that leaves listeners wanting more, Levin is a must-hear artist and Tooth and Claw is as good a representation as they need. By Music Writer Andrew Greenhalgh' Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) Attempting to shoehorn singer-songwriter Tom Levin's music into a typical genre is not an easy task to accomplish. Levin sings in a wonderfully emotive baritone that perfectly compliments his deep, insightful lyrics. The arrangements are entirely genre defying, combining simple, driving rhythms with an acoustic feeling akin to Rick Rubin's work with Johnny Cash. Levin's music utilizes a full sound as his songs build, adding in other vocalists, keyboards, and some electric guitar parts. Levin's 2011 album Tooth & Claw is not only a consistent showcase of his vast talents, but also a brilliant one. He begins strongly with "For Life Tonight." The song starts with nothing more than a tribal drum beat as an introduction to his fantastic voice. As deep as Levin's voice is in tone, it's even deeper in its emotional delivery. "The hint of skin on skin, desire in the wind/I cry please, please, please happen to me," Levin sings, and that sense of longing comes through powerfully. As the song grows closer to its end, the music of it escalates far beyond its simple beginning; the drums pound out harder, beautiful accompanying vocals surround his singing, and it all ends with a flourish. Though not as intense, Levin follows up with "Sink Your Teeth In The Day." Where "For Life Tonight" is hopefully morose, "Sink Your Teeth..." is an optimistic, carpe diem rallying cry. Once again, the song features a remarkable build to it with the end of the track being bouncy and jubilant. In terms of being upbeat, this is about as peppy as Tooth & Claw gets. The title track is beautifully optimistic; Levin sings about a couple fighting to make it through their lives while anticipating the birth of their child. The music is hard and driving during the chorus, chugging along in a militant beat, a symbolic representation of the fight to continue on. The true joy of Levin's songwriting is its simmering intensity that creeps up on you as you continue to listen. To that extent, the best song here is "Burst Out In Flames." The scene is immediately set as the singer starts, "I put my make up on, rehearsing every word/I straighten my shirt and let out my hair/Knees are shaking, my mouth is getting dry/A breath of hope is in the air." As the small story unfolds, it's clear that Levin is singing the role of a performer giving his all on-stage. The instrumentation is very basic; guitar, piano, and minimal percussion. The vocal performance is what drives the song home, capturing the hope, desire, and passion of the song's character. Despite being mostly genre defying, there are moments that are fairly clear-cut in terms of sound. "Longing Is The Life You Found" is a very country sounding duet between Levine and a female vocalist who seems to be beautifully channeling Emmylou Harris. When the drum track kicks in, it's a very light brush performance, giving the two singers room for their voices to intertwine beautifully. About midway in the song, there's also a beautiful piano solo that chimes out the song's primary melody against percussion. Also, "Gabriel's Gone Missing," with its heavy organ sound and lyrical matter, is undoubtedly rooted in the music of the Christian church; the titular Gabriel being one of the mightiest angels. Hearing Levin sing in this kind of sound is chilling, thanks in no small part to his wonderful voice, and delivery. "I'm Your Son" closes the album, and has the most dramatic vocal performance by Levin on the album. The song is built on top of a mellow piano performance with Levin singing about a character, possibly himself, and the relationship between him and his Father. The lyric is achingly beautiful to the point where writing only a portion of it here would not do it justice. Essentially, Levin manages to sum up the concepts of living up to a parent's expectations, the parent's concerns about their child, the bonds of a relationship, and how time places pressure on a relationship as well. Near the song's end, Levin sounds like he's singing his heart out. It's a magnificent way to close this work. Many of the other songs featured on Tom Levin's Tooth & Claw are varying degrees of majestic, poignant, beautiful, unique, and other positive adjectives. Few singer-songwriters are equally able to sing and write with such passion and conviction as Levin does. The unique sound of the recording too provides it with a kind of universal appeal that, going back to the Rick Rubin and Johnny Cash recordings, also sounds timeless. Tooth & Claw is a wonderfully constructed album and