Leslie Tom

"Her music has a realness to it. She obviously has drawn on real-life experiences in the performances of her music. You can hear it in her voice. At a time when gimmicks are such a part of the music world, her only gimmick is to keep it real. I like that and I like her. “ - Bluegrass Johnson - Farm World Magazine

"Every track (High Maintenance) is heartfelt be it ballad or be it a rousing toe tapper, she sings it like she means it, and does it well. - Brad Springs - The Stars of Texas Magazine

Leslie Tom…She's a heck of a lot all rolled up into one small package. Humble yet Sassy, Soft yet like a rock, and most of all a very talented singer and songwriter. I have worked with Leslie for over 10 years, both in the studio and on live shows, and she never ceases to amaze me. Thank you Leslie for letting me have that privilege to work with you and watch you grow into your love of music. You are Awesome!! - Bill Green, Owner - BGM Network

Leslie Tom uses the hashtag "UnapologeticallyCountry" and that sums her to a tee. Her recent EP Leslie Tom (Coastal Records) is a throwback to when female country music was really big voices singing about love, heartaches, and family. There are several honky-tonk selections that immediately put one in mind of Patsy Cline, including a cover of one of Cline's signature songs, "Leavin' On My Mind." Tom does it as if it were a country/café torch song. Hers is indeed a big voice and she's not afraid to air it. What I really liked was that Tom steers clear of processed sheen. She even gets a little bit corny on "Hank You VeryMuch," a tribute in which she skillfully interweaves Hank Williams song titles. And if you want to wallow in a roadhouse weepie, check out "Breakin' My Own Heart," a twangy 1950's throwback featuring country legends Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano and Lloyd Green on pedal steel. Later, there's a love song duet with Kevin Moon; a patriotic tribute to her grandfather, a World War II vet; and; and a tongue-in-cheek reflection on motherhood, "Hardest Thing I'll Ever Do." You don't get much more unapologetically country than a line like: "You're a Goldilocks with your daddy's eyes/You're a ketchup smile with greasy French fries." ★★★★ - Off-Center Views

‘Leslie Tom,’ Leslie Tom (Coastal Bend Music,☆☆☆☆)
This Feb. 17 CD (likely available in other formats) from singer/co-writer Leslie Tom contains seven songs, so it’s an EP lengthwise. Her accompanists include acoustic guitarists Chris Leuzinger and Kerry Conner, electric guitarists Eugene Moles and Steve Hinson, steel guitarists Lloyd Green and producer John Macy, keyboardists “Pig” Robbins and Matt Weesner and many others.

“Hank You Very Much,” which quotes liberally from Hank Williams’ songs, is my favorite tune, but I also dig these: the fiddle/steel-drenched dad-remembering “Every Other Friday,” “My Only Addiction” (with Kevin Moon), the patriotic “Didn’t Think Twice” and the piano-steel powered “Leavin’ On Your Mind.”

Fans of classic, good-old-country music will enjoy this recording a lot. - Sun Herald

Jackson’s magical musical touch also translates quite nicely to the female segment of his audience. Witness the impact he’s had on Leslie Tom, a Denver-based country singer-songwriter whose recent self-titled EP was recorded at Cinderella Sound in Nashville and produced by John Macy (who has crafted records for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Richie Furay, and Los Lobos).

“Alan Jackson is an artist who stayed true to traditional country sounds while the music around him was changing to ‘pop’ country,” she points out. “For an artist to stay true to his roots when the industry is demanding something different takes guts — and, for that, I appreciate Mr. Jackson.”

Tom admits many of Jackson’s songs have left “tattoos on [her] heart,” but she cites “Remember When” as being one that’s been particularly impactful on her personally.

