Unlike his prior releases, which featured at least a dozen of his usual suspects as band mates, Tommy Lee Cook seems to have shown a bit of a versatile approach to his music on "Outside Looking In", his newest release. On this project it's just Tommy on electric and acoustic guitars, Dobro, lead and background vocals and midi-programming; Danny Sheppard on electric guitar, background vocals and midi-programming; and Pat 'Cleanhead" Hayes on harmonica.

The eleven tracks are all originals and contain a lot more ballads, a lot more sensitive lyrics and a lot more soulful and heartfelt vocals than a familiar listener may expect from Tommy...and this familiar listener is loving it all. I'm sure it all had to do with Tommy's frame of mind during a recently rough period in which he lost his good friend and music associate - whom the disc is dedicated to - Hamp Walker.

Proverbs, words of wisdom, expressions, clichés, or whatever one might call them, Tommy's mother taught him them all.....and as you'll hear on "What You Gone Do", he obviously remembered them all, as well. Interestingly enough, aside from the vocals, the synthesized programmed parts of this track are it's highlights. I'm swearing that I'm listening to a hell of a rhythm section with a piano and a baritone sax.

"Take A Breath" is a suggestion Tommy's unsuccessfully making to a boring, over talkative, non punctuation using neighbor on the next barstool who claim's that in spite of only being 35 year old, he knew Elvis. Funny, hearing Tommy mention this guy makes me think I met him as well. Cleverly written sarcastic and humorous lyrics are this tracks highlights.

"This Old Flame" is an absolutely beautiful song - vocally, lyrically and musically. The soft rhythm, the light guitar notes and the steady organ background all seem to provide the pulse that drives Tommy's emotional deliverance. Nothing fancy here, just real feelings at work.

This song's probably about a love gone wrong yet I can't help but thinking, that in some subliminal way, it may very well have something to do with the way Tommy's buddy Hamp departed. No warning, no phone call, no goodbye.....and from his understanding and sorrowful friends' point of view - there "Ain't No Blame".

It was probably a different day or it may very well have been a different joint, but once again, Tommy finds himself sitting next to another talkative stranger. This one, however, seems to be a bit more interesting as he explains "The Truth About Lies" to Tommy. Sung in a narrative form, the sincerity in the telling of this story makes you want to closely listen.

The disc ends with it's fastest and hottest track - and as Tommy would probably describe it - "It's A Party". On this smoker - which includes the grumbling of motorcycles - the guitars are flailing, the harp is wailing and the programming's gone madly wild.

Other tracks on "Outside Looking In" include: "God's Little Acre", "Grits And Groceries", "Devil On My Shoulder", "She Got The Look", and "Arkansas Dirtweed".

To purchase the disc, and to learn more about Tommy and his Buckingham Blues Bar - located in Fort Myers, FL - just go to www.tommyleecook.com. Please make sure you tell him the Blewzzman says "hey" and that I'm looking forward to seeing him in a few weeks.