Tom McRae: All Maps Welcome

Elly Roberts reviews

Tom McRae: All Maps Welcome
Distributed by
Sony/BMG

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  • 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, there’s 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(I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning) and James Blunt (Back To Bedlam)have done.

By now, I’d have thought some ‘commercial ‘attention would have happened, butMcRae still hasn’t won over the mainstream listener. Sadly this may not to dothe trick either. Nevertheless, it will no doubt be critically acclaimed by‘musos’ 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.

He’s not a household name(yet),but don’t overlook this guy’s amazing songwritingskills as there isn’t a weak track in sight.

Don’t miss this at any cost:it’s 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 Ain’t You
7. Strangest Land
8. My Vampire Heart
9. Silent Boulevard
10. Still Lost
11. Border Song

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