Customer Reviews

Just Like Blood

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my first review but i felt i really had to write a review. Tom Mcrae is not very well known but that doesnt mean that his music isnt worth listening to - quite the contrary. Once you get into this album you notice how unique the music is. He is really talented and the music is really beautiful. Although 1 or 2 of the songs are maybe just mediocre, there are one or two songs on here such as "You only disappear" which are one of the best songs ive heard. So i beg you - give this one a try!!

I bought this album on the strength of Tom McRae's debut (titled Tom McRae) thinking that it couldn't possibly be better...but I was wrong. It is in a word: exquisite. Lyrically and melodically haunting with its perfect combination of vocals and strings. Some favorite songs are: Human remains, Day Like Today, and Walk 2 Hawaii.

These songs are mesmerizing, haunting, & melodic. Buy this and his debut and you've got the perfect soundtrack to your sad/beautiful life. Tom McRae would sell millions of cds in my ideal universe.

Despite a great respect and passion for Tom McRae's music now, I wasn't sure I liked his voice the first time I heard him sing; but then I couldn't get the songs out of my head: they just kept floating through my consciousness until I was forced to go back and listen again... and again... and again. Tom McRae is an amazing musician.

...commercials are good for something. Thank you Pontiac... I had been searching for days to find out the artist for the new Pontiac commercial's music... and I finally found out it was Tom McRae... the second I first heard this commercial I said to my girlfriend that I have to get that song... now I'm buying the album and can't wait to hear more...

I am a big fan of Peter Gabriel and another unknown British artist Kingbathmat... and Tom McRae seems to fit into their realm of wonderfully expressed music... if you like this you'll also love David Gray, Nick Drake and Damien Rice.

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This second album from the UK singer-songwriter sees him eclipse at warp speed the guy he is most frequently compared to, David Gray. A late discovery for me, this is a haunting, lovely and musically complex album that I am still trying to digest as we move into 2004. Standout tracks: "Day Like Today", "Ghost of a Shark", "You Only Disappear", "Walking 2 Hawaii".

McRae just wrecks me. I think "You Only Disappear" is one of my favorite tracks but they're all good, tho I think the song selection on his debut self-titled album was slightly stronger. He's the perfect blend between Seal, Chris Whitley and Brian Eno.

I brought this album having listened to a lot of his older stuff, and being heavily into acoustic based music by other artists (such as Damien Rice and Elliott Smith)
I listened through the album, and at first was not particuarly impressed by the sometimes hesitant vocals and mellow acoustic guitar playing, not to mention the quite bizarre effects on certain songs. However, a further listen allowed me to understand the intricasies behing his writing and singing, and I became gradually more and more involved with what he sung.
1. Day Like Today - 4/5

An enjoyable opening song, with some interesting marimba work and an excellent rhythm and bouncy flow. Some good melody, vocal and lyrical work, but one almost felt it lacked the full emotion of his other songs.

2. You Only Disappear - 5/5

My personal favorite on the album; an excellent blend of beautiful lyrical and vocal work, with haunting piano and acoustic guitaring. A fantastic song

3. Ghost Of A Shark - 5/5

Another brilliant song, due to the sheer relaxed atmosphere created by a very well-played acoustic guitar riff and some lovely lyrical and vocal inter-weaving.

4. Stronger Than Dirt - 4/5

Another good song; more main-stream than quite a lot of his work, and again one almost feels that the personal level is removed slightly. An enjoyable song nevertheless

5. Overthrown - 5/5

A heart-stoppingly relaxing, haunting and beautiful song. Excellent electric guitaring with some lovely relaxed vocals (and lovely echo creation!)

6. Walking 2 Hawaii - 5/5

Another 5 out of 5; this time because of the change from depressing, mellow music to slightly more upbeat, mellow music! Here we can see his genius as a lyrisist and vocalist; a truely great song, one which really stands out on the album

7. Mermaid Blues - 3.5/5

Some excellent work with vocals, a nice mellow piece with some very strange effects (similar to those in Walking To Hawaii), but perhaps a little over-handed with the length.

8. Karaoke Soul - 4.5/5

A song which lets its lyrics do the talking. A bitter, heartfelt rock piece, with some aggressive vocals and electric guitar playing. A very good song, very moving.

9. Line Of Fire - 5/5

Another excellent song, very eerie creation of echoes and voice combining with the lines "I am watching you". A brilliant tune to hear

10. Human Remains - 5/5

A perfect tune to end the album with; relaxed and mellow, yet with some very upbeat moments and some nice (and rare) percussive work.

So why not five stars? The only reason I refused to grant this CD 5 stars is because its lack of real breakaway experimentalism. In places, one almost feels Mcrae is going through the motions, especially when we hear some of the excellent work of his previous album. Furthermore, the album also falls a little short on its length.
Nevertheless, his lyrical, vocal and guitar talents allow this album to be a truely excellent listen

Given the reviews of his first album, one would assume that his second would get a domestic release, but no - the wise ones at Arista or db or whoever decided in their infinite wisdom NOT to release Tom McRae's second album in the USA. Pity us poor americans - the majority will be missing out on one of the most beautiful, introspective, melancholic and thoughtful albums in recent memory. This is an artist to whom the word "art" applies - and not in that pathetic, "anything anyone does creatively is art" crap; this music, if you have a conscience, emotive response, or simply respond to beauty, is more than rewarding in a very deep vein. Highly recommended.

A studio isn't enough to stop Tom McRae's strong, sincere, and haunting voice from coming through clearly. There is hope and questioning and such intensity. Thank goodness this genre is making a comeback and that Tom McRae is leading the way. Buy this now, the import tax is more than worth it!