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Gavin DeGraw | 
 enlarge | Artist: Gavin Degraw
Label: Sony Bmg Europe
Category: Music
Buy New: $31.98
New (2) from $31.98
Rating:  50 reviews
Sales Rank: 476631
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 886973119020
EAN: 0886973119020
ASIN: B0017LWP9U
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | In Love with a Girl | | • | Next to Me (Wait a Minute Sister) | | • | Cheated on Me | | • | I Have You to Thank | | • | Cop Stop | | • | Young Love | | • | Medicate the Kids | | • | Relative | | • | She Holds a Key | | • | Untamed | | • | Let It Go | | • | We Belong Together |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 Welcome back September 3, 2008
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!
 ok songs September 2, 2008
The songs all seem to sound the same. He has a good vooice but he needs to open up the range a little.
Gavin Shines on Sophomore Effort August 21, 2008
After the release of Gavin DeGraw's 2003 debut album "Chariot," DeGraw burst onto the scene with several radio hits, perhaps none bigger than "I Don't Wanna Be" (a song that has been covered on American Idol countless times, as well as being the theme song for the popular CW show "One Tree Hill). While most artists try to capitalize on the success of their debut album by following it up quickly with another set, DeGraw took the road less traveled, focusing on the further promotion of his debut album (which he would also repackage with a disc of raw acoustic performances, titled "Chariot Stripped") through radio appearances and endless touring. After three years of non stop touring to promote the album, DeGraw took a well deserved break from the road to record this self titled offering. The result is a soulful blend of harmonic proportions mixed in with a solid assortment of ballads. The ablum plays out as such:
1. In Love With A Girl - 9/10
Perhaps the most catchy tune on the disc, DeGraw starts off the album with this uptempo Pop-Rock anthem that incorporates a rocking guitar riff with fast paced vocal arrangements.
2. Next To Me (Wait A Minute Sister) - 7/10
A solid uptempo tune that fits right in with DeGraw's previous works on "Chariot."
3. Cheated On Me - 7/10
Gavin slows the tempo down on this number as the mood of the song takes on an eerie undertone with searing guitar riffs and emotional lyrics.
4. I Have You To Thank - 10/10
One of Gavin's best tunes to date. Picking up the pace once again, this song discusses how it feels to find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. With solid lyrics and a bridge that builds to a resounding climax, DeGraw is at his best on this number.
5. Cop Stop - 9/10
An uptempo piano driven number that is both cleverly written and catchy.
6. Young Love - 10/10
The best song on the album. DeGraw is once again at his finest with this ballad that is chalk full of emotionally charged lyrics and beautifully done arrangements.
"Young love is sacrifice, young love is tough, young love is innocence, young love is us"..."Your eyes tell the lies, of the lines that you said. Now that I love you, whoa I wish we never met. Why wait? Woman I'm taking risks here that no one dares. And you're scared, scared of the bottom, afraid of the steps."
7. Medicate the Kids - 6/10
This song reminds me of Chariot's "Chemical Party," another tune that I didn't particularly care for. Feel free to skip over this one.
8. Relative - 7/10
A solid tune with a harder edge to it than typical Gavin.
9. She Holds A Key - 9/10
Gavin has yet to write a poorly done ballad, and this song is no exception. A solid piano arrangement and softly moving melodies make this a definite song to download.
10. Untamed - 7/10
A decent uptempo tune.
11. Let It Go - 8/10
A solid slow moving ballad that has a bit of a nostalgic vibe to it during the chorus.
12. We Belong Together - 8/10
An amped up version of Gavin's tune from the "Tristan & Isolde" soundtrack. For those who like the raw sound of the acoustic guitar driven original, you may not enjoy this version as much. For others who like a more produced rocking sound, this version will eclipse the original for you.
Overall, Gavin DeGraw has proven without a shadow of a doubt that the five year layoff did not affect his abilities to write solid, catchy tunes. He shines brightest on his heartfelt ballads, while also scoring big on the uptempo pop/rock style of all the singles he has released. As long as his next album is as solid as this self titled offering, I don't think his fans will mind waiting another five years to hear it, but here's to hoping that Gavin doesn't make us wait quite that long next time.
It's grown on me and is now rooted in my life... August 18, 2008
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.
 Soulful Degraw nowhere to be found... August 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was browsing around looking for a different cd when I saw a few months ago that Degraw would be coming out with another cd. I'd already heard a couple of the songs on the album last year, such as Cop Stop, We Belong Together and She Holds A Key from various places such as One Tree Hill soundtrack and some live stuff. I was impressed.
Chariot blew me away and still does. Love it. In fact the first versions of the three above named songs were amazing as well. If the rest of the album was anything like those three songs, then I would be blown away yet again. Unfortunately, Degraw blew this one big time.
The album is gimmicky and forced, almost as though Degraw got a little full of himself. I'm not going to say I dislike the album because it wasn't like Chariot, 'cause I love artists that can continually reinvent themselves and still retain their old style. Degraw didn't do that here. He turned even more poppy. You'll be listening along and all of a sudden he starts throwing gimmicky lines in and trying to be cute with his voice, then back up singers start repeating his lines in the background.
Remember the three songs I mentioned earlier? They were all changed from what I had already heard, for the worse. Cop Stop was a great song I heard him do live. Just the audience, him and a drummer. This poppy version of it has women background singers mimicking him in a high pitched voice "cop stop..." Same with We Belong Together (One Tree Hill soundtrack) and She Holds a Key (live version). This album is overly poppy and Degraw lost the essence that made him so great in Chariot.
I never would have thought that I would eagerly wait for the second album and be so let down. The only redeeming value is the second song which is catchy and has a great beat. The rest of it? Not worth it as he only teases the listener with a voice that sounds familiar and at the same time the songs are nowhere near the quality we all know he is capable of producing. Not a recommend.
2 stars.
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