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. 

Here's the words he says about it: "When I was first beginning this new recording I could not help but recall my very first album, Run This Way Forever. That record did some unexpectedly wonderful things in the world and in my life. I expect that if I live to be an old man I will still be hearing from people about what those songs meant to them and how something in the music made them feel less lonely.