Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Tom Golly

Tom Golly
Not Going Back

Street Date: August 30, 2016
Style: Rock
Official Site: Official Website


Independent artist Tom Golly was once a stand-up comedian before feeling the call to sing for God instead of telling jokes. In 2015, the New Yorker moved his family to Nashville to focus completely on this ministry and began working with Travis Ryan at Lifepoint Chruch. Golly's debut 7-track EP, Not Going Back, released at the end of August. Golly's music comes across in the vein of Jeremy Camp (perhaps an earlier version of Camp though), or even Seventh Day Slumber. The best examples of these influences can be heard in "Not Going Back" (Camp) and "Let Your Heart Be Found" (SDS). The title and theme of the record don't have to do with a physical location but instead talk about "not going back to who I was" before Jesus.

Musically and vocally, Not Going Back is a really enjoyable listen. The sound is super familiar, but manages to stay interesting. Highlights are certainly the title track, the rocking "Let Your Heart Be Found," the humble cry of "Lead Me," and the awesome cover of Blessid Union of Souls' "I Believe." Eliot Sloan's words from the 1995 smash hit seem to resonate louder than ever, and the song is certainly worthy of being brought back into the light. The piano ballad is given the acoustic treatment and the vocal pattern of the chorus is altered a touch to fit his own style. Golly also removes the third verse about mixed race relationships -- likely because of the controversial use of the "n-word" more than anything. In this verse's place, Golly sings the first verse over again in a format that sounds more like a bridge. It's an impressive cover and one I nearly missed upon first listen. The biggest "issues" (so to say) come in "Ocean (Nautical Miracle)" and "I Am You Are." Right now, water references are a point of contention and an issue being poked fun of by memes and videos in CCM today. Although cliché, Golly's analogy makes sense and works within the context of the album's lead song. As for the Casting Crowns-like "I Am You Are:" The song isn't bad in and of itself, but the constant repeats of "I am, I am, You are,' and the reverse, "You are I am," just wear thin by the end of the four-minute-long tune.

Overall, Tom Golly does an excellent job of projecting his sound. The songs aren't something new and magical, but they appear to be honest and well written. Golly's voice also sticks out as powerful with pretty good vocal range and ability. Fans of Jeremy Camp is will definitely find a lot of love about Tom Golly -- especially fans of Camp's edgier days. The music isn't a carbon copy of today's delay-filled worship songs, but it isn't heavy enough to alienate most CCM fans with "Let Your Heart Be Found" as the only "rock song." I would recommend Not Going Back for most listeners of today's Christian music. Even if you're not sold on Tom Golly as a whole, I strongly recommend that you check out "I Believe" as a minimum. Fans of the original should be pleased with the treatment given, and those unfamiliar will hear a very important message. Look for Tom Golly to make a big splash in the near future.

- Review date: 9/23/16, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!





JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 7 tracks: 26 minutes, 16 seconds
. Street Date: August 30, 2016
. Buy It:iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon

  1. Ocean (Nautical Miracle) (4:10)
  2. Not Going Back (3:36)
  3. Let Your Heart Be Found (3:24)
  4. I Am You Are (4:09)
  5. I Believe (3:44)
  6. Lead Me (3:54)
  7. Come Home (3:19)

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images