Customer Reviews

Tom McRae

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Now, this is really something special. It has to be said that there are just too many cheap, pop-orientatied solo artists around these days. But one good thing about this is that it makes decent artists like Tom McRae shine like gold. I've had the album for about six months, but even up until today (when I decided to offer a review of the album to Amazon), I still find myself sitting down with my guitar and attempting to play along with the wonderful songs. There is something in the music here that is at the same time touching as it is harrowning. Some of the lyrics and the singing is so sad, that it can actully feel colder in the room you're sitting in. I've yet to hear Tom McRae live, but at the nearest opportunity, I will.

The spooky and simple first track, 'You Cut Her Hair', is a good indication of the mood for the rest of the album, even though no two songs are alike. If the album had started with the more up-beat second track (and single) 'End Of The World News', then the album may have had a deceptive beginning, and the other songs could even be less approachable than they are. 'End Of The World News' is a good song for a hit single, but it's the only one of it's kind on here. Songs like 'One More Mile' are emotional songs of epic proportions, harking back to stuff like Jeff Buckley (remember him?). Other songs such as 'Bloodless' and 'The Boy With The Bubblegum' are strong, hard songs held together by nothing more than McRae's piercing voice. Beautiful and fearful. My personal favourite on the labum is 'Untitled', which just fills me with imagery of loss and passion, even if the meaning may be lost on me. I don't know.

I must say that between me and friends who have heard the album, there have been mixed responses. Many folks I know didn't like the album because they thought it was not especially colourful, or not catchy enough. I can agree with them there - none of the songs are especially catchy and sing-alongy, especially on the first listening. But the depth and beauty behind the songs appears over time, as it does with all good music, in my eyes anyway. The songs do end up in your head as easily as some tune you may have heard on the radio. But the songs stick in your head and could stand next to whatever memories you have to match them. If you have a sad memory, you may find a song here that will sit with it perfectly for a long time. If you have a good memory, you may find a song here that will be the perfect mini-soundtrack for it. I think that it's plainly obvious that McRae wrote each of these songs around a memory, or an emotion, or an event, and even if that particular situation is not aparent to the listener, the listener's own is, and becomes exhumed by the songs themselves.

Buy this album if you want to find some music that will grab you and really make you feel like there are still brilliant musicians out there. Musicians writing from the heart. Musicians writing for the sake of music, not money.

This is no background music; you will have to listen to what he says and check the lyrics in the booklet. The melodies (acoustic guitar enriched with other discreet instruments) are up to the words quality, proving that 'a boy with a guitar' is not necessary boring. This is a real singer songwriter in the line of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon or Springsteen. I did not mention yet his great expressive voice - here Jeff Buckley's comparisons sound right to me, even if I rather think both guys have their own talent and personality.

A solo artist had not impressed me for a while as Tom did. The live tracks of the bonus CD (that came with the French limited edition I own) are impressive, and testify he is as well an excellent performer, capable of captivating the public with his work. You know, the kind of artist you listen in silence, because screaming or even singing along would sound so out of context. I find it difficult to point out favorites; each song touches me in a way or another. Maybe the strange 'murder ballad' "You cut her hair", the evident "End of the world news", the jewels "Bloodless" and "Hidden camera show", the touching "Draw down the stars" or the 'soft'n'furious' "The boy with the bubblegun"... I cannot choose really.

Some of those songs are almost 'autistic': they describe one's uneasiness about living in an urban context, about living under strangers eyes who judge you without knowing you, and accept blindly their comfortable beliefs and habits. They also express the will to escape a written fate, or rather, the hesitation between believing in destiny and fighting against it. You're not getting out without scars, but those somber melodies bring out a curious joy. Maybe the joy people feel when they find their first gold nugget. If I were you, I would start digging now...

I got this CD a couple months ago and initially I was not overwhelmed. None of the songs just jumped out at me and so I didn't get hooked. However, once I listened to it on my walkman and really heard each song, I gained a whole new appreciation for the CD. I think "A & B Song" is brilliant. "You Cut Her Hair" , "Draw Down the Stars", and "One More Mile" are all excellent. I don't know much about Tom McRae, but I believe he is pretty new and I really look forward to hearing more from him. His music is moody and his lyrics are excellent. So grab this CD and then give it a good listen and you'll be hooked too!

This man is a god. This is Tom MCrae's debut album, but you cant tell by the musical maturity he puts behind this masterpiece. Lyrics are truly amazing, music is beautiful with cello work at times that blends perfectly on "You cut her hair",which is one of my fav's. Hard to put a label or comparison on his music, kinda of a cross between Coldplay, David Gray, and Elliot Smith. The songwriting is some of the best ive heard, standouts would have to be "Dose me up","You cut her hair",and my favorites "Language of fools" and "Untitled". "Untitled" is a simple song using mainly his voice for impact and a piano in the background,really amazing song. I only gave it four stars just because of maybe one song that wasnt as good as the rest but is still in itself("draw down the stars") not bad. Anybody who loves brilliant songwriting and loves getting drawn into the emotional side of the music should buy this work of art.

My best friend bought me this CD for Xmas. He knew I had never heard of Tom McRae. But he just knew I would love it. He just knew.
Tom McRae is a beautiful songwriter. Every time I hear it, I love it more. The music is quiet, sparse, and moody. Just the type of CD a guy like me loves. Music which fills the listening area and enters the body, mind, and heart. Music which almost takes control of you. Music which can easily bring a tear to your eye.
Buy this CD. Don't think twice. And when you recieve it, light some candles, lie down, and just absorb it. Unplug the phone and don't let a single person bother you for the entirety of the album.

I like a lot of different kinds of music. I have noticed that far too often one has to appreciate a musicians work either for its raw emotion or for it's lyrical power and ingenuity and finding the right mix of both is a rarity. Tom McRae achieves that superbly on his debut album. It is criminal that more people aren't going to be exposed to this fantastic artist and I'm going to do my best to spread the word.

I don't find it a depressing, miserabalist album at all. It is really just very thoughful and introspective. A beautiful album well deserving of your attention.

Tom McRae WOW ! WOW ! WOW !
Sensational songwriter, sensational voice, a must for all lovers of great songwriting.
I bought this album and I now own all of Toms recordings to date - I am a complete fan.

Stunning! An album that can't fail to draw you in. Each song is its own and perfectly in place. Tom McRae's streaming vocals are alluring and seductive, they induce a sense of life and wrap around you, whilst piercing you with its sinster, haunting tones.

I had only heard 'you cut her hair' and 'draw down the stars' when I bought this album, but was immediately impressed by 'end of the world news', 'bloodless', 'the boy with the bubblegun', and 'Sao paulo rain'.

If anyone has found artists of a similar style please let me know! This is an album to be cherished.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Tom live twice and it is amazing how beautiful his voice is. Everyone needs to own something by Tom McRae. His lyrics are chilling, haunting, and sincere. BUY THIS NOW!!!

Heck I'm not prone to writing music reviews at all, but this is the most exciting singer/songwriter to come down the pike in awhile. At first I was not certain what to make of his vocals which have a feminine quality, but his delivery has grown on me. I was hooked by his brilliant arrangements and words immediately though. There really isn't a weak cut on the recording. A terrific debut from someone whose music I expect to enjoy for years to come.