Randy Hill, Austin Texas 

?The disc offered a nice variety of styles and instrumental focus?good, wholesome music that shares the spirit, passion and integrity of the artist who created it.? 
Tom Gill, drummer, Milwaukee, WI 

?The music is fresh and interesting.? 
Barry Bynum, Austin Tx 

??I like it. It reminds me of Tom Petty.? 
Phil Carter, CA

Damrow's new CD "Riding the Wave", opens a window to a diverse individual who embraces the life given him with a mixture of humor, spirituality , and humanity. 

Songs such as "Don't waste This Day" are personally introspective: At 16 years of age, Damrow's father gave him a '57 Chevy, won in  a poker game and told him to "go far." The car made it to the desert in Arizona, leaving Michael and friend with a "sweet taste of freedom" and the opportunity to hitchhike to Southern California. 

Some of us observe life, some of us dive into the mainstream and fight the waters, and then there are people like Michael Damrow, who seem to float on their back and embrace all that comes their way. 

This sort of fulfillment from his life shows in his music. 

Right now, there seems to be a flood of patriotic music. I have heard a lot, even just locally. 

A tragedy of the magnitude that we all witnessed on Sept. 11 is extremely difficult to address with words that don't seem inappropriate. 

On the ninth track of Damrow's CD, "Black September," I found myself worried during the verse that the song would fall short, but the chorus seems to parallel what happened to many of us, individually - how we talked about little things that divided us, but, how that all streamed into a sea of unity. 

This song successfully orchestrates the same personality transformation that our country saw (from verse to chorus) and the chorus stirred me emotionally. 

It bears repeating: "I see the sky, Old Glory still is flying high. We will survive, with courage, love and sacrifice. We will get through. The sun still shines, the sky's still blue. So here's to you. Heaven's blessings rest on you." 

If you are listening and feel uncomfortable with the double-time bridge, think metaphorically, match the lyrics about terrorists and how they threw the rhythm and harmony of the country off and, I believe, it gives you a very positive read on the song. 

The songs are very melodic, and I definitely hear a Beatles influence. 

There is a solid musicianship throughout the CD, but what I enjoyed most was the courage of the writer. 

Damrow gives us a glimpse of what is in his heart. 

There is a comment on the jacket suggesting that it is directed predominantly toward "blue-collar baby boomers such as Damrow." I think I fit into that category, but I think the open concept of this recording could reach anyone who relaxes and listens to it. 

(This is an excerpt from the original article)