provides a journey into various emotions, guided by a voice that conveys raw feeling like few others could. Review by Music Writer Heath Andrews Rating: 9/10 Tooth and Claw is the fourth album by the Swedish singer/songwriter. The album’s title might conjure some menacing visuals, but once Tom opens his mouth and his voice fills the room, any thoughts that this music is going to be dark disappear. Tom’s voice could best be described as what Ian McCulloch would sound like if he ever went the folk route. The songs on Tooth and Claw vary in their subject matter, but they all share one thing in common, a slow, mellow tone. It is his voice that really makes the songs stand out. His baritone seems to be able to reach the lower notes in his range as well as the higher notes. The instrumentation is minimal, which allows the listener to focus on what is really important, Tom’s singing and the lyrics. It is most likely that combination that won him the “AC Best Male Artist of the Year” award by New Music Weekly in 2006. Tooth and Claw is further proof of Tom’s skill in writing and singing. “Evermore” is the lead single and it is one of the more melancholy tracks on the album. As Tom sings “Oh Lord,” in the songs chorus as well as the final “Evermore,” listeners will be stunned by how deep his voice is. Listeners are treated to another sample of that range on the title track. The use of hand claps lightens the mood of a song about recovery. There are several songs that stand out above the others on Tooth and Claw, and the album’s opening track “For Life Tonight” is one of them. It has a wonderful melody that is a perfect showcase for Tom’s voice. It is one of the more romantic tracks. The deepness of the notes Tom pulls out can only be described as sexy. When he sings “Could you be the one for me” there will inevitably be a sea of women waving their arms in the air to attract his attention. The best example of Americana on this record is “Sink Your Teeth Into The Day.” This song has it all, a great beat, catchy lyrics and backing vocals that really work with the song, because those vocals are more like a chorus than just a backing vocal. That backing really makes the song feel uplifting. It is the kind of song that you listen to repeatedly and each time your mood improves. “Longing is the Life You Found” is a haunting tune. The female vocal is a perfect foil to Tom’s deep baritone. The two voices blend beautifully for all their differences. One of the more unique songs is “Burst Into Flames,” a slow, melancholy ballad. The simple guitar is almost eclipsed by the vocal, which fills the room and the listener can only focus on that. The lyrics are equally powerful, as Tom sings about a singer stepping onto the stage, hoping to be loved, while suffering from insecurities. The imagery of the song is so strong that it is hard not to visualize the performer and all his emotions as the song plays on. “Gabriel’s Gone Missing” has a wonderful organ and the backing track really gives the song a funereal tone. There’s such a wide array of emotions conveyed in the music on Tooth and Claw. “I’m Your Son,” is a wonderful song of son’s love for his father. The song doesn’t need more than the simple piano melody and the tambourine to bring the lyrics to life. There are few albums that are so moving and so simplistic, but Tooth and Claw is definitely one of them. This is an album that won’t leave you and most importantly, it is an album you won’t want to leave you. Tooth and Claw is by far one of the best albums of 2011 thus far. Mossip, elfslut Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) It may have been a disservice for Tom Levin to be categorized an AC male artist when he won “AC Male Artist of the Year” from New Music Weekly in 2007. Sure, his sound is quiet, but his intelligence is a whole lot louder than many of the performers who get tagged as “adult contemporary.” The first factor that gives Levin away as something special is his singing voice. He sings a little bit like Charlie Fink of Noah and the Whale, and Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile before him. This Swedish singer/songwriter, who lived for a time in Alaska as an exchange student, exudes a distinct worldly-wise charm as he sings. His voice is subtle, charming, and conversational. Levin’s best vocal is on “Burst out in Flames,” which builds from a quiet piano folk song, to a full-on pop ballad. On it, Levin references the singer/songwriter’s unique life, where he can speak openly and freely about his feelings right from the stage. Levin also has a seemingly unlimited lyrical range. Sometimes, his Tooth and Claw songs are quite personal. The album’s title track, for instance, begins with the ominous