Search - David Gray :: Draw the Line (Deluxe Edition)

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Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 09/22/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Somewhere after David Gray first hit the big time with White Ladder, it seems he started compromising the gritty vision of his early albums with a desire to continue making hits. Who could blame him--after releasing three top-notch albums to a seemingly deaf public, he was unceremoniously dropped from his label before rising from his own ashes with White Ladder, which could arguably be called a modern classic. Since then, A New Day at Midnight seemed like a White Ladder 2 attempt without as strong material, and Life in Slow Motion was a bit overproduced and sadly too slow for its own good, while both included songs that were obviously written for the primary purpose of radio play. Not that I disliked those albums, in retrospect they sound like they are simultaneously straining in two opposite directions (commercial vs. true to Gray's more artistic vision) and their potency diluted.



In the intervening 4 years, it appears Gray has decided that compromising his natural songwriting impulses (which can often be quite dark) in order to try to offer up a couple jangly hit singles doesn't feel as good as channeling his true feelings into song form without pandering to a pop audience. I couldn't be happier; I prefer the imperfections of reality to the artificial candy of pop, so this album feels like return home. From the opening "Fugitive's" pounding drums and piano and the singer's triumphant "Yeah!", Draw the Line is eager to show that Life In Slow Motion's deliberate tempos and subdued mood are just a memory, and maybe that it feels good to return to his artistic roots. It's also clear that he's not pulling any punches this time; the typically poetic lyrics are full of paranoia, the weight of mortality, the slow grind of life and the occasional rays of happiness that can tilt the scales in the opposite direction.



"Fugitive" sets the tone for the album--sonically, it's not a huge departure for Gray--the songs are all based on the piano riffs and guitar that have long been his bread and butter, but they absolutely crackle with energy that was lacking on the last album, and the subtle pop impulses that propelled White Ladder bring just enough hooks to the table without sounding forced. On "Draw the Line" Gray sounds like a man on the edge raving at the world, and "Nemesis" is one of the most touching lyrics of his career. The upbeat "Jackdaw" pairs a catchy piano line with tasteful strings and an ecstatic vocal, and rivals "Stella the Artist" for the album's most energetic rocker. David Gray the cynic (perhaps my favorite side) rears his incisive head on the cutting "First Chance," and fans of White Ladder's weary love songs will find it hard to resist the gripping "Harder" and the aforementioned "Nemesis." Throughout the whole thing, it sounds like he's singing the last show of his life, and his vocals (which have always been a main draw) are full of passion and enough rough edges and cracks to necessitate multiple listens. By the anthemic album-closing Annie Lennox duet ("Full Steam")--on which she sounds to my ears like a dead wringer for Judy Henske--I'm ready to collapse in a satisfied heap.



Draw the Line isn't a perfect album--a couple songs, like "Kathleen" and "Breathe," don't leave as much impression as others, and I suspect that in 10 years time the production (particularly the current mainstream obsession with strings) will date the album to some ears, though not nearly as much as the pseudo-Coldplay XY (involuntary shudder) production of Life In Slow Motion. The haters will probably still malign Gray with cries of "adult contemporary" (well, White Ladder WAS quite overplayed), but I'll argue that they never really listened to the fire, the venom, the rarefied humanity in Gray's best words and vocals, of which there are plenty here. For me, this album proves that Gray is still one of the most challenging lyricists writing songs today.

"

David Gray

Garp10 | San Saba, TX | 10/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This has been in my player since I received it four days ago. The new music is all great; more like Gray's earlier work, and the second CD of his "greatest hits - live" is worth the price of this double CD by itself. Its alway nice to hear old favorites played live."

Totally worth it

M. Wood | Portland, OR United States | 10/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The man is talented. The new album doesn't disappoint. And the deluxe edition was totally worth it, for the bonus live CD. Gray tours the U.S. so infrequently, that his live albums are worth owning. This album was the only thing i listened to in the car for about two weeks, and I love it more and more. PLUS i got a steal through Amazon, compared to any prices I saw in stores or anywhere else online. TOTALLY WORTH IT!"