He`s all country, the Oklahoma bred TJ McFarland, but you can feel the edgy vibe of both Dylan and the Stones lurking a little beneath the songs of his latest full-length release, Rosenbum`s Gin. The young songwriter even makes reference to them both at points throughout this story-rich set which goes from twangin` to rockin` and folksy to epic from song to song. The band kicks along with a variety of moods enhanced by all manner of musical coloration including sweeping Hammond B3, fiddle, slide guitar (Dobro and lap) and mandolin. But you`re not doin` too bad when you have members of both Dwight and Lucinda`s band backing you up. Included are hot players like Doug Pettibone, Mitch Marine, Taras Prodaniuk, Skip Edwards and Keith Gattis, among others. Legendary LA session guitarist Waddy Wachtel also provides a fair amount of electric guitar work here. But that`s no distraction from the presence of McFarland whose strength emerges front and center with a direct, honest and rural delivery that recalls a bit of John Prine smoothed out by James McMurtry. But ultimately, McFarland sounds like a country boy who got wise to the West - Los Angeles now his home - and the West has welcomed him. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music