line, “I called the doctor for the second time today.” Although nobody would ever want to be in such constant communication with a medical representative, this is nonetheless an amazingly good first song line. It immediately sets the scene and irreversibly draws the listener in. Why is he calling the doctor? Is the call for himself or somebody he loves? He later adds, “the odds are good things will turn around.” However, it’s impossible to feel entirely positive after hearing such initial words. Levin builds his song around a sparse arrangement, most noteworthy for its rhythmic piano part. “Sink Your Teeth in the Day” may well be the antidote to “Tooth and Claw.” On this track, guided by folk guitar, Levin’s lyric speaks about trying to make the best of every moment. Multiple calls to the doctor can make a guy begin to start thinking and acting this way. In contrast, “Gabriel’s Gone Missing” sounds suspiciously spiritual. Even so, it’s ultimately a quest for quest for Earthly love, despite how it name-drops the angel Gabriel and even the devil himself. The track is also memorable for the way it works in the ooh-ing and ah-ing of a choir. There are a few songs that address love and romance more directly. “For Life Tonight” opens with Levin simply asking, “Could you be the one for me?” Later, with the slightly orchestral “We Know We Can Dance,” Levin is noticed feeling out a potential partner. Perhaps this dance is his way of figuring out if she could “be the one” for him. Levin is no electric guitar-toting hard rocker, which may obscure his coolness factor. However, he is a special artist, with much talent. Yes, he’s the quiet type, sonically speaking, but his lyricism is quite revealing upon close inspection. One of the big benefits of a softer-spoken singer/songwriter is that he speaks to listeners, instead of shouting at them. You might feel like you’re looking up, and from a distance, at famous rock stars, yet you get the sense you’re speaking face-to-face with Levin. And that’s much better. Nothing beats the sense of discovery that comes along with exposure to new music, such as Levin’s work. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize Levin’s obvious natural talent. Let’s hope the rest of the world catches on just as quickly. Review by Music Writer Dan MacIntosh
Rating 4/5 If the melodies and instrumentation were as heavy as the lyrics in Tooth and Claw, it might be a burden to take it all in. Thankfully, Swedish musician Tom Levin uses lighter melodies and carefully chosen instrumentation to showcase his introspective aural poems. Penned with Cole Ruth, all the original tracks on Tooth and Claw relay a message that is bigger than the song at first appears to portray. Coupled with literary devices and a songwriting style where less is more but the song continually grows to the end, Levin’s deep Randy Travis vocals makes every track a work of art.
The first single from Tooth and Claw is “For Life Tonight,” a quiet song about the inner agony of a man falling head over heels for the woman he wishes to spend the rest of his life with. The ominous beating drums are the perfect backdrop for this sneak peak into the unspoken turmoil the male souls goes through in love. This gentleman is thinking of the big picture with this woman and growing old together, not just the present sensual situation as is typical of many of today’s love songs. His anticipation is at the bursting point as each chorus gets bigger throughout the song. The harmonies take on a slight U2 flavor with the background vocals singing high above the leads ala Bono and The Edge. Another well-written song of churning inner emotions is “Burst Out in Flames.” This hypnotic piece is about how stage fright can be overcome with the reassurance of a loved one, but then morphs into the love of the audience’s acceptance. There is a unique high that comes with love and with a performance well done that the singer may becoming addicted to as evidenced in the last unaccompanied vocal line, “Say you love me and the crowd will love me / Am I moth to the flame.”
In a celebration of love much less overt than Eric Clapton’s “Layla,” Levin sings “A Toast to My Drummer’s Wife” in his soft, tender lower vocal range. The alliteration in the chorus is light and airy as he expounds upon, “What a love, what a laugh, what a lively heart / What a will, what a way, what beautiful start.” The title track is more melancholy punctuated by heavy downbeats as the song progresses. More poetic justice needs to be rendered to the last lines of the chorus as Levin tries to remain positive and sings, “Knowing that we’re going now to get through thick and thin. / Getting stronger in our longing for the life we will begin, we begin.”
