Customer Reviews

Flesh

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I didn't think albums got any more perfect than "A Century Ends." Until I heard "Flesh." This is, without a doubt, one of the best CDs in my entire collection. From the hard rocking opener, "What are You?" to the brilliant finisher, "Flesh," there isn't a bad track in the bunch.

Favorite tracks include:

The Light- I don't think I'll ever get tired of this song. It's the kind of tune that you pray to hear on a road trip so you can crank as loud as you can and cruise down the highway. Fantastic!

Coming Down- What a build! This song starts out pretty mellow, but builds to an amazing height. I think it needs to be heard twice to fully appreciate how good it is.

Falling Free- The first time I heard this song, I bawled my eyes out. This is possibly one of the most beautiful ballads ever written ("No need to nail it to the ground/No need to smother it with sense/ Just listen to the rhythm of your heart that pounds/ And trust it all to chance"). This song will have you from the very first note.

New Horizons- This song just makes you feel good. Between the music and the lyrics, you hear it and can't stop smiling.

Flesh- What a way to end this album! The percussion at the end is as inspiring as the chorus ("Putting flesh on the bones of my dreams"). This song makes me wish that Mr. Gray would experiment a little more with percussion...he has the right idea on this tune.

To sum up this album: I hear it and realize how lucky I was to discover David Gray. I can't picture my CD collection without his music.

David Gray's second album continues in the same folk-acoustic-ballad-rock vein of his previous masterpiece 'A Century Ends'. There is a definite development here though - it's a much more romantic record, probably because Gray got married around the time of making it. There's more of a relaxed feel, it seems he's got a lot of his anger and frustration out and is now relishing the love in his life - the MOST important thing. The songs - driving folk-rockers 'Made Up My Mind' and 'Love's Old Song' add some nice pace to proceedings. The soaring 'Coming Down', 'Flesh', 'New Horizons' and 'The Light' are perfect uplifting folk ditties/ballads, the latter being especially brilliant. The epitomie of love and romance that are 'Mystery of love' and 'Lullaby' leave you yearning for your own loved one. Gray even conjures a protest song of sorts in 'What Are You' - a Dylan esque diatribe, spat in fury, about how wrong it is to sell your soul to commercialism. (Some fans suggest that's what he did with releasing all those songs from 'White Ladder' but not me - he can do what he damn likes). There were a few of these on 'A Century Ends' and only one here. The best song here is the beautiful piano based 'Falling Free', similar in many respects to his other classic 'This Years Love', this is Gray at his genius best - a simple yet heartbreakingly beautiful confession of love. Get this album for ' Falling Free' and 'The Light' alone'- you will not regret it. One of my favourite albums ever. Brilliant voice, brilliant musician, brilliant album. GET IT NOW.

I've never written a review of an album on Amazon before, but I just got my copy of Flesh, and I feel like I need to spread the word. This album is brilliant. It covers the entire spectrum, from beautiful acoustic ballads (Coming Down), to driving folk-rock (What are you?, Made Up My Mind). I would recommend this album, without hesitation, to anyone who enjoys the music of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, or even bands like the Counting Crows, or the Dave Matthews Band.

Thank goodness David Gray acheived renown through White Ladder, otherwise his earlier albums would still remain primarily obscure and uncovered. Flesh, like A Century Ends before it, is a great specimen of new folk rock from Britain's David Gray. The album opens on a dark note with "What Are You." Gray's biting growl lets us know that he means business, and perfectly complements his stark, poetic lyrics. "The Light" is another high point, a live favorite of earlier days. Gray's cohesive arrangements include electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, piano and organ (among a few other surprises). "Coming Down" is one is one of Gray's finest songs, bar none. It explodes into a glorious cascade of beauty. The rest of the album dabbles in bluesy folk, with some straight-ahead rockers, with another highlight being "New Horizons," one of Gray's most optimistic and finely-crafted folky tunes. This album, though it has a unique sound, is an effective follow-up to A Century Ends, and is the height of Gray's folk-rock phase. Fans of Van Morrison, Springsteen and Dylan would enjoy these two records, and fans of Gray's newer material might expand their horizons by checking this out--it's the same energy, poeticism and heart, but in a folkier package.

