RECORDING REVIEWS
Creem Magazine, USA, Jeffrey Morgan
Don't let the cute cherub on the front cover fool ya 'cause Linda's slicin' up some of the blowziest country blooze music you'll hear in a tune's age. The wall of sound sonics are so thick you'll want to devour it with a fork--but use a spoon instead because you'll want to get every drop. Mmm mmm good!Toronto Star, ON, Greg Quill
Vancouver singer and songwriter McRae is an ersatz honky-tonk angel almost completely at odds with the cool, organic patina of West Coast folk - a robust singer and an imaginative and uniquely gifted songwriter who proves proves on this remarkable recording that she is no slave to fashion. The songs here are deeply evocative successors to the revivalist country-folk of the 1970s Outlaw period in Texas and Northern California – honest, whimsical, and tinged occasionally with sorrow and world-weariness. Arrangements are gutsy, rich in twang and country crunch, and throughout McRae's powerful and assured voice is a revelation. One of the best of this year's roots music crop.Americana UK, Sian Claire Owen
Her previous critically acclaimed work includes collaborations and appearances galore from heavy weights such as The Tragically Hip, Richard Bell (The Band), and Blue Rodeo. McRae’s new album, “Carve it to the Heart”, is no doubt set to continue along this vein, it really is marvelous. Although McRae’s songs are traditional in spirit, they have the occasional contemporary twist, and they retain the beautiful timeless quality that you would get with, for example, the music of Hank Williams, most notably in songs like the soporific/romantic “Before the Hereafter” and the delightful “Living in the Past With You”. As an album, “Carve it to the Heart” is versatile, musically excellent, and above all a bloody good listen. Honestly, you really couldn’t ask for more.The Record, Robert Reid
Recorded live off the floor, the album begins with This Winding Road, a brooding electric road song that evokes the spirit of Hank Williams, and ends with Some of My Friends, a slow country waltz as tender as they come. If you're too young to recognize the names Patsy, Loretta and Tammy, have no fear, there's always Linda McRae.Exclaim, Rachel Sanders
Combining old-time-y sounds and images with universal themes of heartbreak and redemption, her lyrics are timeless and heartfelt. This is a wholly successful collection with nary a misstep, a most enjoyable listening experience and a solid addition to McRae’s impressive body of work.Emmet Matheson, No Depression
The way McRae delivers the hard-knock facts of life smacks more of deliverance from, rather than resignation to, disappointment. Hoot and Holler is as close as alt-country gets to Peggy Lee. McRae's warmly powerful voice is the bedrock of this album. With one foot in the real world and one in Western folklore, McRae proves that being well-balanced and interesting aren't musically exclusive.Georgia Straight, Vancouver, BC, Alexander Varty
Carve It to the Heart's not just a CD title–it's a job description. Linda McRae's keen, cutting voice is a surgical instrument, and here she slices through 50 years of country corn to arrive at a sound that would sit nicely with anything Hank Williams ever did. You don't need to be a fan of hillbilly music to recognize the real feeling she brings to such lonesome-and-blue originals as "I'll Watch Your Lovelight Shine". Carve It to the Heart is a welcome souvenir of her deep and subtle talent.Sing Out Magazine, Mike Regenstreif
On her third album Linda McRae applies relatively modern, occasionally rock-tinged, arrangements to fine original songs steeped in bluegrass and old-time country traditions. In other words, this is the kind of record that mainstream Nashville would be making if it still knew how to creatively update the traditions at the heart of country music. McRae rounds out her own songs with a nice version of "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore," Jean Ritchie's classic coal country lament.3rd Coast Music, John Conquest, Austin Texas
How reliable is Gurf Morlix? So far, everyone who’s been allowed to use the magic words, “Gurf sent me,” has been a winner, though Morlix does wield this power of imprimatur very sparingly. So I was driving around playing McRae’s third album and trying to block out some penetrating insights, but when I got home and looked at her website, I found that fellow Canadian singer-songwriters Colin Linden had beaten me to it, “When all the trends fade and become dated, and all the music from the cutting edge becomes dull, Linda McRae will continue to stand tall, singing and playing music with honest soul and humility, cutting through the fog with her timeless clarity. Linda is one of the true, soulful pioneers of honest roots music.” McRae has a lot of glowing press, but none of it encapsulates her strengths as well as Linden’s concise encomium. In Living in the past with you, she sings of “melodies so old they seem new,” which would have made a pretty good title for the album, neatly summarizing the way she combines an old-timey sensibility (the only cover is Jean Ritchie’s The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore), eternal lyrical themes and a modern sound, which, along with powerful straight from the shoulder vocals that manages to be no frills and evocative at the same time, make for what another British writer Sian Claire Owen, in Americana UK, aptly calls “a bloody good listen.”Edmonton Sun. Edmonton, AB, Fish Griwkowsky
