Tom McRae King of Cards CD Release
Follows Just Like Blood and All Maps Welcome into Classic Territory
Tom McRae's fourth studio album King of Cards shows him in full flight as the UK's premier singer-songwriter and deserves to be a massive success.
- Genre: Alternative / indie / acoustic
- Tom McRae (vocals / guitar), Sean Genockey (guitar), Ash Soan (drums), John Hogg (bass), Oli Kraus (piano / cello / violin)
- Sounds like: Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Damien Rice
- Home: Chelmsford, Essex, UK
- Tom McRae
Tom McRae the songwriter's songwriter
Sometimes the good guys don’t always win, no matter what Hollywood and your folks tell you. Tom McRae is a good guy – just take a listen to any one of his previous studio albums (2000’s Tom McRae, 2003’s Just Like Blood and 2005’s All Maps Welcome), or his special releases like this year’s live recording The Strongroom Sessions, and you’ll see just how good he is. Understated genius is a term banded about often, but in McRae’s case, it’s justifiable, and then some.
Yet despite all the critical acclaim his albums have received – including Mercury Music Prize and Grammy Award nominations – McRae has never enjoyed the commercial success his talent has deserved. Instead, he’s built up an extremely loyal fan base, not least due to his music providing the perfect foil for his intimate and moving live shows. With his latest release, King Of Cards, his commercial success should at least equal his critical status, if there’s any justice in the world.
King of Cards and songs
From the moment Set The Story Straight opens proceedings, it’s evident that here is a singer-songwriter at the peak of his powers. Strangely reminiscent of Phil Collins’ Take Me Home, it’s a gorgeous introduction to McRae if you’ve never heard him before. Hypnotic vocals blend with melodies a million lesser (yet more popular) artists would kill for, in a song that is the natural progression from All Maps Welcome.
Bright Lights follows, and it’s immediately noticeable that this is a McRae that seems in a happier place, a notion confirmed in a recent interview. With his trademark in sombre soliloquy, it’s surprising to hear how up-tempo the first two tracks are on this album. Yet instead of sounding out-of-place, it’s a style that suits McRae just as much as the one that his fans have come to expect from him.
From All Maps Welcome and beyond
If his music has changed slightly, his talent with words hasn’t. Always one of the more intelligent of songsmiths, McRae continues that trend here, particularly on tracks like the bittersweet Keep Your Picture Clear, where McRae laments:
‘You talk just like a diplomat but hide the gun behind your backAnd leaders need a bloody war congratulations this is yoursLooking through the history books of liars, cheats and petty crooksThey’ll print your picture clear.’
Musically, as well, King of Cards seems like another step up for McRae. He’s always been someone whose songs sound rich whether they’re a simple acoustic number, or with a full band backing him. Yet on this album, there’s a richness resonating through them that stands this album head and shoulders above much of anything else that’s been released this year (with perhaps Foreverinmotion’s The Beautiful Unknown an exception).
Indie album of the year
Songs like Houdini and the Girl, with it’s gentle ambience, and Sound of the City sounding like classic Waterboys a la Whole of the Moon-era show McRae is currently one of the most accomplished singer-songwriter’s around today. And in Lord How Long, he’s quite possibly written the most beautiful song you’ll hear all year.
Currently touring North America and Europe, Tom McRae is one of those rare examples where both album and live experience complement each other. If you’ve never had the pleasure of either, it’s not too late to rectify that – in fact, it’d be a crime for you not to. One of the contenders for album of the year, King of Cards is a must-buy.
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