Priceless Jazz - Carmen 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

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good indie music
Disadvantages: none

...Although Love Is Here, Starsailor's anxious, soulful folk and urban blues nuanced inaugural album will be less of a culture shock to any scene-follower who experienced, say, Tom McRae's debut from 2000, it will certainly jolt the core beliefs and common cultural values of the British indie scene. Nothing about Starsailor is remotely alternative--at least not in the conventional interpretation of the word--nor perfunctorily fashionable or juvenescent. Cool dads will appreciate them every bit as much as the hip kids. After all, not only is tender-aged singer James Walsh proud to admit to being influenced by Van Morrison and Tim Buckley--blimey, it's like punk never happened--he is also gifted with a larynx as gnarled, emotionally articulate and demonstratively tremulous as the all-time great and latterly underrated Roger Chapman. Debut... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: summit to find for everyone
Disadvantages: some of the album can disappear into the background...but ain't every album guilty of it.

...being new to the Ciao scene thought i'd write my first opinion on an artist and album i'm passionate about. go easy on me, i'm a beginner... First came accross McRaes music at the Dido concert. one man and his guitar really, singing unknown songs. As per when the backup band us unknown the crowd listened attentively for the first track and then chatted merrily through his act, clapping when they should and waiting in haste for the star of the evening to appear. What a waste of a decent act! i was guilty of 'ignoring' this mans talent, opting for beer and merriment whilst waiting for Dido, but his soulful penetrating voice bit my ignoramous self in the ass. he got me and a headed out the next day and bought his album... WOW! (and i don't use this word lightly!) got me he did, and happily i stayed! This man is only 24, where the hell did... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful