““Utterly engaging memoir…. A must-read for anyone with even the remotest interest in how the music biz works…. A short, sharp, sweet shock of a read…. Both Maxwell’s pinch-me moments and his creeping sense of dread are visceral and believable enough to land the reader right there in the middle bunk of the Zippers’ tourbus. And if that reader also happens to be an aspiring musician, the message here couldn’t be clearer: enjoy the ride, but be careful what you wish for.””

“It takes something like Kingdom Come to remind us how good [Maxwell] is. This eclectic 14-track album shines completely, from his irreverent country ode about a shoplifted Piggly Wiggly, "Ham," to the sophisticated baroque mien of "Fuck It," from the supple swing of "So High" to the lively garage-abilly rave-up of "Jump Over Here and Love Me." This is a witty, masterful tour de force deserving of re-recognition.”

“But by [Samsara’s] end…you realize that you’ve gotten something rare enough on a CD of any genre: a fully imagined musical world that echoes with the haunting depths of prose fiction.”

“His debut after breaking from the Zipper ranks, Samsara, is a diverse, rollicking, meditative and heartrending solo set, full of grounded, back roads-backroom humor, cosmic meditations and smoky barroom romps and ballads. With nary a notion of mere nostalgia, Maxwell has made a timeless pop record that recalls when pop meant "popular music," and that meant anything from jazz to calypso to country to torch songs and beyond.”

“...[He] is a twisted musical fiend, an utterly enigmatic performer....SAMSARA is beautifully disjointed...Maxwell leads an ever-changing lineup of musicians through a grab-bag of diverse musical genres...”

“For his post-Zippers debut, former Squirrel Nut frontman Tom Maxwell shows great skill at mixing musical languages. What stands out in the swing department is Maxwell's more cabaret-touched approach, less about Setzerian flash and more about energetic detail and drama. Samsara's an ambitious outing, as big in scope maybe as are Maxwell's spiritual notions. This is also an immense creative success.”

“Samsara still holds up well against the test of time, mostly because its music is indeed timeless...Samsara covers quite a bit of sonic territory...it's what those who listen to him have come to expect from Maxwell.”