Thursday, 25 July 2013

Gavin DeGraw- Sweeter Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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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