Customer Reviews

Gavin DeGraw

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"'cause the heart can't erase once it finds a place to be warm and welcome,
To be held in shelter" - lyrics from "In Love with a Girl"


Way back in 2003, I reported that Gavin DeGraw's debut CD Chariot was the best album you'd never heard of. Fast forward to 2008 to his second studio album, and although he's a lot more popular now, this is probably the best album you've heard only one song from.

That song is "In Love with a Girl", the first single, but by no means the only good track on the album. DeGraw's easy-listening melodies and simple arrangements make for timeless songs that will still be current in years to come.

This very talented young man writes his own songs, and also plays piano and guitar, and I strongly encourage you to check out the following songs.

Next to You (Wait a Minute Sister)
Cheated on me
Young Love
She Holds a Key
Untamed
Let it Go

Not that the other tracks aren't extremely good, but these are the ones that stand out, and the ones I think are single-worthy. There are no filler tracks on this album, which can be listened to anytime, anywhere and often. I rather think that DeGraw's time under the radar is coming to an end.

Also recommended for Maroon 5 and Jason Mraz fans.
Rated 4.5 stars




Amanda Richards, May 15, 2008

I've anxiously awaited the release of Gavin's followup to Chariot, which is still to this day one of my favorite albums of all time. Admittedly, I've always liked the "Stripped" version of Chariot the most. So when I heard this over-mixed pop sounding album for the first time I was very disappointed.

There are only a couple of songs on this album that are worth a second play. Most of the lyrics are corny and vanilla. The musical sound is way too bubble gum pop for his soulful voice. It's almost as if he was writing to sell albums to teenage girls. I've listened to the album a handful of times hoping it will grow on me, but to no avail.

After being such a huge fan of Gavin's debut album I'm probably harder with this review since I had high expectations. I miss his killer combination of a soulful voice and equally soul filled lyrics.

I eagerly awaited Gavin DeGraw's new CD. I could not wait to buy it and play it, and when i did i was very unimpressed. All the songs have the same beat, i felt like i was listening to the first CD via the music, the only thing different was the lyrics. All the songs(Except for the don't do drugs song) have either, my girl loves me, my girl left me, my dream girl, my girl and I had fight, etc., Very disappointed.

Gavin's soulful voice and infectious energy returns in the long-awaited
arrival of his new self-titled CD.

Our first taste of the CD was the catchy "In Love With a Girl", which set a popsy expectation for the CD. Thankfully, Gavin does flesh out the CD with a spectrum of emotion. He follows up his love story with "Next to Me", in which he seemed to channel a little Jason Mraz in the intro and eventually falls back into his own style.

Bound to get a lot of airtime is the strongly melodic "Cheated on Me". "I Have You to Thank" is cute but sounds a little Maroon 5 and is the most forgettable song in the bunch. He's back having fun with strong rhythms and piano riffs in "Cop Stop". "Young Love" continues to deliver a great sound with old-fashioned heart. "Medicate the Kids" will hopefully bring awareness to the issue with his message. "Relative" is a hard-rocking anthem then Gavin is back at the piano on "She holds a Key" which is finished by a driving gospel sound. Gavin's inner Tarzan comes out on "Untamed". Contrasting, is the "Let It Go", tender and vulnerable, reminding me a little of Queen.

The CD finishes with the idealism of "We Belong Together". This song is everything that I was looking for in Gavins follow-up to Chariot: melodic, deep, soulful.

The self-titled CD is surprisingly, harder to identify with than Chariot. The lyrics speak to a younger age group and with a definite masculine take, most would not be found singing to in the car. Given Chariot's bullseye mark, it is hard to imagine that Gavin is lyrically unripe. So, like he says, 'it's all relative'. This CD does not follow down the same road as Chariot but if taken on its own merits will still deliver. Overall, Gavin's sophomore effort is well-worth a listen.

Its been almost 5 years since Gavin Degraw's first cd "Chariot." I remember being blown away by Gavin Degraw when i first heard his album. Over these past five years I have found myself coming back to Chariot every so often and wondering to myself when I'd be lucky enough to hear some more Gavin. Here it is...

"In love with a girl", the first single off of Gavin Degraw is an alright song in my opinion, along the lines of "I don't wanna be" from his first album. However, once again his best work comes out in the remainder of the album. Songs like "Untamed", "Young Love", "Cop Stop", "She holds a key", and "We belong together" are all amazing. Definitely a must buy for anyone who enjoyed Chariot and for those of you who still haven't heard of Gavin Degraw, prepare to be very impressed!

Gavin is back in full force 5 years later with more experiences to share though his brilliant songwriting and amazingly soulful voice. Can't wait to see him live!

I can't say that I loved "Chariot" when I first heard it but I liked it. With a little encouragement from a dear friend I eased into the album and fell in love with his style and talent.

When we heard that release #2 was coming out neither of us could wait to get it and I truely love this album more than the first. Gavin said he wanted this album to have more of a rock feeling to it than the first but the styles of the songs vary enough that it keeps the experience fresh. I can listen to the album and find myself singing along and it over before I know it because I am enjoying it that much. I'd have to say that my favorites are "In Love With a Girl", "She Holds a Key", "Medicate the Kids", and "We belong Together." He definitely put a lot of soul into this album and it's just great to see that come out in young talent.

I too must say I prefer his First CD. I *LOVED* his First CD!! This Cd does not have the same vibe, it lacks something....

What Happened Gavin!!???

I hope the next one is better... Or more like the first.

I, like many, many others, was psyched for Gavin Degraw's follow up to Chariot. I wasnt an enourmous fan of Chariot as a whole, but the greater part it was melodically startling, lyrically true and fairly unique. i had honestly hoped that his sophmore effort would be more daring. the self titled album is kind of poppy over produced mush. good poppy over produced mush but still mush. i got the impression that the material was much less personal to him, and that he was stuck in a melodic rut, becuase every song sounds exactly the same.

Overall Gavin Degraw is a good second album. All songs have beautiful melodies and lyrics. I can listen to it continuously without skipping any tracks. However, it does lack the raw power and emotion that can be felt like its predecessor, Chariot and Chariot Stripped. Fans who love Chariot Stripped may find the second album falls flat in comparison. Gavin's voice is not strong and clear like before. On the first album, I don't even have to look at the lyrics, I can hear every word clearly, I can feel what he is trying to convey, every emotion. To me, that is Gavin's main strength, it's the reason why so many people fall in love with his voice. This is missing on this album. To say the album lacks the soulfulness as before is a bit harsh, I would say that it has the potential to be better, a lot better, if Gavin's voice is given centre stage, and not blended and lost with the busy music arrangements.

I've been enjoying his music since his last cd Chariot. So when i heard the first single "In Love With A Girl". I knew it had to be Gavin and sure enough it was. He has so much soul in his songs that you can't help but be drawn to them. Each one of the songs on this cd feel like a personal statement or a journey that he has gone through since his last cd was released. Not preachy or anything just a collection of songs that will have hitting the play button again to hear it one more time.

Some cds have songs that you can skip over and not miss much. But not with this one each and every one of the 12 songs on "Gavin Degraw" need to heard more than once to get the effect. He also wrote all the songs on this one as well piano and other instruments.

With the aforementioned "In Love With A Girl". There are several songs of note on this cd to keep track of:

"Cheated On Me"
"I Have You To Thank"
"Young Love"
"Medicate The Kids"
"She Holds A Key"
"Let It Go"
"Next to Me (Wait A Minute Sister)"

Also the cd isnt filled with any unnecessary interludes or intros. It still manages to come in 46 minutes and that time will fly by while listening to a cd that should be on everyone's Top releases.