Album- Sweeter
Artist- Gavin DeGraw
American singer songwriter Gavin DeGraw has seen his career
take more of an upward turn with the release of this album, or more
importantly, the release of the hit song Not Over You. DeGraw does love and
heartbreak very well, and has a vocal tone that is very appealing, with his
work being heavily featured on the teen show One Tree Hill because of this. Yet
whilst he may be showing signs of complete renewed success, the question is
whether as a whole this record shows that he deserves his stake in the music
market.
Track 1- Sweeter
One of two tracks co-written with One Republic frontman and
hit song maker Ryan Tedder, the opening number is a cool slice of funky pop
where we find DeGraw lyrically fantasizing about being with another guys girl,
with the lyricism being slightly sexually charged and employing an array of
metaphors to express his feelings of jealousy and kind of lust. The song is
strong vocally as the verses have a gritty tone that shows that DeGraw is
strong in his feelings, whilst the chorus has a catchy, would sound great in a
live show feel through the way that DeGraw employs his great falsetto. The
production is forceful but not too overpowering, with the hand clapping drum
beats and gritty bass guitar giving the song a nice, slightly dark edge that
makes the song a little more intriguing and contrasting well with the lyrical
ideology of the track. All the elements of the song combined make this a song
that sounds like it really suits being played in a live setting, and the song
works really well in opening the album up in a rather intriguing way.
3.5/5
Track 2- Not Over You
The second of the two Ryan Tedder collaborations is more of
a straightforward, heartbreak pop song that DeGraw has described as ‘riding
that line between vulnerability and pride’. The track finds the singer
lyrically and vocally in a state of deep depression as he sings of the
difficulty of getting over a former love, and the song has a strong, catchy
quality in the way that the chorus is very simple and finds the singer really
being honest to the listener and tapping into a dark emotion. The vocal
performance of the singer is quite delicate and really layers the song with
emotion that the listener can feel. Production wise the song is also stellar in
the way that the sound simple utilises jangly piano and an artificial drumbeat
that together just sounds like an emotionally layered sound that isn’t too
forceful and makes the song even catchier but also really elevates the lyrics
and the vocals. This is a strong collaboration from the pair that feels both
familiar and unique at the same time, and it is simple to see why so many
people like this song and why DeGraw has found renewed success because of it.
4/5
Track 3- Run Every
Time
Things are kept on a slower, more emotional level with this
song. However, things are changed up a bit with this track, as rather than
being the one in a state of heartbreak, DeGraw is actually the heartbreaker, as
he won’t let himself get comfortable with a girl and although he is sorry for
the hurt he causes this girl, he just can’t commit, with the singer telling us
of how he runs every time. The lyrics have a nice quality in the simplicity of
DeGraw stating his actions and his flaw, whilst the vocal gives the song this
passionate sense of the singer actually being sorry for what he does, despite
the fact he will probably continue down this road. The production is strong in
giving us a grand sound through the mixture of piano and guitar with the
drumbeats that brings out this sense of pain and urgency, and so this is a
further track where the different components of the song really come together.
3.5/5
Track 4- Soldier
Featured on the final episode of teen TV series One Tree
Hill, Soldier finds the singer in a more loved up state where he is standing
firm in his love. This is because the lyrics of the song are all focused on
DeGraw promising this girl everlasting love, and if she needs it he’ll be there
to fight for her. The song’s lyrics are slightly clichéd but the vocal tone of
the singer has a purity and charisma that is very appealing and so you forget
that sometimes what he is singing is a bit stereotypical. The ‘la la da da da’
hook elevates the track to a greater level of catchiness, whilst the singer’s
vocal performance has a soulful quality to it that makes this feel like a
passionate song. This passion is also enhanced by the production of the track,
with producer Butch Walker blending together a nice mix of piano, hand clapping
beats and simple drumbeats to create a sound that is slightly breezy but has a
strong undertone, and the gospel flourishes in the latter choruses make for a
great finish to the track and make us truly believe in DeGraw.
3.5/5
Track 5- Candy
With the production of this track there is this cool mix of
sounds creates this almost urgent tone that to me feels a little bit
reminiscent of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’. The song finds the singer
lyrically focusing on how a relationship can’t survive on this simple level
where things are just sweet but things are never taken to the next level. Some
people may find the metaphor the track is based in annoying, but I feel this is
a strong metaphor that gives the track more of a catchy quality than if DeGraw
had been a bit blunter lyrically. The vocal performance is once again strong,
with a powerful rise in the performance that makes things feel more grand and
impactful on the listener. The blend of fast paced drum beats, simple piano
melodies and slightly funky guitar creates a great sound to the track that like
the vocals really builds and makes an impact on the listener, and the way the
song ends in this quite soulful with the guitar and piano is really great and
creates this kind of chilled moment where you can think about what he is
singing.
