Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey

Subject: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 08:55 AM

I don't know the artist concerned but he's obviously upset the reviewer in today's Times, I wonder why she's given him so many column inches?
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 02 2001 Gray is the new grey REVIEW BY BARBARA ELLEN Just what we have been waiting for - an acoustic follow-up to White Ladder

David Gray Lost Songs 95-98 (East West) Scrape out the barrel People who campaign for "real music" are usually the same kind of people who campaign for real ale. Just as one wouldn't wish to go drinking with a real ale buff, one really wouldn't want to get trapped in a small room for a weekend with a real music bore's record collection. You'd know that, sooner or later, one would be forced to listen to bilge, such as the Van Morrison-lite twitterings of the likes of David Gray.

Gray was the man from nowhere who hit the big time last year with the million-selling White Ladder. Without wishing to denigrate Gray's achievements, it is widely accepted that 2000 was a very slow year for guitar music. Like the other big breakthrough, Coldplay, there seemed nothing much wrong with Gray, save for the fact that he was a bit on the worthy side and made pop music for people who don't really like to admit they're listening to pop music. Listening to White Ladder briefly (as briefly as I could get away with), it was also evident that, far from being classic and meaningful — and all those other things Gray is routinely described as — this was music which could make a young person feel old, and an old person feel older.

Gray's latest album, Lost Songs 95-98, was originally released in Ireland last year, where it went quadruple platinum. I love that 95-98, as if people have been sitting around, unable to function until that time period in David Gray's career had been properly honoured. Like White Ladder, it is full of whingeing, worthy, self-important songs about being let down, only not as good. Indeed, Lost Songs is said to comprise the material Gray home-recorded, primarily for demos, during the stressful period before White Ladder established him as, erm, That Bloke Who Wrote White Ladder. It is, we are told, in hushed tones, his "acoustic album", the one's he's been "threatening to make for years".

This statement conjures up images of Gray's regular material being some kind of explosion of fiery hip hop and balls-out rock'n'roll. But of course it isn't. It also conjures up images of Gray courageously tackling a new "unplugged" discipline, which, considering how much time he's spent strumming away in the small tents at music festivals where the electricity amounts to one socket for the roadies' kettle, is disingenuous beyond belief.

In truth, Gray "threatening" to make an acoustic album for years is a bit like one of us threatening to make a cup of tea for months — a very silly, attention-seeking over-reaction to what is actually a very ordinary development in a tediously predictable career in guitar-based folk-pop. Truth is, Gray's songs have always sounded very acoustic, very "twelfth on the bill at the Fleadh". And there's nothing wrong with that, so long as one doesn't get all pompous about it. Trouble is, Gray does seem to get all pompous about it. In fact, "getting all pompous about it" is something Gray seems to do best. If you don't believe me, clock his press release for Lost Songs. "Much as I am at pains to stress that this record is not in any way a follow-up to White Ladder, I should perhaps also stress that it is much more than a half-arsed collection of old B-sides and out-takes." Are you kneeling, readers? Good. Then, altogether now: "Sorry, your majesty!" Once Gray had emphatically informed me what Lost Songs was and wasn't, I felt brave enough to slap it into the CD player and make my own decisions.

To my amazement, I found something curiously akin to a half-arsed collection of old B-sides and out-takes. I also discovered lots of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Willie Nelson reheats, as well as quite a few of the songs which didn't seem to have been "written" in any formal sense of the word. In place of lyrics, there was the kind of low-level moping, Celtic laments and clumsy wordplay which might have embarrassed a 13-year-old Mike Scott. It would appear that Gray has had more than his fair share of heartache, and wishes to tell us all about it as pretentiously as possible.

You can't blame the man. Like many before him, Gray's real creative destiny was to just be there, just another singer-songwriter hacking away in the background, making up the numbers. However, in 2000, he was the victim of a cruel practical joke. With nothing else of worth going on, the world decided to tell this very ordinary man that he was good, great even, and would be more than welcome to stick around for a while. The harsh truth is, whether he's "real" or not, David Gray is not great, or good. He's not even a bad enough artist to be interesting.

Yes, but what did you really think about it?
RtS

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 09:14 AM

Crumbs- I wouldn't like to get on the wrong side of her!

Noreen

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 11:05 AM

So, I see you've met my mother-in-law.

Ouch!

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 01:22 PM

I've never heard the guy but it makes me wonder why this reviewer can't be bothered to go out and find an artist she likes. Perhaps she had some wonderful negative phrases going to waste and she just had to use them on somebody. I hope she adds some fiber to her diet.

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Biskit
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 01:47 PM

I have heard David Gray,actually I asked the Missus for the CD White Ladder for Christmas,Which I recieved and have thoroughly enjoyed. Babylon is an excellent selection of David Grays craft. He has been likened to Dylan,...okay,I can see that,... but he has his own style that shines through very brightly. to keep this short, I like the fellas music, I on the other hand don't like most critics/reviewers, they for the most part tend to be overrated,as well as overinflated.Q. ya know the difference between a dead skunk lying in the road and a dead critic lying in the road?A. there are always skid marks in front of the skunk!-Biskit-

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Margaret V
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 04:23 PM

I don't pay much attention to critics because most things just boil down to taste, once you get beyond basic competence. I love David Gray's music. He does wonderful things with his voice, with how he enunciates his words, with painting a mood. I have "White Ladder," "Sell, Sell, Sell," "A Century Ends," and "Lost Songs." I got the last three all in one purchase a few months ago and I've been listening a lot to "Sell" and "Century." In fact, some of you may have heard me sing his songs on PalTalk. Biskit, next time we're both on PalTalk I'll give you my rendition of "Babylon," okay? I haven't listened to "Lost Songs" more than once or twice yet, so I can't comment directly on it. I had a chuckle at the thought of the time frame (95-98), too, kind of like a business whose tagline says "since 1991" and expects that to generate consumer confidence, but for Pete's sake, that's nothing to get spitting mad about! Well, forgive this uncharacteristic rant; I just wouldn't want folks who've never heard David Gray to close themselves off to the possibility of listening to him. He's written a lot of stuff that I have found meaningful and even exhilarating. Margaret

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 07:02 PM

He's OK. Stick him in a five CD shuffle with Van, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn, and Dar Williams and he fits in.

Subject: RE: Review (Hatchet job) Davy Grey
From: Biskit
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:19 AM

I'll be looking forward to hearing you do Babylon Margaret I LOVE that song.