Great American Songbook, The (Live) [Digipak] - Carmen McRae

Advantages: It's hards to believe Tom McRae is only 24 years old.
Disadvantages: There are a couple of tracks which aren't as good as the rest

...been played on the radio. But as the above hopefully proves he has been getting about the live seen. And I haven’t even mentioned the extensive touring around the world, and the recent support slot with Dido. Check www.tommcrae.com for live dates and his message board. Actually this site gives a good insight into Tom McRae; including his journal where you’ll find him ranting about political issues and news stories. So anyway the album, it’s 13 tracks 45:17 minutes long. Tom is part of the New Acoustic Movement. I would have reviewed this earlier but the NAM scene’s been so busy of late that I’ve ended up putting this to one side. Tom sings of tower blocks, drugs and drunks. Well sort of. Drugs being a means of escape for the poor from a capitalist society. Tom was bought up in the middleclass England, both his parents... Read review

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Advantages: Great album for any mood
Disadvantages: none

...It's a little hard to take Rod Stewart seriously when, on the first track of this third installment in his Great American Songbook series, he sings ruefully about his love life being "lean" ("Embraceable You"). But otherwise, Stardust...Volume III is as note-for-note solid as its predecessors. A treat that's also a pleasant reminder of these songs' staying power. "S'Wonderful" settles on the ears winningly, and Stewart's scratchy yet harmonic voice is sheer class in "Isn't It Romantic" in a way that compels the average listener to reconsider thinking it dopey. In addition, the parade of high class superstars recruited to construct the album are brilliant, resulting in a couple of must-hear combinations. Eric Clapton delivers a rather un-Clapton-like guitar solo on "Blue Moon" and Stevie Wonder blows harp like he means it on "What... Read review

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Advantages: McRaes usual thought-provoking lyrics
Disadvantages: Not as easy to get absrobed into as previous albums

...Like Blood; thinking that nothing could achieve as much as The Boy With The Bubblegun and Dose Me Up (End of the World News) from his self-titled album, which really blew me away. However, after seeing Tom live in a small venue in Edinburgh, I really did feel like I could connect with this album much better than before and could pick out songs that turned the album for me. I would say that if you liked artists such as Damien Rice or Stephen Fretwell, then Tom McRae should be added to your collection. After reading other reviews from various sources of this album when first buying it, every review seems to explain their favourite songs as all being different. I was confused as to which ones I would like the best and which songs wouldn’t stand out for me as usually there are obvious songs which everyone likes above others... Read review

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