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Elly Roberts reviews
Sony/BMG
- Released: May 2005
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat.no.: 82876689502
Sometimes, it makes me wonder what it takes to get noticed in this business.Get an image make-over or sell-out? Many have. Thankfully, theres nochance of Tom McRae going there.
With a huge arsenal of talent at his disposal,he sounds more Americana thanEnglander from Suffolk. Recorded in LA, McRae (dubbed the new Nick Drake)delivers a gloriously rousing 11 track collection. This release is as good asanything Damien Rice (O), Stephen Fretwell (Magpie), Bright Eyes(Im Wide Awake Its Morning) and James Blunt (Back To Bedlam)have done.
By now, Id have thought some commercial attention would have happened, butMcRae still hasnt won over the mainstream listener. Sadly this may not to dothe trick either. Nevertheless, it will no doubt be critically acclaimed bymusos and press alike.
Grizzly guitars, sweeping volumes of strings, gentle acoustic guitars, violinsand horns, it has a heavy splash of achingly beautiful vocals and longing lyricsin the Rice mould.
His sure-fire break would come via a TV ad or soundtrack inclusion.
Hes not a household name(yet),but dont overlook this guys amazing songwritingskills as there isnt a weak track in sight.
Dont miss this at any cost:its a real work of art.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. For The Restless
2. Humming Bird Song
3. The Girl Who Falls Downstairs
4. How The West Was Won
5. Packing For The Crash
6. It Aint You7. Strangest Land
8. My Vampire Heart
9. Silent Boulevard
10. Still Lost
11. Border Song
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.