Alone And Together - Jo Stafford & Gordon McRae

Advantages: Originality, a beautiful voice and that gorgeous guitar
Disadvantages: One or two less impressive songs

...My first thought upon hearing the dying strains of Tom McRae's 'The Boy With The Bubblegun' in the car one afternoon as I drove home was - 'He sounds like James Taylor'. My second thought was - 'I need his album'. I hadn't even heard the whole song - and, although it is certainly a great piece of melodic and lyric inspiration, Bubblegun is not the best song on the album. But nevertheless, I was captured immediately by McRae's gorgeous, clear, folky voice, the sheer originality and finesse of his lyrics, and the warmth of his acoustic guitar. After further consideration, it occurs to me that a better comparison might be drawn with Damien Rice, the only difference being that McRae, frankly, is better. His guitar riffs are similar, his folky sound is similar, but his voice is a thousand times purer and more accomplished. McRae... Read review

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Advantages: Flowing melodies, vulnerable voice
Disadvantages: Drippy lyrics

...Ever since David Gray gave up on the record industry, recorded 'White Ladder' for a few bob in his front room, released it himself and went on to sell four million copies, record companies have been scrambling to sign sensitive singer-songwriters, just in case they're the next Gray. This could explain why Tom McRae has been treated so indulgently. Despite the acclaim that greeted his November 2000 debut, the 28-year old from Suffolk was carefully left alone for two and a half years to produce his second album 'Just Like Blood'. It was worth the wait. This CD is a polished gem. Its 10 tracks shimmer with a passionate intensity, each coupled to arrangements and melodies that reveal greater depths at every listen. For a mainstream release, it's about as far as you can get from most of the inanely disposable pap the music biz would have us... Read review

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Advantages: Great Music
Disadvantages: None!

...I've had this album since it came out in 2003, but it is one I always go back to. I bought it after I saw him live in Wolverhampton, and although the live concert was fantastic, and studio recordings sometimes a dissapointment after a great gig, this CD is top quality, and I really enjoy listening to it. Some of the lyrics are quite dark; for example one of the tracks is about the holocaust, and so this isn't exactly feel good music! Tom McRae is a singer songwriter, and I would describe his style as primarily acoustic, with the focus being mainly on the lyrics. Comparable to Radiohead, and maybe Tom Waits, but more chilled than either of them, Nick Drake also comes to mind. This is his debut album, and in my opinion, his finest work. The look and feel of the album is simple; the insert has a black and white photo of Tom's face... Read review

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