what the people are saying
With Or Without has been one of the most enjoyable listens I’ve literally had this year and contains an indescribable magic that only a purely authentic & sincere artist could ever attain. Quite simply put – what you’ll hear on this record are the moments that make music the best part of our lives – With Or Without is incredible.
"With Or Without" by Tom Rhodes is one of the most sing-alongable albums I've heard in a good while. The hooks are clever, the rhythms feel good, and the lyrics are infectious. I admire the guitar work on this collection which is clearly a cut above what you get from most singer/songwriters. But it's the good-natured every man attitude I like best about his music.
- Calvin Powers, Americana Music Show (Apr 28, 2015)
"Tom Rhodes is a Creature of Limitless Potential..."
- Jacqueline Jax, Behind the Music with Jacqueline Jax (Feb 08, 2015)
"With Or Without, the fourth self-released album from East Bay singer-songwriter Tom Rhodes, has taken the concept of a live album — the attempt to capture that specific face-to-face, performer-audience magic — and distilled it like a fine whiskey. Created over the course of four separate live performances in November in front of intimate studio audiences at San Francisco's own Coast Recorders, the resulting music sounds like you've been snuck into something secret and awesome." -SF Bay Guardian, August, 11, 2014
- Emma Silvers, SF Bay Guardian (Aug 11, 2014)
“With or Without” is a diamond in the rough: an album tasteful, restrained, and devoid of cynicism. It is a beautiful thing to behold.”
- Beach Sloth, Skope Mag (Dec 03, 2014)
“Tom Rhodes rises from his roots on “With or Without” There’s something about the sounds of lo-fi acoustic guitars and lap steel licks that sooth the soul. Tom Rhodes does all that and more in his latest release “With or Without”, telling us stories of truth, while keeping us calm and cool with deep, raspy vocals, organic harmonies, and raw instrumentation. Folk, Country, Americana, and Rock fans alike would enjoy this release from the San Francisco based singer/songwriter. I picture a nice, heavy pour of whiskey alongside this one, but to be sipped, taking in the complexity of the flavors, much like we should take in these songs.”
- Glitter Rose, Indiehabit.com (Sep 18, 2014)
“Tom Rhodes – Better Son Screw old the system of musicians being at the arbitrary mercy of record companies; Tom Rhodes sells his self-financed albums on the Internet and at live gigs. His sophomore album of alt.country should by rights sell enough to pay the singer’s bills and more. In sound and in merit, it recalls one of the best albums of 2010, Ryan Bingham’s Junky Star. Bourbon-voiced Rhodes must have had confidence in his set of songs: he keeps the album’s best track, the title number, for the finale.”
- Nerve.com 5 Albums you Should be listening to Right Now, Halfhearteddude.com (Dec 16, 2011)