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Talented musician Gavin DeGraw's latest, self-titled album is easy to fall "In Love With."
After Gavin DeGraw’s hugely successful debut album Chariot and the accompanying Chariot: Stripped (2004), the expectations for the 31-year-old musician’s next album, Gavin DeGraw, were high. Fans eagerly anticipated the May 6, 2008, release, particularly after hearing the first single, “In Love with a Girl.” As a result, the album topped iTunes sales charts that week. Perfect Blend of Familiar and NewDeGraw’s clever lyrics deal with love, life, and even contemporary society this time around. Fans will recognize the upbeat piano and guitar chords characteristic of Chariot, but there’s a bit more of a rock feel throughout this album, which begins by hooking listeners in with the opening guitar riffs of “In Love with a Girl.” Listen Straight ThroughThe best albums are the ones that can be listened to from beginning to end without skipping a track. That certainly applies to Gavin DeGraw. After singing along with “In Love with A Girl,” it’s tempting to listen to the song another fifteen times, but the best move is to go on to the rest of the album, which does not disappoint. The TracksFans are treated to the catchy “Next to Me (Wait a Minute Sister)” followed by “Cheated on Me” which manages to get the not-so-happy message of the song across without the music sounding too depressing, much in the way the song “Just Friends” did on Chariot (though the two songs sound nothing alike). The tracks “I Have You to Thank” and “Cop Stop,” work great together back-to-back. “Cop Stop” may be familiar to some, as DeGraw performed it at concerts long before the album’s release. This song about chasing after a girl is, along with “I Have You to Thank,” among the best on the album. Fans will be tempted to go back and listen to those two again before moving on to the next tracks. From there the album briefly takes on a mellow tone with the ballad “Young Love,” which has a theme that may remind listeners of “We Belong Together,” the song from the 2006 film Tristan & Isolde (the track also appears on this album). But there’s a catch to this version of “We Belong Together”: It’s a bit difficult to sing along with, as there are some additional—and poignant—lyrics in the middle of the song. After “Young Love” the tone changes again with the punchy, sarcastic “Medicate the Kids,” about how children today seem to get prescriptions for every little apparent behavior problem. The next track, an edgy song that declares that everything in life is “Relative,” showcases DeGraw’s tendency to use thoughtful, unconventional lyrics, something that applies to the slower “She Holds a Key” which he carries with fantastic-as-usual lead vocals, supplemented with uplifting backing vocals and, of course, a piano. The tenth track, “Untamed,” serves as an appropriate break between slow songs, and is the final upbeat song on the album. Following it are the sweet lyrics of “Let it Go,” and the well-known “We Belong Together.” Closing NotesThis is a great album to listen to in the car, hanging out at home, or relaxing on the beach with an mp3 player: in other words, almost anywhere. No two songs on this album sound alike, and they showcase DeGraw’s talent as a musician: hitting tough notes while playing piano or guitar (this guy is not afraid to belt it out, and the results are nothing but positive), and filling each unique song with lyrics that are fun, thought-provoking, or both. Long story short, fans certainly have Gavin DeGraw “to thank for” such a high-quality new album.
The copyright of the article Gavin DeGraw in Rock Music is owned by Suzanne Swartz. Permission to republish Gavin DeGraw in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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