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Product Description
Review
David Gray’s gradual slide from radio ubiquity has been a blessing of sorts for the Manchester-born songwriter. While he’ll forever be remembered for his breakthrough single Babylon, which dominated the airwaves of 2000, a distancing from commercial tastes – he’s had no top ten single since 2005, and the lead single here, Fugitive, is yet to crack the top 100 – has allowed Gray to express himself in the right, self-rewarding ways.
Draw the Line, Gray’s eighth studio album, finds the singer striking out with a brand-new band set up after parting company with regular songwriting partner Craig McClune, and while he rightfully leads from the front, the album’s liner notes reveal that the newcomers have played more than just supporting roles, with numerous co-write credits. The results are pleasingly authentic of feel, in so much as the listener gets the impression that this is a ‘band’ album, rather than one from a solo artist merely backed by session hands.
Gray’s voice has drifted closer than ever before to the world-weary croak of the Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones at his downbeat best, which graces a handful of these songs with a hard-luck vibe that really connects with the listener, especially at a time of year when blue skies are beginning to turn grey for another six months. Transformation is one such cut, a gorgeous final minute of wordless harmonising the cherry atop a sumptuous surprise of understated elegance. Similarly delightful is Kathleen, Gray’s duet – although he dominates proceedings – with Texan folk singer Jolie Holland. It’s easily the standout track of this album’s mid-section.
Bringing Annie Lennox into the mix on the closing Full Steam rather lessens the album’s initial impact, diluting as it does an otherwise consistently strong showing from Gray – alongside the Eurhythmics legend he pales, the punch his female foil packs considerably more impressive than the comparative fragility of his own tones. In the track’s favour, its string arrangement never overpowers the basic strums-and-drums structure, complementing rather than conquering. Fugitive, perversely, is among the weaker numbers here, vocally buoyant but lacking any instrumental spark.
But the single is one of few slight disappointments on an album which, while breaking no boundaries nor exhibiting much adventuring beyond Gray’s comfort zone, stands up well to repeat plays and, ultimately, impresses enough to recommend to both existing fans and those yet to investigate the man’s material beyond his over-played hit of yesteryear. --Mike Diver
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Product Description
titolo-draw the lineartista-david gray etichetta-polydorn. dischi1data11 settembre 2009supportocd audiogenerepop e rock internazionale-brani----1.fugitiveascolta2.draw the lineascolta3.nemesisascolta4.jackdawascolta5.kathleenascolta6.first chanceascolta7.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Draw The Line is simply a wonderful and ephemeral album. It is full of memorable, creative and original music that has meaning and soul.
Everytime I hear Nemesis the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. This song really touches my inner core because of its beauty, phrasing and meaning. Jackdaw rises to a crescendo as it soars towards its end and is just magical. Even the final song, Full Steam, leaves you wanting to hear more from Gray because of the way it elegantly captivates you.
David Gray is a masterful songwriter and the songs are all beautifully crafted.
I have listened to this continously since I bought it and it is like fine wine, it just gets better and better.
Disc two showcases his live performance and wannabes karoke singers on those awful so-called talent shows should listen to this because they will hear true, unadulterated talent that is so far removed from the over-produced pap that pollutes the airwaves.
David Gray is simply brilliant
Everytime I hear Nemesis the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. This song really touches my inner core because of its beauty, phrasing and meaning. Jackdaw rises to a crescendo as it soars towards its end and is just magical. Even the final song, Full Steam, leaves you wanting to hear more from Gray because of the way it elegantly captivates you.
David Gray is a masterful songwriter and the songs are all beautifully crafted.
I have listened to this continously since I bought it and it is like fine wine, it just gets better and better.
Disc two showcases his live performance and wannabes karoke singers on those awful so-called talent shows should listen to this because they will hear true, unadulterated talent that is so far removed from the over-produced pap that pollutes the airwaves.
David Gray is simply brilliant
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've never been the biggest fan of David Gray, more like a quiet admirer who appreciates the craft and passion in his work, but "Draw The Line", I have to say, has drawn me into the realms of fandom. This is such a fantastic album, it would be difficult to criticise it even if I wanted to. "White Ladder" is surely his best loved album, but "Draw The Line" has to be his best to date. There is a almost effortless brilliance to each and every track. Maybe it has been coming for a long time, after all, every album has had at least a couple of stand-out tracks, but with this release David Gray has made the classic he's always threatened to produce. Nothing here is overwrought, over-baked or over-produced - it is simply a restrained, classy, poignant and truly mature piece of work. As near to perfect as an album can be.
Not only is this full to the brim with excellent songs, but it's so beautifully recorded as well. The choice of instrumentation complements each track beautifully. The guitars ring out, the strings sound clear and bright, without being too lush, the piano notes are sumptuously rich and Gray's voice is in fine form. "Draw The Line" is the sound of an artist at the peak of his powers. Highlights - well, every song, really. That may sound like a cop-out, but it's true. If you push me to name favourites then I'd have to go for the upbeat opener "Fugitive", the beautiful but slightly sinister "Nemesis", the superbly rousing "Jackdaw", the gorgeous "Kathleen", the magical and somehow traditionally Scottish-sounding "Transformation" and the folky but explosive "Breathe". Yes, I'm fully aware that I've just named three-quarters of the album, but that's just the way it is. It's extremely difficult to choose favourites when the whole album is comprised of such quality material.
