Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 55
 Not as good as "Chariot" May 11, 2008
C. Marsh (Los Angeles, CA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've been a Gavin fan from the beginning. I worked with the Executive Producer of One Tree Hill, Joe Davola, who gave Gavin the opportunity of a lifetime by using "I Don't Want to Be" as the theme song of the show. I've been to at least half a dozen Gavin concerts, and have gifted "Chariot" so many times, I should get a platinum album. So, suffice it to say, I'm a die-hard fan.
His newest album, the self-titled, Gavin Degraw, has some great tracks, but I can't help but be disappointed. If you've seen Gavin on tour, he's been playing some of these songs for years-- i.e. Cop Stop, It's All Relative, We Belong Together, She Holds the Key. Call me a fickle listener, but as a devoted fan, I expected to hear 12 new songs on an album I waited 5 years for. Though "Cop Stop" and "She Holds the Key" are catchy, lyrically-sound tracks that will win over first-time listeners-- as a loyal fan--I feel cheated. Why did it take 5 years to come up with eight new songs? If Gavin wanted to put recycled songs on the album, they should've been bonus tracks.
As for the new tracks, there are some great ones. "Next to Me," "Untamed," and "Young Love" have the melodic hooks to get radio airplay. But songs like "I think you cheated on me" and "Let it Go" fall short of deriving the emotional poignancy "Chariot" tracks so easily derived.
Overall, I gave the album 3 out 5. It's got some great hooks, especially if you've never heard the 4 songs Gavin's been playing on tour for years. If you're a newly found Gavin fan, check out his first album-- it's a classic.
 A big disappointment. May 12, 2008
J. Schneider
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I loved Gavin's first CD, Chariot. I have liked all the songs he has contibuted to various soundtracks. I have seen him in concert many times, and he always does a wonderful live performance. I have waited for many years for him to put out a new CD. I got it for my birthday, and boy was I disappointed. There were a few good songs. I felt that the CD was trying to be something completely different from his previous CD. Many of these songs were too political. I, personally, don't want to listen to a song about giving kids mood-altering drugs. I would have liked to have seen a CD with beautiful and catchy songs like Chariot. I'm just glad that my sister bought it for me, and I didn't pay for it myself. Plus, can anyone tell me what a "cop-stop" is?
Very underwhelming May 10, 2008
J. Wilson
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
So I've got to admit that this album would have had to be just fantastic to live up to my expectations. Given how solid his first record was and the array of road tested songs he had to choose from (Dreams, Lay Me on the Water, I Wanna Be Free, . . .), I was expecting another stellar recording. My disappointment is palpable. He has dumbed down his sound to appeal to the masses. The songs are shorter, will less soulful singing, and much more standard pop melodies. Here's my quick run through of the tracks:
In Love With A Girl - I probably should have known the new album would be lackluster from the first time I heard the first single. I would call it a poor man's "I Don't Wanna Be", which was one of the weakest songs on his first record.
Next To Me (Wait A Minute Sister) - Gavin, you have to realize any song with quotes in the title is cursed from the start. This one lives up to the hype and is so forgettable I don't even remember writing this little blurb about it.
Cheated On Me - Good melody, well sung, terrible lyrics. I wish he had just hummed or skat random words instead of chosen the ones he did.
I Have You To Thank - Painfully bad.
Cop Stop - Very good live song, decently good song on the album. This one had potential but he failed to capture the live version's essence.
Young Love - Probably my favorite song on the album, good hook, very dramatic but well done.
Medicate the Kids - Worst track I've heard in a long time. Loses more points for being based on an absurd set of beliefs.
Relative - The quintessential mediocre song.
She Holds A Key - Biggest disappointment on the record by far. This is a fantastic song when played live, one of his two or three best but he chopped several minutes off, sped up the tempo, and coated it in a sugary sweet sickening pop gloss.
Untamed - Decent song, equivalent to the worst tracks on his first album.
Let It Go - Same as "Untamed", nothing to write home about but not bad.
We Belong Together - I like how he reworked it from the version that was on the "Tristan & Isolde" soundtrack. One of the best songs on the album, which unfortunately isn't saying much.
Unimpressed May 16, 2008
Christina C. Treacy
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
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.
 SIMPLY THE BEST & NOTHING ELSE MEASURES UP!!!! May 6, 2008
Always Samsung (New York, NY)
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is one of the few artist that are out today that doesn't CHURN out an AWFUL album. Every track on this album you can listen to and not skip over and a lot of the songs will be set on REPEAT mode. I can say for about 95% of my CD collection a lot of albums get skipped over and over but not this one. I still dont get artist these days that release AWFUL albums. Why would you even do that to yourself and your fans? Now One Tree Hill has been on TV for a little over 4 years now and currently in its 5th season. Every since i heard the theme song to One Tree Hill i just had to find out who the singer was. Thanks to that show i was able to discover an artist with HUGE potential and Gavin is just BURSTING with creative energy that once again is on display with his 2nd album. Even though a lot of tracks sound very similar it's the words that he uses that make each track stand out from the rest and each song has a deep meaning that not everyone will get. Not many artist can do standout track after track but he pulls it off brilliantly. Now Gavin really does have a style all his own. I also hope that he never falls into the TREND of being an artist on a major label where they force him to work with big name producers in order to widen his fan base and then completely loses his SPARK. Because that happened with one of my favorite bands called Maroon 5. This album is beyond awesome but the only thing is I am so upset that it took 4 EVER before it was released. I have been listening to Chariot for the past 4 years and I've been waiting to hear new material from Gavin and the wait is finally over. Once again he churns out the lyrics that don't necessarily make sense or is not considered proper grammar but it makes sense because it's MUSIC and he's singing it. He reminds me a lot of Josh Kelley and a few others singers out there that write & produce all their own material. Really genuine singer & heartbreakingly realistic genuine down to earth lyrics and beats that nobody else can do. Every song feels like a ride and a journey. This is a must have for any Gavin fan or any fan looking to get away from the release of a commercial artist that only gives a good 1st lead off single while the rest of the album is a DUD. Once again i am so pleased with my purchase. I am so GLAD Gavin marches to the beat of his own DRUM and isn't out to please anyone but himself. Certain other artist just try to follow the trend and fail miserably. Madonna found that out ever since the 90's rolled around especially with Hard Candy. Get this CD & you'll find everything is beyond AMAZING on this album.
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