Tom Mcrae [Import]

Tom McRae | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 6, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bmg Uk/Zoom
• ASIN: B00004ZC3J
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #707,958 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. You Cut Her Hair

2. End of the World News (Dose Me Up)

3. 2nd Law

4. Bloodless

5. Draw Down the Stars

6. One More Mile

7. The Boy with the Bubblegun

8. Hidden Camera Show

9. A and B Song

10. Language of Fools

11. Sao Paulo Rain

12. I Ain't Scared of Lightning

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I am impressed, Sir..., October 9, 2001

By 

Sandy (Brussels, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Mcrae (Audio CD)

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...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Gem, September 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Tom Mcrae (Audio CD)

I bought this cd because of the sticker on the front. It's easily one of the best cd's I own. Tom's lyrics are deep and profound and shear poetry. Often the music is haunting and serious, but there are indeed moments of hope born of conflict. All of which reflects life from the eyes of a thoughtful observer. "One More Mile" is a fantastic song built much like a journey itself. "Boy with the Bubble Gun" looked as if it were going to be a lighthearted song, judging from the title. When you hear it, you really get the sense of a child at serious play - wanting to do battle with and kill the demons in his imaginary playworld, yet recognizing that reality is ultimately there and he doesn't want to really do harm to anyone. While his gun can defeat the imaginary foes, he knows it's still quite safe to those in real life whom he doesn't wish to hurt (i.e., the line: "if words could kill, I'd spell out your name." - which denotes that damage could be done easily with a word, yet he's playfully cheating death a little by not uttering the word and simply spelling it out). Genius. Sorry for the lecture, but this album is so refreshing in its intelligence.

Comparisons to David Gray are not far off. David's "White Ladder" is an excellent album as well and I can not recommend it enough. I would put these two in the same genre and type. But David's songs can sometimes be compared to a not quite fulfilling yawn (which compells you on, and I love that), whereas Tom's music is complete and full in its journey, leaving one either prepared to rise or to turn in at the pace of, like the others here say, "an old soul." I'm totally not dissing on Mr. Gray, because the man cuts a mean album, I'm simply noting the differences in their styles. I love both of these guys.

Both David and Tom were surprises for me. Just picked them up and was instantly hooked. Maybe I'll do all my shopping by stickers on the covers from now on!

I'm glad I picked Tom up. I'm telling everyone I know about him!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrics to listen to supported by excellent compositions, October 3, 2001

By 

Sandy (Brussels, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Mcrae + 5/French Only (Audio CD)

In the booklet of this French edition (including a bonus CD with 5 live tracks), Tom writes: "For me music is about communicating, it's a conversation between the maker and the listener and when it works it transcend the barriers of language, race, religion, and all you hear is the songs. When I was writing this album, I hoped one day to share it with people who understand." I think he did. 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.

A solo artist had not impressed me for a while as Tom did. The live tracks of the bonus CD 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...