Gavin DeGraw Album: “Chariot”

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.

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.

Gavin DeGraw has created a masterful blend of introspective and inventive music that I cannot get enough of. I personally enjoyed the "Stripped" album more than the studio version.

The heart of this album is evident all over every song. Lyrically, it speaks to me and so many others in a real way. Sure, it may have it's cheesy moments, but who doesn't?

"I Don't Want To Be" was so explosive when it was re-introduced to the world after One Tree Hill, that it just blew me away.

My favorite song in the album is "Over-Rated". It has beauty and heart. Truthfull, I listened to "Chariot" for 2 months straight.

Did I mention that I am a 24 year-old black kid who is in love with rock? Must have forgot.

But that is not important, what's important is that Gavin rocks!!!

I first discovered Gavin DeGraw back in July 2004 randomly while flipping through radio stations on the way to work. They were playing "I Don't Wanna Be" on one of the contemporary adult mix stations and I was immediately captivated by the soulful rock vibe of the song. I felt like I'd also heard it before and eventually realized I had (while flipping through channels as the theme of one tree hill...but never watched the show so couldn't put two and two together). The whole day at work I had the song stuck in my head...I didn't know the name of the song (though I figured it was something similar to "I Don't Wanna Be"), nor did I know the artist but I was officially obsessed. (I thought about it all day long).

I went home that night and looked all over the internet and literally found and downloaded every song of Gavin Degraw's I could...and was basically in love. Gavin DeGraw is truly talented with one of the most amazing soulful, jazz-inspired voices I've ever heard...like a mix between an r&b singer and a rocker (along the lines of the lead singer of Maroon 5, possibly some Jason Mraz-ish) and very instrumentally sound (he plays either the piano or guitar in every song). The very next day I went out and bought Chariot Stripped (I downloaded it first because I was skeptical, I only like to buy music of artists I actually want to support).

The best part about buying Chariot Stripped (the double set), is that the Stripped CD takes some completely new takes on some already amazing songs and Gavin demonstrates how utterly wonderful his voice truly is (The most two amazing vocals on either CD are in the Stripped version of "More Than Anyone" and the cover of "Change Is Gonna Come") ... Since my first listen to Gavin Degraw (July 2004) this CD is STILL my most listened to CD. No matter how many times I listen to it, how much I sing to it, and how many friends I turn on to Gavin DeGraw, I never ever get sick of it. What's also amazing is that the CD came out in July 2003 (a year before I even heard of it) and it's still selling and producing new singles.

If you intend to buy this cd make sure to put it on repeat...The weird thing about Gavin DeGraw, is that by the time the last chord fades away on "Overrated" you're pining to hear the first chord of "Follow Through."

There's not a single track I don't like on the Chariot CD. On the Stripped CD, the slower version of "Overrated" is a little too slow for me, but loving 22/23 tracks on 2 cds...(11 of them being alternate versions of the exact same songs)...that's pretty damn good.

Oh yeah, If you're gonna check him out online, look up his cover material...He pulls off some of the most amazing covers I've ever heard (Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come" and Queen's "We Are The Champions.)

As for the CD...buy it, believe me it'll be worth your while. If you like soul/jazz music, you'll enjoy it. If you like pop/rock music, you'll enjoy it. Look past the fact that now that he's gotten "Big" a lot of teenage girls on TRL are into him...so what...he's had a cult following for the last 2 years off of the same CD that teenage girls are eating up today...My father (who is 63) heard it playing in my car and asked me about him, telling me that whoever he was, he had one hell of a voice. Gavin DeGraw is a style all his own, and one that anybody who hasn't heard is definitely missing out on.

(BTW if you like Gavin DeGraw DEFINITELY check out The Fray's album "How To Save A Life"...the song that will hook you is "Over My Head (Cable Car)"... smash written all over it).

In this introductory effort by newcomer Gavin Degraw, he has nailed it! By

trying to stick to the genre of laid back and easygoing music, Degraw has done

what he set out to do. Each song on this full CD was easy to listen to, and

had great new melodies and good lyrics.

On the first track, "Follow Through," Degraw get right down to the point by

saying, "this is the start of something new/don't you agree." You can't help but smile and nod because it is something new and exciting. His music is new and different and sets himself apart from from others such as Jack Johnson and John Mayer. By being his own

critic, Degraw points out that his music is not some cookie-cutter piece of

musicianship. On the track, "I don't wanna be.." Degraw let's critics and fans

alike know that he will not give into the ever popular sellout artist. By

saying, "I don't wanna be anything other than what I've been trying to be

lately/All I have to do is think of me and I have piece of mind"

Each song shows more and more emotion, as Degraw has said that his music is

based on his personal experiences. The soulful lyrics and range of Degraw's

talent adds to the content of the cd, making the listener want to hear just what

treat is coming up next. On the track, "Just Friends," the listener can almost feel the emotion of the song in Degraw's voice. Every word sung evokes a feeling in the listener that cannot be ignored. By putting into words the emotion felt by unrequited love, Degraw has nailed the feelings of anguish and hopelessness along with anger and quiet desperation.

Gavin Degraw's style can be described as a laid back John Mayer type, with

the uniqueness of indie rocker Ben Kweller, with the instrumental talent as good as Dave Matthew's Band. As you can only describe a band with comparisons to another, it has to be said that despite the comparisons, Degraw sets himself apart from them. His style is unique, yet familiar, comfortable but modern, interesting but impressive. The poetry and the flow of the wordsmake the listener want to sing along at all times. The melody, the words, the beat: all of it is good and nothing on the cd was a disappointment.

If your in the mood for an easy listen with soulful and poetic lyrics, look

no further than Gavin Degraw's "Stripped." For somber moods, happy moods, angry feelings and just plain frustration, the emotions in this cd are for anyone at any point in their lives. If Gavin Degraw continues to make efforts that are half as good as this one, we can expect great things from this artist.