Just Like Blood

Just Like Blood Artist: Tom McRae
Label: Import
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 828765024723
EAN: 0828765024723
ASIN: B000087HY8


Release Date: 2003-02-18

Just Like Blood


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Categories | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters Singer-Songwriters
Categories | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters Singer-Songwriters
Categories | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock Pop Rock
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Tracks:

  1. Day Like Today
  2. You Only Disappear
  3. Ghost of a Shark
  4. Stronger Than Dirt
  5. Overthrown
  6. Walking 2 Hawaii
  7. Mermaid Blues
  8. Karaoke Soul
  9. Line of Fire
  10. Human Remains

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Album Description

Produced by Ben Hillier who has worked with Blur & Elbow. Tom's self-titled debut album, released in 2000, announced the arrival of a rare & singular new talent. It's subsequent Q Magazine, Mercury Prize & Brit nominations merely confirmed a major talent had arrived. The album, of course, went on to figure in the end-of-year Top 10 lists of Q, The Observer, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times, Independent & Time Out, 'Just Like Blood' marks a huge step forward. In terms of sound, scope & style, it is a bigger, braver & possibly even darker work than its acclaimed predecessor. It feels contemporary, yet stands alone. The themes of the album are again dislocation & dissatisfaction & desire for escape. DB Records. 2003.

Album Details

The Singer/Songwriter's Sophomore Album, Produced by Ben Hillier (Elbow, Blur) Marks a Huge Step Forward. In Terms of Sound, Scope and Style, it is a Bigger, Braver and Possibly Even Darker Work Than It's Acclaimed Predecessor. It Feels Contemporary, Yet Stands Alone. His 2000 Debut CD Won the UK Mercury Prize and He was also Nominated for a Brit Award.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Perfect.......2004-12-23

McRae just wrecks me. I think "You Only Disappear" is one of my favorite tracks but they're all good, tho I think the song selection on his debut self-titled album was slightly stronger. He's the perfect blend between Seal, Chris Whitley and Brian Eno.

4 out of 5 stars A good album...allbeit a little short.......2004-06-22

I brought this album having listened to a lot of his older stuff, and being heavily into acoustic based music by other artists (such as Damien Rice and Elliott Smith)
I listened through the album, and at first was not particuarly impressed by the sometimes hesitant vocals and mellow acoustic guitar playing, not to mention the quite bizarre effects on certain songs. However, a further listen allowed me to understand the intricasies behing his writing and singing, and I became gradually more and more involved with what he sung.
1. Day Like Today - 4/5

An enjoyable opening song, with some interesting marimba work and an excellent rhythm and bouncy flow. Some good melody, vocal and lyrical work, but one almost felt it lacked the full emotion of his other songs.

2. You Only Disappear - 5/5

My personal favorite on the album; an excellent blend of beautiful lyrical and vocal work, with haunting piano and acoustic guitaring. A fantastic song

3. Ghost Of A Shark - 5/5

Another brilliant song, due to the sheer relaxed atmosphere created by a very well-played acoustic guitar riff and some lovely lyrical and vocal inter-weaving.

4. Stronger Than Dirt - 4/5

Another good song; more main-stream than quite a lot of his work, and again one almost feels that the personal level is removed slightly. An enjoyable song nevertheless

5. Overthrown - 5/5

A heart-stoppingly relaxing, haunting and beautiful song. Excellent electric guitaring with some lovely relaxed vocals (and lovely echo creation!)

6. Walking 2 Hawaii - 5/5

Another 5 out of 5; this time because of the change from depressing, mellow music to slightly more upbeat, mellow music! Here we can see his genius as a lyrisist and vocalist; a truely great song, one which really stands out on the album

7. Mermaid Blues - 3.5/5

Some excellent work with vocals, a nice mellow piece with some very strange effects (similar to those in Walking To Hawaii), but perhaps a little over-handed with the length.

8. Karaoke Soul - 4.5/5

A song which lets its lyrics do the talking. A bitter, heartfelt rock piece, with some aggressive vocals and electric guitar playing. A very good song, very moving.

9. Line Of Fire - 5/5

Another excellent song, very eerie creation of echoes and voice combining with the lines "I am watching you". A brilliant tune to hear

10. Human Remains - 5/5

A perfect tune to end the album with; relaxed and mellow, yet with some very upbeat moments and some nice (and rare) percussive work.

So why not five stars? The only reason I refused to grant this CD 5 stars is because its lack of real breakaway experimentalism. In places, one almost feels Mcrae is going through the motions, especially when we hear some of the excellent work of his previous album. Furthermore, the album also falls a little short on its length.
Nevertheless, his lyrical, vocal and guitar talents allow this album to be a truely excellent listen

4 out of 5 stars

Music Album:

  1. Collection ~ Maggie Bell , and Stone the Crows
  2. Maggie Drennon
  3. New Rock Underground
  4. Second Time Around ~ Junior Campbell
  5. Somnabulista ~ Brazzaville
  6. Kihnspicuous Taste: The Best of Greg Kihn ~ Greg Kihn
  7. Beautiful Light ~ The Fleshtones
  8. Junior's Wailing ~ Steamhammer
  9. The Stranger ~ Billy Joel
  10. Control Freak

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Run for Your Life ~ The Yellowjackets

Jazz in Paris: Byrd in Paris ~ Donald Byrd

Equilateral ~ Bill Pierce

Cherished Ballads ~ Various Artists

Very Thought of You ~ Putte & Red Mitc Wickman

Sempre Crescendo ~ Celia Malheiros

Shiori No Theme ~ Southern All Stars

Elegia ~ Paolo Conte

Jounetsu No Beguine ~ Yasuko Kawaguchi

Golden J-Pop: Best ~ Reiko Sada