Crowbarred's Mellow Mix Volume 1: MM Vol 1 - 050

Sunday, August 12, 2007

MM Vol 1 - 050 - David Gray

MM Vol 1 #050

David Gray

"Sail Away"

(1999)
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Genre:Singer/Songwriter

Art by Wolf-dog

Pain, anguish ... Love. This defines White Ladder. When artists are hurt and aching, this is when they write their best material. Another example would be Staind, their first album was full of pain and other naked emotions.
"Sail Away" for me was about escaping the everyday reality and sailing away alone metaphorically speaking, with the person you need the most, heading in a direction that has not been pre-written and letting fate fall where it may.

David Gray may never write another "White Ladder" but then again he doesn't have to, because, you cannot (& should not) rewrite perfection.

Although he was dropped from his label, EMI Records saw his potential and talent and quickly signed him to a new deal. Meanwhile, a quiet buzz was building in Ireland thanks to support from No Disco, an alternative music video program that showcased Gray every chance it got. Hanging on to that thread, Sell, Sell, Sell came out in 1996 in limited release. Gray hitched up his touring boots and hit the road again, this time opening for such heavy hitters as Radiohead and Dave Matthews Band. That still didn't do the trick, and he again parted ways with his major label. Recapturing and embracing his independence, Gray self-financed his fourth album, White Ladder, and released it on his own IHT Records in 1998.

Recorded in a London apartment with an easy blend of samplers and acoustic guitar, White Ladder is a sublime leap forward for the artist. Ireland certainly recognized its brilliance, as the record immediately went into the Irish Top 30. Gray found other outlets, as well, offering five tunes to the soundtrack of This Year's Love. To further move things along, former road pal Dave Matthews, who had taken a liking to Gray, made White Ladder the debut release on his own ATO Records imprint in 2000. Celebrating his mounting success with his fourth multi-platinum album, The EPs 92-94 album followed in July 2001 and coincided with reissues of A Century Ends and Flesh. Gray became a moderate success in the States, and A New Day at Midnight followed up his successful international breakthough in the fall of 2002. Gray worked with Björk and Rufus Wainwright producer Marius De Vries for 2005's Life in Slow Motion. ~ [Kelly McCartney, All Music Guide]

For Radiohead see Number 137
For Dave Mathews see Number 066

For more Radiohead visit "The Def 1000" Number 640

This song has a crowbarred rating of 93.3 out of 108 pts

David Gray Sail Away
Uploaded by Ronin1931