Blogcritics: Comments on CD Review: David Gray, Life in Slow Motion

Comment by Andrew

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 19:59:26 EDT

The first time I heard 'Babylon,' I broke my 3 song rule (an album has to have 3 songs I like for me to purchase it) and I found that I liked every song on the album. I went to an indie music store and saw they had all of his previous albums as well. I bought one, 'A Century Ends,' and the first song, 'Shine,' absolutely knocked my socks off. For the next year, I saved my pennies and bought each of the albums that came out before 'White Ladder,' including 'Lost Songs' which were songs written before WL but released afterwards. 'Flame Turns Blue' is a tremendous song as is 'Gutter full of Rain.' There are songs of his that tell stories in the traditional sense and there are songs of his that simply convey emotion through the use of metaphor. Is he the greatest ever? No. Is he my favorite singer-songwriter at this time in my life? Yes.

Comment by Shannon

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 14:12:44 EDT

I love David Gray's music, but yeah, I agree with you on the lyrics -- they're essential. If the lyrics are crap, I can't bother with the song. I don't know about the ones you used as examples from "From Here You Can Almost See the Sea." I haven't really warmed up to that song yet. But I can definetly agree with Wilson: "Flame Turns Blue" is my favorite song, ever, due to one lyric (although the entire tune is utterly gorgeous, IMHO): I'm in collision with every stone I ever threw and blind ambition where the flame turns blue.

Comment by betty boo

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 19:05:22 EDT

david gray white ladder will always have a special place in my heart because the first time I heard David Gray sing live on tv; before I really knew who he was, he brought me to tears and to make this moment even more memorable was it was the time I cried in front of my boyfriend ..everything he sung touched me in such a unique way I could never explain..and it was it was that day that i realised my boyfriend was the guy I wanted to marry. that was 4 years ago at uni, we are still together and he is still the guy i know Im going to marry. So for that reason David Gray will always sail far higher than any other artist for me.

Comment by Wilson

Mon, 5 Sep 2005 11:19:05 EDT

I can certainly see why you think David Gray's music would be boring...but I would ask you to listen a couple of his earlier albums...namely "A Century Ends" and "Flesh" as they have much better lyrics than his later work. If you are looking for particular tracks...check out Gathering Dust, Flame Turns Blue, Falling Free or The Light.

Comment by Steve

Thu, 1 Sep 2005 17:52:43 EDT

Hmmm, David Gray, one of my faves...re. the 'nobody cares about the lyrics' comment...I do think that is hyperbole, as you two posters at least prove! However, for me, as long as there is no profanity in the lyrics, or anything really offensive, I must confess, personally the music is more important than the lyrics...I've found most artists' lyrics to be quite impenetratable, only to find that for many of them, that is there intention anyway so that the listener can read into the lyrics whatever they want...on the other hand, I remember Sting saying he had conversations with some of his fans, where many would say that "Every Breath You Take" (by The Police of course) is one of our fave love songs to which Sting would reply (or at least think to himself... I forget now) 'Boy, you must have a very strange relationship (with your significant other) as that song is about a twisted stalker!!! To me, although there have been great songs that tell great stories, the ones that have great music added to them are pretty rare. On an annual basis I think I could count them on one hand (two hands in a good year). I can get my ideas about life from books and other places where prose is used. Can't get music from anything else but music, I guess that's why I focus on it more than the lyrics. If the music is great, I can ignore poor lyrics, as long as they aren't too repetitive or, as I said above, offensive. Indeed, there are many songs (particularly in the dance music genre) that would sound better as instrumentals to these ears lol. There have been many good songs that have been rendered badly musically...well, ok, let me be more diplomatic...in arrangements I have not enjoyed personally (for me, that includes a number of great songwriters, like much of Dylan's output, for example) to the point where I would rather read the lyrics themselves than have to listen to the music that accompanies them. Just my own opinion.

Comment by Mikey McClenathan

Thu, 1 Sep 2005 16:59:03 EDT

i couldn't agree with you more about the lyrics. i think i might punch the next person who says "nobody cares about the lyrics" in the kidney.