Not all the songs on Tooth and Claw are despairing as a celestial chorus brings light to “Gabriel’s Gone Missing.” Accompanied by a church organ, the first verse cleverly uses the last word of each line as the third word of the ensuing line - another brilliant lyrical display. “I’m Your Son” is an honest sentiment to Levin’s father with the wonderful revelation, “There were times I wished that you were more like me… / …If you had been another you, I would not be me.” Ironically Levin did put his music on hold as he studied economics but realized not everyone is cut out for business. Family should be centered on unbridled loving acceptance and Levin does a fantastic job portraying these thoughts in this heartfelt ballad. Levin has lived in many exotic places throughout his life from Sweden to Alaska to Australia and does a fine job of weaving nature into his allegories as in “Sink Your Teeth Into the Day” and “Hibernation.” Despite the well-crafted lyrics throughout, Levin is also an accomplished performer and gives his finest vocal display in “Nothing Will Go Wrong” where he cuts loose from his comfortable lower tones and sings higher than previously heard in this deeply introspective number.
Tooth and Claw is a fine example of music written for the sake of itself ; not to be popular or catchy, but to simply relate to others.
Reviewed by Music Writer Kelly O'Neil "As a songwriter and vocalist, Tom Levin has a voice that resonates with life experience, longing and emotion. He is a storyteller. On his fourth album, Tooth and Claw, all this continues to resonate. His smooth baritone voice feels more in control and emotional on this album than on his previous ones; more introspective and self-assured. The production is sparse with an earthy sound that frames his voice and songs perfectly, giving this whole album a uniqueness that is rare today. The organic production reminds me of the early work of Tom Waits. /.../ This album takes us on a cinematic journey down the open road of our emotions and consciousness. The songs are pensive, with a true sense of Americana and a definite sense of place: you can almost see the highways and neon signs illuminating the dark nights." Nordic Sounscapes, Brian Hobbs "Han sjunger rakt och tillbakalutat, med musikaliskt närmast lekfulla engelska texter, samtidigt som han berättar en historia. Nästan omärkligt ger Levin det intima en allt högre puls och vet exakt hur långt han ska sträcka sig. På det viset kan han bjuda på tretton låtar med en lågmäld, men för lyssnaren allt tydligare variation, där det som vid första lyssningen framstår som okomplicerat och avskalat efter hand ger allt djupare avtryck och intryck. Jag kan bara kapitulera."
Värmlands Folkblad, Björn Stefanson
"Tooth and Claw är hans fjärde album och det kan mycket väl bli med vilket han slår igenom på bredare front. Det här är toner som kommer att slå an en sträng i mångas hjärtan. Det är ingen svårtillgänglig musik. Snarare något som kunde ackompanjera känslosamma kärleksscener i breda Hollywoodproduktioner. Varje låt har sin egen karaktär och Levin en känsla för melodier. Den avskalade lägereldssättningen korsas med en syntetisk känsla där Willie Nelson och Daniel Lanois möter U2 och David Grey." Dalarnas Tidning, Fredrika Hillervik "Det är lätt att tänka sig att musiken är gitarrbaserad, men när man lyssnar andra gången upptäcker man att låtarna har egna sammansättningar av tydliga och enkla instrument, där gitarren bara är ett av dem. Orgeln i Norrmalms kyrka på ”Gabriel´s Gone Missing” är ett roligt exempel på uppfinningsrikedomen. Albumet är en eftertänksam resa genom livet med Tom Levins lätt trotsiga livsmod. Singeln ”Evermore” om att leva i nuet, har ett beat som känns livgivande bland alla reflekterande och eftertänksamma arrangemang och texter. Kanske är det inte hitkänsla, men det är ett försiktigt jublande konstaterande att livet vinner." Kulturbloggen, Cecilia Dalman Eek "Den som lyssnat något på Tom Levin tidigare kommer genast att märka en viss skillnad. På Tooth and claw är allting mer genomgående avskalat och naket än på sina föregångare. Och det klär honom utmärkt. Man kommer närmare rösten och hans berättelser som förtjänar att lyssnas på." Barometern, Dennis Andersson "Möjligt att den här uppfattas som lite svårare. Men inte sämre. Snarare tvärtom. Och duetten med Anna Stadling är jättefin." Barometern, Dennis