3.5/5
Track 6- You Know
Where I’m At
An uplifting tune, You Know Where I’m At finds the singer in
a positive frame of mind despite the vulnerable tone of the song. The track
lyrically finds DeGraw telling this girl that things are better now that things
are over, but if she ever needs him she knows where he is and that he’ll be
there for her. The track nicely balances out the funky quality of the previous
track with a simpler sound that starts off vulnerably with just the piano and
then builds through the use of drums and strings to really make this a dramatic
piece. However, this track does suffer a little bit in quality in terms of the
vocal performance, as it doesn’t feel as smooth as the previous tracks and
comes across as DeGraw going to high and trying too hard to really give the
track this emotionally intense level.
3/5
Track 7- Stealing
Starting off with this simple soulful piano melody that acts
as the backbone of the song, Stealing is another song where things are a bit
more vulnerable and chilled. The track finds DeGraw singing about how he and
this girl were once so good, but she has stolen his heart and now he wants it
back, because this relationship is over, and he will love again. The lyrics are
nice but don’t have the catchy quality of some of the more emotional songs,
whilst the lyrics do feel slightly clichéd. The vocals are strong in the way
that things are kept simple and on this level of almost bitter sweetness, with
the singer working the song really well as he stresses some lyrics really
nicely and also is never too powerful with the vocal performance. The
production has smooth tone with a jazzy rhythm and simple drum beat that gives
the track a chilled tone and this sense of emotional honesty where DeGraw has
no hidden agenda; he just wants his heart back.
3.5/5
Track 8- Radiation
Another track that is more RnB driven with a sensual edge,
Radiation lyrically finds the singer telling us off that late night phone call
you make to someone who you shouldn’t, but if the mood strikes you will
ultimately end up doing it anyway despite the badness of it. The song is strong
in terms of the concept and is made catchy by the ‘na na na’ hook of the songs
opening and middle section. The song finds DeGraw giving us a charismatic and
sensual vocal performance that sounds smooth, and will make many women wish
they got a late night phone call from him. The production is simple with the
steady hand clapping beats and funky guitar riffs that just give the song a
nice groove, and so this is a fun track that to me sounds like it would be a
great moment when performed live.
3.5/5
Track 9- Where You
Are
Bringing us slightly more of a typical DeGraw sound is this
track that is simple acoustic guitar strumming and nice piano melodies that
just give the production this simple but powerful texture. The song is
lyrically all about DeGraw being really in love with this girl to the point
where he just wants to be where she is, as he feels the same as when the
relationship began and he really will work hard for her love. The sentiment is
nice but it does feel a little bit like something that DeGraw could easily
produce lyrically. However the vocal performance is nice, having this smooth
but emotional tone that is a bit akin to ‘Not Over You’, and so this track does
have a bit of an impact on the listener.
3.5/5
Track 10- Spell It
Out
DeGraw ends the record on a really stripped back level with
just him and the piano. This level of the production is really powerful and is
great in the way that it allows the singers vocals to shine and really all of
the songs emotion rests on him. The song is lyrically about the guy being saved
by this woman, and doesn’t want to turn back. I think the song is a little
difficult to understand lyrically, as I am actually unsure what he is really
saying, but this is perhaps the beauty of the track. It’s a nice way to end the
record, although the vocal is a little bit all over the place and could be
better.
3.5/5
Final Review
Keeping the set a short 10 tracks long was a smart move by
DeGraw as it means the risk of us getting bored with him is curbed. This is a
good album that features a great mix of soul, RnB, rock and pop influences for
a record that feels a little bit dynamic and always emotional. The singer has
an appealing vocal tone that is both made for emotionally loaded tunes but also
has a slight charisma about it. The record isn’t without its issues, with some
of the lyrics not capturing our attention in the way that some of the other
songs do, and the record could do with a couple less emotional and mid to down
tempo songs and more upbeat, slightly funky and preppy tunes. But these songs
as a whole are nice and catchy, and this feels like a record that deserves the
renewed success the singer is having.
7/10
Best Track- Not Over
You
Worst Track- You Know
Where I’m At
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