簡約民謠和慘情絃樂的編制，加上性格鮮明的抑鬱脆弱吟唱，來自英國的Tom McRae甫出道便很明確地被定位為感傷樂派的信眾之一，2000年推出的首張同名專輯裡細致而低調的氛圍凝聚，讓他從眾多同輩中脫穎而出，橫掃英美兩地大小傳媒評價，一舉入圍2001年水星音樂大獎，和Radiohead、Super Ferry Animals、PJ Harvey等重量級前輩同臺較勁！一鳴驚人的處女作后，Tom McRae相繼和Ben Hillier（Blur、Doves、Elbow）、Joe Chiccarelli（U2、Tori Amos、Beck）兩位制作混音大將合作，推出《Just Like Blood》和《All Maps Welcome》兩張好評作品，隨著每張專輯增添的新元素，讓Tom McRae的音樂版圖不斷拓展，甚至遠赴美國創作，吸納Bob Dylan、Neil Young一輩美國民謠宗師的神髓，混和英倫搖滾獨特的煽情氣息，讓他成為同輩中少數和紐約民謠怪才Rufus Wainwright并駕齊驅的英倫代表！ Tom McRae說他所推出的每一張專輯，都是針對前作的回應。相較于《All Maps Welcome》深層陰暗的探索領域，這回他為新專輯赴紐約創作，刻意遠離之前所面對的一切，讓歌曲穿過曲折的迷宮，自然而然地落在他心底，說是要讓這張由Sean Genockey（Manic Street Preachers、Kula Shaker、Suede）操刀的新作《King of Card》，比以往更加愉悅、充滿活力、而具折衷精神！專輯開場曲〈Set The Story Straight〉輕亮的鼓擊和吉他，宛如劃破黑暗的曙光，初陽乍現的清新感，點明了Tom McRae這次為《King Of Card》褪去些許自溺慘情而設定的明朗音樂走向；首支單曲〈Bright Lights〉用輕快鋼琴和爽朗鼓點襯底，浮現些許U2激昂搖滾曲式的風采；簡單吉他伴奏堆疊起的夢幻迷離的慢板抒情曲〈Got A Suitcase Got Regrets〉，以及輕盈的吉他小品〈Houdini And The Girl〉，成功凸顯Tom McRae令人著迷的優異聲線轉折；厚重的Bassline加上Tom McRae壓低的嗓音〈Keep Your Picture Clear〉和末段夾帶post-rock精神的〈Lord How Long〉，帶來令人砰然心動的深邃迷幻氛圍；美式民謠搖滾風味的〈Sound Of The City〉，頗有Brue Springsteen的大將之風；〈On And On〉和〈Deliver Me〉回歸簡約民謠結構，Tom McRae脆弱的嗓音和吉他編織著傷感旋律，依舊令人無可自拔的深陷；而〈One Mississippi〉中展現的，David Gray式的歡愉輕快清新！ Singer/songwriter Tom McRae credits his upbringing for leading him to a career in music. While growing up in Chelmsford, his parents were vicars in the Church of England and McRae sang in the choir. His mother played guitar and, as a teen, he'd borrow it. When his sisters were listening to Kate Bush and U2, McRae followed and began buying records. He also started to become serious about music. At age 18, he went off to Guild Hall University to study music politics, soon forming bands and writing songs. A chance meeting with sound engineer Roger Bechirian (Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Carlene Carter) led him to a working relationship. He and Bechirian shaped McRae's soft-spoken sound, which later yanked him a deal with Mercury's db Records. Tom McRae's confessional self-titled debut appeared in fall 2001 and earned him comparisons to Nick Drake and Bob Dylan. Critics raved and McRae also a gained Mercury Music Prize nomination the same year. In 2003 Just Like Blood hit shelves and the next year McRae moved to California, where he recorded his third full-length, All Maps Welcome an album that was released in 2005. Two years later King of Cards, recorded in England, came out.