McRae's voice, particularly when wailing on How Can I Bring Her Back or summoning Jimmie Dale Gilmore's drawl on the next ascot-and-chewin'-tobacco number, is the meal ticket here. The album is an exploration of what country music sounded like before even the Outlaw wave - simple percussion and guitars, loads of familial and fraternal sentiment, salutes to old friends. The cheerlessly positive I'll Watch Your Lovelight Shine, with its "you will find another" sentiment is already burrowing deeper and deeper, hopefully all the way to China.Hip Crank, Online
"This Winding Road" may be a gorgeous drawler driven with a haunting slide guitar, and a lovely ode to country greats Hank, Johnny and Tammy, but it's the mention of Hudson Bay that brings it all home. All Canadians will stand tall with hand over heart in a patriotic fervor that only music can bring and Linda McRae brings it. She may the best-kept country secret around but albums such as this will test that anonymity. With a voice that can be heartbreakingly croaky and velvety smooth, McRae has the pipes to match her considerable writing skills. Cowboy boots, golden curls and silver moons - it's all here, and it's all good.Monday Magazine, Victoria, BC CD Reviews
“Melodies so old they seem new” is both a line from the track “Living In The Past With You” and a fine description of the new release from Linda McRae. McRae has come up with an admirable assortment of old-time waltzes, sad laments, classic twangy country western and alt-country “dust bowl” songs for her new release; and she has the right voice for this material, tinged with sadness or grit as required. Recommended if you appreciate fine songwriting and great musicianship.Red Deer Advocate, Red Deer, AB, Donald Teplyske
Recently dubbed The Queen of Canadian Country music, McRae has less in common with Amanda Wilkinson and Carol Dawn Johnson than she does with Jean Ritchie and Betty Cody; this is a woman at home in the country of the 1950s and 1960s. At times, McRae and harmony partner Nova Devonie seem to channel the Louvin Brothers, with McRae singing Ira’s lead to Devonie’s Charlie.Beatroute Magazine, Calgary, AB Sam Masterton: McRae writes from the heart, and her foot-stomping ballads of loss, long nights and love are moving and heartbreaking. Her voice is an honest blend of Loretta, Lucinda and Emmy Lou – perfectly suiting this distinguished wordsmith.
Montreal Gazette, CKUT Folk Roots & Branches, Calgary Herald (syndicated)
McRae shows that she's spent years absorbing the influences of timeless country artists such as Hank Williams. Some songs, such as The Station, a beautiful minor-key song, sound like they're haunted by Hank's ghost.LIVE REVIEWS
YVR On-line Magazine, G
Heart wrenching Country-Folk, heavy on the soul. Gets your heels stompin', your toes tapping, your body swaying, reaches into your heart and spreads feeling like good whiskey - that sweet-sweet burn. She had us all listening intently, and instantly captivated. Beautiful smile, beautiful voice - and a way of making her audience feel like they're sitting in her living room with her, part of her close circle of friends and family.The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC, Katherine Monk
Not many local artists who release a solo CD can pack the Railway Club wall to wall with fans. Fewer still can magically bring a loud, sweaty crew to absolute silence with a simple smile.Austin Chronical, Austin, TX, Jay Hardwig, - SXSW PICKS
Linda McRae brings her strum and alto inflections to Maggie Mae’s. Drawing inspiration from Charlie Louvin & Neil Young, her music is contemporary folk with a touch of country, a collection of ballads, blues, & love songs.The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, Douglas Fulmer
Her music is wonderfully free of pretense, simply and emotionally played without a lot of clutter and distraction. It serves to underscore her warm and powerful vocals.Toronto Star, Toronto, ON, Lenny Stoute
Linda’s performance at CMW blew away an industry-heavy crowd.Georgia Straight, Vancouver, BC, John Lucas
McRae’s powerful voice and folky songs are goose bump-inducing. The evenings finale found McRae inviting all the evening’s performers back on-stage for an impossibly big-sounding rendition of the Louvin Brothers “When I Stop Dreaming”.Now Magazine, Toronto, ON, Kim Hughes
It's amazing how powerful simplicity can be. Linda McRae's Songwriters’ event she imported to Ted's Wrecking Yard for a one-off, was tremendous. McRae kicked things off dishing a sweet, country-tinted rouser. Beautifully presented.