Sophisticated Hat Manoeuvres - Mad Dog 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: 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

...You may have come across Tom McCrae on the last series of Jools Hollands’ Later…. It was just Tom playing a guitar and singing, with a girl playing a violin next to him. He did just one song "End Of The World News (dose me up)" And Jool’s said he was a new artist, and hopefully we’d be seeing a lot more of him in the future. He got me. I went off to Camden Music Exchange and picked up 2 promo singles for £1 each to hear more. Two days later I went to see "It’s Jo and Danny" at the Borderline, to my surprise and joy Tom was the support. Having thoroughly enjoyed the gig, when I came across a cheap copy of the album two weeks later I snapped it up. I’ve since managed to see McRae at a free gig at Borders on Oxford Street. Ben and Jason were in the crowd, checking out the new acoustic player on the block. Tom McRae hasn’t exactly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful