Recording Reviews | Live Reviews

 
Recording Reviews: What they're saying about Linda McRae...

Reviews of CD: Cryin Out Loud

Emmet Matheson, No Depression, US Roots Magazine - 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, Cryin' Out Loud proves that being well-balanced and interesting aren't musically exclusive.

Peter North, Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, AB - Hard-core country has come a-callin'. There's a more economical approach to Linda's writing on this disc which fits snuggly with the way the boys in Cheerful Lonesome spear a song, they make every note and nuance count.

Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Sun, Edmonton, AB - McRae's work since she left the band - and sorry if this offends anyone - transcends that of Spirit of the West. She masters traditional-sounding music, some country, some jazz, some drunken laments continuing on from the exceptional Flying Jenny.

James Reaney, The London Free Press, London, ON - Not too many tales beginning with a kid and an accordion end so cheerful, lonesome and true. It's also true that the accordion has stayed with McRae's music & she plays it - beautifully - on Cryin' Out Loud. Who's sorry now?

Kerry Gold, The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC - McRae's songs are quick, hard doses about love, late-night weirdness & mundanity, most of it set to a rollicking, floor-scuffing tempo. Get out the moonshine & take a turn on the dance floor. *** 1/2 out of 4.

Fred Smith, Scene Magazine, London, ON - This record makes you "feel good". It's great to hear someone playing country music that's really country music. B+.

J.P. McLaughlin, The Province, Vancouver, BC - Watch for this to be a big winner at this year's West Coast Music Awards. ****/5.

Brent Hagerman, Echo Weekly, Guelph, ON - With liberal helpings of steel guitar, twang and tremolo it's as Nashville as a Nudie suit & as ya'alternative as a coal miner in a holler with a distortion pedal. Cryin' Out Loud is highly recommended & may prove to be the best roots album of the year.

Mike Regenstreif, 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. McRae is a fine singer & Cheerful Lonesome adds just the right amount of drive & decoration. ***.5/4.

Ian Nathanson, Chart Attack, Toronto, ON - Any way you twang it, Linda's a natural at delivering 11 ear-pleasers that prove country doesn't have to be hokey. At times, McRae sounds like she's paying her singing respects to the late, great Patsy Cline. See, some country can be cool.

Kerry Doole, Tandem Magazine, Toronto, ON - This charming Vancouver singer/songwriter has emerged as a fine solo country artist. Her second CD, Cryin' Out Loud, has just been released, and she recently hosted a songwriters night at Rancho Relaxo. Linda was joined by guitar/producer ace Gurf Morlix, Jenny Whiteley, and Buffalo's Jim Whitford. The result was a night of superb honkytonk songwriting and singing. Linda's vocals have a gutsy and lived-in feel.

Reviews of CD: Flying Jenny

Kim Hughes, Now Magazine, Toronto, ON - Few could have imagined the range of sonic textures and styles - heck, the songs - McRae had been stockpiling for her lively debut solo album, Flying Jenny,

Bill Snyder, No Depression, US Roots Magazine - What's most remarkable about Flying Jenny is its intimacy which can be attributed to McRae's extremely personal songwriting and powerful vocals.

John O'Regan, Rock 'n' Reel, Great Britain - Her bitter-sweet voice is perfectly suited to adult contemporary/folk/rock echoing country-rock in spirit while retaining a languid, ambient edge.

Roger Levesque, The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, AB - Pop, folk release, Flying Jenny has to be one of the most accomplished "debut" records to bear that appellation.

Eye Magazine, Toronto, ON - The good news is that you don't have to be a fan of McRae's former group in order to enjoy her solo debut…cheers to McRae for her fine storytelling lyrics.

Brent Kane, Campus Times, Vancouver, BC - Top Recording of 1997! - Flying Jenny - A wistful journey from the heart that stirs the soul and moves your feet.

Kerry Doole, Store Front Paper, Toronto, ON - A strong contender for best Canadian roots rock record of the year! With her first move out front as a singer/songwriter she rises to the challenge superbly with songs ranging from haunting country-tinged ballads to vigorous country-rockers and an equally versatile voice. The title song is a gem, but there are no duds here!

Now Magazine, Toronto, ON - Who knew she had the potential for such a marvellous, down home batch of songs? These roomy songs sure-footedly draw every sonic detail into the hushed confidence of McRae's winding narrative, country, folky, rootsy and rocky - feels as good as flannel.

Mike Devlin, Victoria Times Colonist, Victoria, BC - The music is as dusty and timeless as the images it evokes; her songs come off like a celebratory throwback to times when music wasn't written as much as it was lived and created. A tremendous piece of work!

LIVE REVIEWS

Katherine Monk, The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC - Not many local artists 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.

Douglas Fulmer, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio - Her music is wonderfully free of pretence, simply and emotionally played without a lot of clutter and distraction. It served to underscore her warm and powerful vocals.

Lenny Stoute, Toronto Star, Toronto, ON - Linda's debut at CMW blew away an industry-heavy crowd.

Kim Hughes, Now Magazine, Toronto, ON - McRae's songwriter's event which she imported to Ted's was tremendous. She kicked things off dishing a sweet, country-tinted rouser. A simple concept, beautifully presented.

Tom Stevens, Former Long-Riders member, review of co-bill at Wilbert's, Cleveland - I was reminded of Lucinda Williams in a very good way and wow, what a band!

John Lucas, Georgia Straight, Vancouver, BC - Scott McLeod (guitarist) in an outfit that resembled the hideous bastard offspring of a Gram Parsons-style Nudie suit and musically things couldn't have been more solid. Pedal-steel player Charlie Hase has a remarkably subtle touch and astounding capacity for soaring melody. McRae's powerful voice and folky songs are goose bump-inducing.

Article / Interview in the Entertainment section of the Vancouver Courier - August 13th, 2002

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