“When I heard that song for the first time, I thought, ‘I’m so far from that place in my life. I can’t imagine feeling that way about kids or a spouse,’” she says. “At the end of the song, he sings, ‘Remember when the sound of little feet was the music we danced to week to week.’ After almost 20 years, those words have stuck in my head. Having a small child now, I understand what he’s singing about, for there is no better music than the sound of my daughter’s feet slapping the hardwood floor. I cry every time I hear that song.” - Palm Springs Life

It doesn’t get much more country than Leslie Tom’s self-titled release. Songs like “Breakin’ My Own Heart,” “Hank You Very Much” and the Patsy Cline cover “Leavin’ On Your Mind,” certainly set the tone, but that’s not what makes this album overflow with the honkytonk twangs of yesteryear — it’s Tom’s backing band. The Denver singer/songwriter worked with Denver producer and Grammy winner John Macy (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Richie Furay, Los Lobos) and when Macy got the idea to get a few legendary session players to guest on the album he ended up going a bit overboard in a really good way. The record features a veritable who’s-who of legendary players, including Lloyd Green on pedal steel, Country Music Hall-of-Famer Hargus “Pig” Robbins on keys and long-time Garth Brooks guitarist Chris Leuzinger. Robbins plays keys on the Cline cover, and already knew the song quite well since he played on Cline’s original recording back in 1963 — the last single she made before her death. The EP also features a duet with rising country star Kevin Moon on the song “My Only Addiction.” - Marquee Magazine

Sometimes you just need some low-down, beer drinkin’, cheatin’, and fightin’ music and that’s what Leslie Tom provides. It’s a female behind that ambiguous name; she’s been singing since she was seven and now takes the stage to channel Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn and her WW2 vet daddy. She wrote six these seven solid tracks here, they call it an EP but I vote it’s a good enough to qualify as a full album.

Opening track “Breakin’ My Own Heart” recalls the best of the Nashville Sound honky tonk blues; it’s a sad story of loss and abandonment but the chords and vocal smoke it sound like a party. “Didn’t Think Twice” tells the story of her father, a man of direct action who never agonized but stood up and did whatever dirty job needed doing. Then there’s a sad ballad “Every Other Friday” and a loyalty song: “Hardest Thing I’ll ever do” and even the sexy lament “Hank You Goodbye”. She joins with up and coming Kevin Moon for “My Only Addiction is You,” it’s all you could want in a sad barroom ballad.

All of these tracks are solid and listenable; I’ve spun this disk more than once on my commute and it’s still on my playlist. Ms. Tom punches out with a Patsy Cline torch number “If You’ve Got Leaving on Your Mind.” It’s as gripping today as it was in 1963, and it was one of the last tracks Cline recorded before her unfortunate death. I certainly hope Ms. Tom lasts much longer, this is a gem of a record for those of you interested in the mid-century country sound. And if you’ve not been exposed to that fervent mix of beer, smoke and lust here’s a great stepping off point for your musical education.

www.leslietommusic.com - Ink19

One of our fav country stars Leslie Tom just released her new self-titled EP and to celebrate we asked her to tell us the story behind the song "My Only Addiction". Here is the story:

"My Only Addiction" is my favorite song on the new record. The inspiration for the song came primarily from my experience walking my best friend through a relationship that was like a drug addiction for her. Over the past few years, she was in and out of a relationship with the same guy, each time trying to convince herself that seeing him would not cause an emotional downfall, and each time they got together, she left feeling just exactly that. Some would argue a drug addiction is the worst kind of addiction to have, yet I would argue that being in a relationship with someone that is emotionally unavailable but with chemistry and conversation that is overpowering is more harmful. At least with drugs, there is rehab, with love, you can get stuck in a cycle of negativity.

After a particularly hard evening on the phone with my friend, I told her that I was going to write a song about her love addiction and started to do just that. A friend of mine named Tony Gunter told me he had a few lines he put together for an addiction-type song so we got to work. After a few days, we brought Linda Koehl in to help finish the song out and what we ended up with is a combination of a life's worth of bad relationship experiences wrapped into one song.

To make the song the best, Kevin Moon (who has the voice of classic country music) graciously agreed to sing the duet with me. It's pure magic!

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here! - AntiMusic