Top tracks — play these first
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Still Love You — Opening with sparse instrumentation and emotional vulnerability, this track sets the tone for the album's exploration of love and longing.
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Summer of John Wayne — This track juxtaposes nostalgic Americana imagery with contemporary disillusionment, effectively illustrating McRae's knack for blending personal narrative with broader cultural commentary.
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American Spirit — With its rich instrumentation and poignant lyrics, this song embodies the thematic heart of the album, reflecting on identity and belonging amid a changing landscape.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines intimate songwriting with varied arrangements, creating a cohesive yet diverse listening experience.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent acoustic instrumentation, while the second half introduces more varied arrangements, including strings and percussion.
- Lyrically, the album employs vivid imagery and storytelling, with several tracks featuring repeated refrains that enhance their emotional weight.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting melodies for quiet moments
- introspective reflections on life
- short tracks for focused listening
- evocative soundscapes for solitude
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer standalone catchy singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2010, The Alphabet of Hurricanes is Tom McRae's first album in six years, following a hiatus after his last studio effort, 2005's Just Like Blood. This album represents a significant return to form for McRae, showcasing his maturation as a songwriter while exploring themes of loss and identity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David Gray· Damien Rice· Fink
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Please
The narrator shifts from pleading to acceptance marks a significant emotional pivot in the song.
This contrast between desperation and resignation deepens the listener's connection to the theme of unrequited love.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Still Love You 2:11
- 2 A Is for... 0:52
- 3 Won't Lie 4:28
- 4 Summer of John Wayne 4:54
- 5 Told My Troubles to the River 2:50
- 6 American Spirit 5:29
- 7 Please 3:30
- 8 Out of the Walls 4:03
- 9 Me & Stetson 3:25
- 10 Can't Find You 3:00
- 11 Best Winter 2:27
- 12 Fifteen Miles Downriver 4:36
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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