Michael Tomlinson has been well known since the late 80s for his jazz-inflected vocals and strong, poetic lyrics. The Way Out West is a long awaited return to a full band format. Michael has released several solo acoustic discs over the last fifteen years but this is his first full production in over a decade. Two years in the making, it's a rich mixture of rhythmic, melodic songs, ranging from rock and pop influenced to folk and country. In fact, those influences permeate almost all of Michael's music until finally, it simply becomes his own genre: Michael Tomlinson Music. Tomlinson was born and raised in Texas, beginning to write songs in his early 20s - before he could even play an instrument. By his mid-twenties he was moving around Texas seeking a way to get a foothold in the music business. His first real break came in Seattle where he wrote a song about a famous mountain climbing event and the song became a huge success on local radio. He moved to Seattle and started his career releasing his first album, Run This Way Forever, on his own Desert Rain label. From there it was a series of record deals and convoluted world distribution deals for the next few years before he decided to take back ownership of all his music and find a more peaceful way to live and play music. In the years since, Michael has continued to release a new record of brilliant new tunes every few years and play occasional concerts around the US. With the release of The Way Out West, there is speculation that a resurgence is coming, look for much more touring and activity in this upcoming year.