David Gray: Greatest Hits
Monday, 12 Nov 2007 13:05
Wobble your head along with the best of David Gray.
Atlantic Records, out November 12th.
In a nutshell...
Predictable. Good selection. Fans' favourite.
What's it all about?
A pick of hits from seven albums which sold 11 million copies across the world, as well as new singles You're the World to Me and Destroyer.
Who's it by?
Sale-born David Gray broke into the pop consciousness in the late 1990s with the hugely successful White Ladder, his fourth album. Featuring Babylon, This Year's Love and Please Forgive Me, Gray won the acclaim from critics and his popularity among fans was confirmed when White Ladder broke records and climbed to the top of the charts.
As an example...
"My head is roaring like a waterfall/Give me everything or not at all/You don't have to turn the sound up/Babe I want you from the ground up/Baby baby you're the world to me." - You're the World to Me
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Probably not. The closest Gray has come to bagging the prestigious accolade was in 2002 when he was nominated as best new artist. It is unlikely that one of his two new singles on this compilation will bring him another nomination.
What the others say
"Strictly for the completionistas." - James Young, BBC
So is it any good?
Featuring the sure-fire hits from White Ladder, the compilation is predictably satisfying to fans of David Gray. However, assuming that the hardcore followers will already own his fourth album - arguably his best work ever - the greatest hits album is probably more something aimed at the peripheral admirers of the singer.
You're the World to Me nods to the brilliance of White Ladder but is unlikely to have the impact Babylon had on the masses.
There are some omissions that would have fit in well with the existing selection on the greatest hits compilation, such as Slow Motion or some of his earlier works such as Faster Sooner Now.
This greatest hits album will please fans, but lacks the wow factor to capture much public praise.
6/10
Karen Moller
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