Albums to watch

I Was A Cat From A Book

James Yorkston

I Was A Cat From A Book

Fifth album from the Fife folk singer-songwriter formed out of the illness of his young daughter

ADM rating[?]

7.2

Label
Domino
UK Release date
13/08/2012
US Release date
21/08/2012
  1. 8.7 |   The AU Review

    An affecting and mesmerising album, and one of the Yorkston’s finest to date
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  2. 8.0 |   BBC

    Innovative arrangements aside, this might not be the most forward-thinking LP you’ll hear this year. But the emotion and honesty on display are qualities that will never go out of style
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  3. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    Dwelling only on personal circumstances results in an unnecessarily reductive assessment of this remarkable album – Yorkston’s best yet
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  4. 8.0 |   Q

    As always with this gem of a musician, all human life is here. Print edition only

  5. 8.0 |   Mojo

    A record that seeks to draw you in and keep you close. Print edition only

  6. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Yorkston exposes and plays with his emotional connection to life around him, showing once again that he is able to put pen to paper in a way that his contemporaries can only dream of
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  7. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    An album that’s warm, loose, sumptuous and heady, but always meticulously crafted
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  8. 8.0 |   The Fly

    Don’t be fooled by the benign title of James Yorkston’s latest album – the songs have some real bite to them, both lyrically and sonically
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  9. 8.0 |   State

    Although not a fundamental departure for Yorkston, I Was a Cat from a Book in its satisfying wholeness does enough to challenge old fans and hopefully attract some new ones as well
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  10. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    His music is more inventive, instrumentally diverse and accessible than ever before, arguably straying outside the realms of pure folk into the outer confines of indie-rock for the first time
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  11. 7.0 |   DIY

    A good album with top-class musicianship and production, that deserves your ear at least once even if folk is not your thing
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  12. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    It’s still discernibly a James Yorkston record, and full of what you’d expect from one, but there’s enough shading in the corners and drawing over the lines to add new sparks of interest
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  13. 7.0 |   Clash

    Undeniably there’s little here that will surprise fans, but there is certainly plenty to be enchanted by
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  14. 6.5 |   Bowlegs

    He’s never made a bad album, and whilst I Was a Cat from a Book isn’t up there with his best, it maintains the Fife man’s tradition of delivering quality music
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  15. 6.0 |   The Observer

    Not flawless but always affecting
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  16. 6.0 |   The Arts Desk

    This is an album for people who wrestle with the black dog, regret and daily reminders of mortality
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  17. 6.0 |   NME

    The record as a whole is full of wan acoustic guitar tunes in desperate need of that mysterious quality of oomph. Print edition only

  18. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    When he cheers up and includes a memorable melody, as on the glorious Just as Scared, folk’s best-kept secret sounds like he might yet discover a bigger audience
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  19. 6.0 |   The Independent

    The extended instrumental palette has brought a new depth to the arrangements but has added little transparency to Yorkston's often bewildering lyrics
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James Yorkston: I Was A Cat From A Book

  • Download full album for just £8.49
  • 1. Catch £0.89
  • 2. Kath with Rhodes £0.89
  • 3. Border Song £0.89
  • 4. This Line Says £0.89
  • 5. Just as Scared £0.89
  • 6. Sometimes the Act of Giving Love £0.89
  • 7. The Fire & the Flames £0.89
  • 8. A Short Blues £0.89
  • 9. Spanish Ants £0.89
  • 10. Two £0.89
  • 11. I Can Take All This £0.89
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