However, perhaps the most noteworthy song on this excellent collection is the last track, a magnificent duet between David and Annie Lennox, which builds into a spine-tingling climax. Yes, that's right. A duet between David Gray and Annie Lennox which is just stone-cold amazing. I wouldn't have believed it either, but there you go. If you have any pre-conceptions about David Gray and his music, please leave them at the door before you put this album on, because I'm positive that "Draw The Line" could convince all but the most hard-line sceptics of his immense talent. This is a real album, from a real musician for lovers of real music. Who could ask for more?
One of the very best of 2009.
Not only is this full to the brim with excellent songs, but it's so beautifully recorded as well. The choice of instrumentation complements each track beautifully. The guitars ring out, the strings sound clear and bright, without being too lush, the piano notes are sumptuously rich and Gray's voice is in fine form. "Draw The Line" is the sound of an artist at the peak of his powers. Highlights - well, every song, really. That may sound like a cop-out, but it's true. If you push me to name favourites then I'd have to go for the upbeat opener "Fugitive", the beautiful but slightly sinister "Nemesis", the superbly rousing "Jackdaw", the gorgeous "Kathleen", the magical and somehow traditionally Scottish-sounding "Transformation" and the folky but explosive "Breathe". Yes, I'm fully aware that I've just named three-quarters of the album, but that's just the way it is. It's extremely difficult to choose favourites when the whole album is comprised of such quality material.
However, perhaps the most noteworthy song on this excellent collection is the last track, a magnificent duet between David and Annie Lennox, which builds into a spine-tingling climax. Yes, that's right. A duet between David Gray and Annie Lennox which is just stone-cold amazing. I wouldn't have believed it either, but there you go. If you have any pre-conceptions about David Gray and his music, please leave them at the door before you put this album on, because I'm positive that "Draw The Line" could convince all but the most hard-line sceptics of his immense talent. This is a real album, from a real musician for lovers of real music. Who could ask for more?
One of the very best of 2009.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I agree with A Sweeney's review below. I have not been a big fan of David Gray's music up to now. I admire 'Babylon' as a fine piece of music but just about everything else since has not really hit that spot. However, along comes 'Draw the Line'. After seeing David and the awesome Annie Lennox perform 'Full Steam' on TV I was spellbound - I thought I had been transported to a place where music is always exceptional and X Factor didn't exist.
So, I purchased 'Draw the Line' the next day from Amazon. What hits you about this new album is that the production is clean and crisp; each musician means what he or she is playing. The man himself has found his mojo again - every song without exception is superb. From the urgent opener 'Fugitive' to the menacing 'Jackdaw', the man is on fine form. It is all sung from the heart. While there is little in terms of style change (you know who it is), it is a simple case that each song deserves to be heard, deserves to be on an album.
I have also purchased the Special Edition CD with tracks recorded at the Roundhouse which is definitely worth the extra fiver. Surprise, surprise, the live recording of 'Babylon' is hard to beat! All in all then, this is a fine album from a man who has found his groove and knows it. He sounds very confident and deserves a lot of success with this album. Great stuff!
So, I purchased 'Draw the Line' the next day from Amazon. What hits you about this new album is that the production is clean and crisp; each musician means what he or she is playing. The man himself has found his mojo again - every song without exception is superb. From the urgent opener 'Fugitive' to the menacing 'Jackdaw', the man is on fine form. It is all sung from the heart. While there is little in terms of style change (you know who it is), it is a simple case that each song deserves to be heard, deserves to be on an album.
I have also purchased the Special Edition CD with tracks recorded at the Roundhouse which is definitely worth the extra fiver. Surprise, surprise, the live recording of 'Babylon' is hard to beat! All in all then, this is a fine album from a man who has found his groove and knows it. He sounds very confident and deserves a lot of success with this album. Great stuff!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
What a great Album
I may sound funny saying this but I'm more into music than lyrics, but David Gray is one artist that I really like. Read more
Published 6 months ago by L. Taylor
Draw the Line
Well up to David Gray's standard. I am sure anyone who enjoyed White Ladder will enjoy this album.
Published 20 months ago by Charlie
Not as good as i'd hoped
I liked the first few songs on first listen and thought it would be a grower. I bought the cd and found the songs don't get any better with further listen, its just the same... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Newt KramBerry
david gray
I HAVE ALL DAVID GRAYS ALBUMS AND THEY'RE ALL GREAT,AND 'DRAW THE LINE'IS NO EXCEPTION. IT IS TRUELY BRILLIANT!!! Read more
Published 24 months ago by N. evans
Lacks that magic
I have been a big David Gray fan since White Ladder. I found his early stuff hard to get into but am getting there gradually. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by Mr. S. C. Billson
David Gray - Flawless
I went to see David in Manchester back in December, he was absolutely flawless. Definitely worth going to see. Nemesis was amazing. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2010 by Ms. A. L. Robinson
Yes!
I saw David Gray last night in concert. The guy is amazing. He sang most of the songs of this album (plus so many otehrs). He gets better and better. A kind of genius. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Anna Livia
You have to........
If you are a David Gray fan you'll love it. If you aren't (and my wife isn't) then you might say "they all the sound the same" but then what does she know! :0)
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by Paul J. Tompkins
Soulful and poignant
This is David Gray's best album. It is simply magical. Nemesis...the first time I listened to this song I stood still and could not move. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by Ms. E. J. Bousfield
Another brilliant album by David Gray
Once again, Mr Gray does not disappoint.Very good melodies and great lyrics. A pleasure to listen to.
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by E. Villarta Mendioroz
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