Andersson "Utsökta melodier Han har en typisk berättarstämma, svenske Tom Levin, i sin djupa och uttrycksfulla röst. På sitt nya album Tooth and Claw har han dragit ned på de stora arrangemangen till förmån för en mer avskalad ljudbild. Det gör att hans stillsamt pregnanta sångröst framträder än tydligare. Det har helheten vunnit på. Inte minst innebär det att hans texter och utsökta melodier får en än större tyngd." Upsala Nya Tidning, Björn G Stenberg "Tom Levin gör inget som inte gjorts förut. En singer/songwriter som står bekvämt tillbakalutad mot en amerikansk tradition. Men han gör det bra." ”Tooth and Claw” är hans tredje skivsläpp och countryinslagen från tidigare plattor får nu mindre plats. Det är på det hela taget rätt avskalat där Levins mörka och fina stämma får välförtjänt stor plats. Låtmaterialet är dessutom tillräckligt fint utmejslat för att aldrig bli ointressant. Pampiga inledningsspåret ”For life tonight” är en höjdpunkt tillsammans med titelspåret med sin tydliga rytmik." Västerbottens Folkblad, Niclas Holmlund "En samling låtar där berättandet står i centrum. Det är inte direkt muntert, å andra sidan inte deprimerande heller utan reflekterande och något sorgset. Tom har en förhållandevis mörk stämma, och det särskiljer honom från det mesta vi hör i dag. Samtidigt kan rösten närmast jämföras med Robbie Williams i den senares mer dämpade stunder." Norran, Per Strömbro ”Avskalat och vackert Det är inte svårt att höra att svenske Tom Levin varit bosatt i USA. Hans avskalade och skönt tillbakalutande countryinfluerade singer/songwriter-musik bottnar en hel del i bland annat sentida Johnny Cash.” Allenhanda, Peter Carlsson "Tom Levin put the crowning touch on the Lucia Night concert. He sounds damn good on CD, but he’s totally irresistible and something extraordinary when heard live."
Lilith Eve "A jaw dropper. Choirs wait behind every corner. I’ll have to listen to it many times before I dare to believe that it’s real!"
Casino P4, Lisa Wall "Throughout all of the songs there is a beautiful and relaxed attitude, and Tom’s voice is a big part of that /…/ Behind the CD’s ingenious title, there are a whole lot quality songs that have Tom Levin written all over them. /…/ There’s inspiration here from blues and gospel, there are many strong melodies. The lyrics to You don’t need your God are understated and definitely demand reflection. An interesting new release." Norrbottens-Kuriren, Micke Forsberg "A tasteful mix of singer-songwriter, pop, gospel, country and a drop of jazz. The album reaches its greatest heights in the collaboration with Immanuel gospel on the tracks Save me now, Throw in a t-shirt and You don’t need your god, but the material is strong throughout and I am really taken with " Musiklivet.com, it /…/ Me, my band that I älskar, Kasper and a bunch of friends sounds so good that I can’t stop playing it./…/Roger Bengtsson "Sumptuous and fatal rock poetry" Musiknytt.nu "Check out `I miss her missing me´. That’s exactly how it feels." Fredrik Virtanen, Aftonbladet "These are songs so surprisingly strong that they deserve the best possible framework/…/ Tom Levin writes very good lyrics; it doesn’t even seem strange when he becomes a bit didactic. We can only hope that listeners will appreciate his great songs, appealing arrangements and genuine craftsmanship." Värmlands Folkblad, Björn Stefanson "Magical, low-key alternative rock. A blend between the majesty of Pink Floyd and the subtle presence of a singer-songwriter /…/ This unbelievably well-crafted album makes you feel good in every way." Nya Wärmlands Tidningen, Anna Sims "Tom Levin is a melody creator of rank /…/ After an upward rise throughout the whole concert, we are taken down again and the calming I thank you ends the evening. This thank-you song to Tom Levin’s family seems just as much like a thank-you song to those of us in the audience. I’m still humming." Konsertrecension, Musiklivet.com, Mattias Jägerskog "Tom Levin is an unusual Swedish artist, in part because of the time he spent in Alaska and Australia and in part because of the sound of his music. Tom Levin's music is as American sounding as anything coming out of the states. His mix of americana, country, bluegrass, pop and even gospel would fit on just about any AAA station in this country (compare to Josh Rouse, Robert Earl Keen or Joe Henry). " http://swedesplease.blogspot.com |
