Tom Laverack: Laverack has written and played music since his early days as a teenager, growing up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. His lyrics reflect the early influence of two great Northeast regional writers, Robert Lowell and Jack Kerouac. Like Kerouac, he hit the road, traveling hopefully to New York City to try his hand at big city life. Like Lowell, he ended up spending time sobering up at McLean Hospital near Boston, where, in the words of the earlier poet, "Each of us holds a locked razor." At 25, Laverack recorded his first record, Sentimental War (Earhorn Disks) with long time friend and musical collaborator, Larry Fessenden. Their band, Just Desserts, played many of the East Village performance spots, including PS 122 and LaMama, as well as CBGB's and the Mercury Lounge. Just Desserts released their second album, Give Up The Ghost, in 1997. Primarily a solo artist since 1999, Laverack released Out of the Blue (Megalith Records) in 2000, a project produced and supported by long time friend and supporter, Daniel Egger. Gideon Egger produced Tom's next album, Gift Horse, which was released April, 2005. A keen observer of the hard edges of life, Laverack's music has always been personal and raw, at times raucous, at other times stark and keenly sober. Tom's early influences were John Prine and Tom Waits, though his later influences include Elvis Costello, Keith Richards, and Paul Westerberg. Laverack has played locally for many years and received radio airplay around the United States. He lives and works in New York City where he earns his keep as a social worker. Gift Horse: Gift Horse is a product of both self-reflection and a fascination with the marginal experience at the edges of society. The songs tend to contemplate the meaning in suffering and misfortune, perhaps following the logic that maladies, disorders and loss, have equal beauty and resonance as their diametric opposites. In this spirit, the album is a celebration at, or near, the end of the line. There is a tender will for life even within those bent on self-destruction. Gift Horse is a survivor's story. One's redemption, or if you will, revenge, comes from plain perseverance, and through this fleeting connection to others. Life itself may well be the gift, even while it appears to be the source of our suffering. In the end, the album can only contemplate this paradox, and celebrate a flawed human spirit as a triumph in and of itself. Featuring renowned guitarist Marc Shulman. Produced and arranged by Gideon Egger. Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway studios, Maine.