Like many reviewers, "Flesh" ranks among my all-time favorites of any genre. This was my introduction to Gray years ago; I was a college DJ and the label was pushing "What Are You?" to alternative stations. That may seem odd to those who first heard Gray via his later work; but imagine Mike Scott's lyrics at their most angst-ridden (like in "Be My Enemy" from "This Is The Sea") coupled with arguably the most gritty, raw vocal Gray's recorded and you have one excellent, edgy, bitter lament about watching a friend sell out to the world.

"What Are You?" is the only tune like that here, however. The rest are far more positive and musically in line with Gray's later efforts and they shine with an authenticity that the minimal production allows. "The Light," for example, is an exhilirating love song showcasing Gray's strength with lyrics. The song simmers nicely until near the end when Gray quiets the instruments and lowers himself to a whisper--then builds back up with a rhythm (both vocally and instrumentally) that chugs like a train and gets you grinning from ear to ear, realizing how beautiful love can be.

I'm not much into "White Ladder" or "New Day at Midnight" (Gray's latest CDs) though I believe that's due to becoming a fan early. It's not about his massive popularity now or perceptions of his recent music sounding more "commercial"--it is because there are two distinct periods of Gray's music and I prefer one over the other. His earlier work is more raw, folk-based, intense, and naked. This works for some while others prefer the smooth, sonically perfect production and softer lyrics.

I've found those with an affinity for "alt country" artists (Uncle Tupelo, Matthew Ryan, Steve Earle, etc) prefer Gray's pre-"White Ladder" albums. If that sounds like you, give "Flesh" or "Century Ends" (Gray's first album) a shot before the rest. Hopefully, however, you'll be the type to like both periods of Gray's music and be able to enjoy it all!

This cd has magical qualities to elevate me to a new level of musical pleasure. I can't tell you all how strongly I recommend it. Gray is a beautiful singer and even more wonderful songwriter.

If you lived in one of those hypothetical worlds where you could only own ten cds, this should be one of them. I have played this thing out for a year and a half and haven't gotten tired of it nor have I found much to compare it with, not even Gray's other stuff. The only thing that comes close is his earlier work, "A Century Ends" and even then there is something missing. Every track on "Flesh" is good, and a few of them are so overwhelming that they leave you shaking your head in amazement. A number of other reviewers have mentioned the monster track "Falling Free" which can't have too many good things said about it. This is one of the most gruff, simple, beautiful and heartfelt ballads I have heard, and I have added it to the soundtrack of my life.
For those of you who only know David Gray through his later stuff, especially the cd "White Ladder" and that terrible "Babylon" song, you owe it to yourself to give "Flesh a try. Over the years and the records, the songs have lost some of the rawness both in the husky vocals and the simplicity of the music. His latest work, "New Day at Midnight" sounds so overproduced that it is amazing it comes from the same guy. Not that the later David Gray is bad music, the guy's stuff is always really good, it just doesn't have to power and the vibrancy of the few early efforts. "Flesh" is music stripped to the bone...and, man, is it good!

Thank god David Gray is finally getting the recognition he so richly deserves. I've had this album (in it's pre-rerelease pressing) for over a year, and it's one of my favorites. I've been excited about this album since last summer, and now I feel like I need to spread the word. This album is brilliant. It covers the entire spectrum, from beautiful acoustic ballads (Coming Down), to driving folk-rock (What are you?, Made Up My Mind). I would recommend this album, without hesitation, to anyone who enjoys the music of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, or even bands like the Counting Crows (who I swear had to be listening to this album when they recorded This Desert Life), or the Dave Matthews Band. Only when comparing this to other David Gray albums can I say this one is 4-stars. Against anything else, it's far and away a 5-star album.

I'm not gonna lie i got a burned copy of this cd from a friend and didnt think much of it when i first got it....Now i cant imagine not ever having this cd. New horizon is my favorite song on this cd. i love every track and could listen to it all day but new horizon reminds me of the beginning of my freshman year in college. " Things come too easy, I get suspicious
things come too slow, I get bored
if it don't work out I get superstitious
but if it does, oh my word"
that quote in itself describes my life. AMAZING CD cant wait for his new stuff

This is by far the best cd i bought in my life. touching and moving you from the very first note to the last. if i should ever find a girl that fits to the feeling that "falling free" gives me i will marry her.