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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
*****GREAT FROM START TO FINISH*****, August 3, 2005
Bought this CD after I saw Bo Bice's performance of 'I Don't want to be' on American Idol. Liked the song when Bo sang it, love when Gavin does. In my opinion Gavin is a artist who always stays true to his art. Sound is fresh and inspiring with great vocals.
All songs are good, but my favorite three are: Belief, Follow Through, and Chariot.
"A MUSIC MUST HAVE"
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chariot Stripped by Gavin DeGraw, July 27, 2004
Every so often an artist comes out with an album that can literally change your life, your entire prospective on music and fully captivate you from the start until the finish. Last year an artist released an album that did just that, and that album was Chariot by Gavin DeGraw. To this day it is still my most cherished album and hands down my all time favorite in my entire collection. Each song was breath-taking, and now with the release of STRIPPED, Gavin's second album, I am even more pleased, in fact words may not have been created to describe my reactions.
Not only do you get the original album, Chariot, but you get STRIPPED, an acoustic, live recording of all 11 tracks from his impecable debut album, as well as a brand new song "Change will Come". Using the ever popular 'passion over pitch' method of raw, emotional recordings, Gavin re-recorded all the songs 100% live in a studio with an acoustic band all in one take, completely stripped of all the engineering & over producing that record lables use to get more radio friendly sounding songs.
Not since Lauryn Hill's Unplugged have I heard an album so real, so focused & so incredibly inspiring. While his debut was an astonishing release, STRIPPED easily surpasses it because this is the way I believe Gavin initially intended the listener to hear his work. Who could have imagined tracks such as "Follow Through", "Belief", "Just Friends", "Over-rated" & "I Don't Want to Be" could sound any better than their original recordings. Even "Chemical Party" which I wasn't a fan of the first time around, sounds incredible to say the least.
Gavin is a truly remarkable talent, and the best kept secret in all of the industry. Now its time to let that secret out. This music is purely timeless, an influential masterpiece that only comes along every so often. For one to pass on this release could even be a sin. He had the best album of 2003, and now he unquestionably has accomplished the same award this year.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gavin's Music : Giving "Meaning to the World", May 2, 2006
Gavin Degraw's amazing fusion of acoustic pop, alternative rock and soulful blues crooning has an undeniable magnetism that you just can't help but give in to. While some artist of his age keep their audiences on their toes by acting out a lifestlye like that of a Lifetime special that's just so bad you can't help but watch, Gavin's appeal is deeply rooted in talent and his seemingly effortless ability to not only breathe an entirely original style into his own music, but also into even the most classic of classic songs, like that of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On."
DeGraw's Chariot Stripped album is the pinnacle of the perfect artistic blend of instrumentation, vocality, and raw emotion. The tracks are so clean cut and pure, at times you can actually hear the sound of the piano bench settle underneath Gavin's weight. Nothing has been tainted with soundboard beats, echo chambers, or even the classic wall of sound, and it could be no better.
Gavin display's a wide range of ability on the album from his guttural vocal stylings to his strength as both a guitarist and pianist. No two tracks are at all alike, and each has it's own very precise blend and balance of instrumentation. So many artists rely on looping beat tracks, but there is nothing repetitive about this album, or its production.
"Meaning" is a soft ballad with some of the most insightful and honest lyrics I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. With incredible imagery and heart warming depth, this song cant help but make you love love and question what is all about anyway.
One of the true treasures of this album is Degraw's immaculate interpretation of the Sam Cooke classic "Change is Gonna Come." The vocality on this track is absolutely gorgeous, and shows a whole new side of Degraw's artistic range, passion, and lends even more credence to the 29-year-old's old-soul-crooner status.
"Chariot" has a very complex piano accompaniment and fantastic, gripping lyrics that could speak to the heart of even the most jaded individual, reminding them once again of the magic of all things simplistic, earthly, and heavenly. A reminder of faith and strength of heart, "Chariot" brings the whole feel of the album home, summing up quite decisively the complexly minimalistic style that is the life and music of Gavin Degraw.
Gavin Degraw is, without a doubt, a very powerful force to be reckoned with. His music is timeless and knows no boundaries of age, race, colour or creed. He is, across the board, one of the most talented, dedicated, tenacious, and promising artist of our time.
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Gavin DeGraw shares his favorite music with Amazon customers. See all artists' picks on our Music You Should Hear page.
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