David Gray's Top Ten Songs

Britain's David Gray is a singer/songwriter in the best school of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison's influence. David's music rests on the power of his lyricism and complex acoustic guitar arrangements. Yet, Van Morrison's influence is evident in most of Gray's catalog but never overpowers the unique voice and riffs of Gray's own artistic offerings.

David Gray is best known for his 2001 release Babylon; however, readers will find Babylon missing on this top ten list. David Gray is one of the most important musical exports to come from across the Atlantic in a long time. Sit back, grab a bottle of red wine, turn down the lights, grab your loved one, and prepare to get swept away.

10. Lullaby (Flesh)

Lilting and poetic, the lyrics of David Gray's Lullaby captures the aesthetic feel David that is typical of Gray's catalog. The song's lyrics, more a poem set to music, remind me of a Kerouacean stream-of-consciousness prose offering rather than a song. David captures the listener's imagination and the rising and falling rhythm of the melody reminds us of a crying, begging lover. Lullaby, soft and unassuming, when first heard, can easily be overlooked since it is paired with strong, driving stalwarts such as Coming Down, The Light, and Loves Old Song. The lyrics and melody, however, like a good strong, red wine leave a smoky aftertaste that keeps you coming back for more.

9. As I'm Leaving (Lost Songs)

David Gray showcases his voice's range and strength in this acoustical set. The guitar though takes a backseat to his voice and makes the recording an almost a capella offering. The lyrics and David's voice overtake the song and offers a heartrending tune most of us that have loved and lost can understand. As I'm Leaving is a great in the car sing along and its simplicity is its greatest draw.

8. The One I Love (Life in Slow Motion)

My wife would shoot me if I did not include The One I Love in David Gray's top ten. The One I Love is a moving love story built around a 50-60's doo-wop feel. One of the more up-beat tunes on Life in Slow Motion, the song plays widely to an Adult Contemporary Radio format. However, for my wife and me, it is 'our song' and reminds me of a romantic night at the Backyard in Austin as Dave wailed away in a windy sunset, outdoors concert.

7. Disappearing World (Life in Slow Motion)

Disappearing World is a haunting ballad that is tightly composed and poetic in its lyricism. Disappearing World is the highlight of Life in Slow Motion, David Gray's most complex and mature musical accomplishment to date. David Gray's Disappearing world is destined to become a 21^st Century love standard like his This Year's Love.

6. Debauchery (A Century Ends)

With a title like Debauchery, how can the song not become an instant classic? Debauchery is a mid-afternoon, rainy lover's tryst set to music. David Gray conjures up a modern Irish feel and carries the listener through the pining of a young lover's wish to spend the rainy afternoon in debauchery with his lover. In David's eclectic and unique way, he paints the picture well and pulls the music lover into the story of his lyrics.

5. Flame Turns Blue (Lost Songs)

David, in the liner notes, relates the inspiration behind the lyrics to this song. On tour in the Northwest, the bus driver in charge of escorting the band back to their hotel disappeared and left the band alone to find their way home. Since the hotel was close to the venue, Dave and the band decided to walk. On the way home, crossing a train track, a train's light pierced through the northwest's dense fog inspired Dave to write this beautiful acoustic ballad. Flame Turns Blue is David Gray's strongest poetical outputs. The lyrics are tight and powerful.

4. Please Forgive Me (White Ladder)

Please Forgive Me is one of David Gray's most overlooked tunes in the United States. If you like tight, groovy, bass-driven and drum-laden riffs, Please Forgive Me will not disappoint. White Ladder, still David Gray's best selling album, marks his first marketable move away from the acoustic sets to synthesized drum beats and electric finagling indicative of his later work. The results are astounding. Please Forgive Me is a catchy, commercial tune with Gray's typical lyric based prowess. From an album that brings David's fans Babylon, This Year's Love, and White Ladder, Please Forgive Me is the gem in David Gray's crowning achievement.

3. This Year's Love (White Ladder)

The Girl Next Door and Grey's Anatomy chose correctly when they added David Gray's This Year's Love to their sappy soundtracks. This Year's Love, anything but sappy, is a stirring love ballad. The tune is lyrically ephemeral and composed with a tight harmony and orchestral arrangement. This Year's Love should be a date night standard on any Cassanova-wanna-be's I-Pod.

2. The Light (Flesh)

The Light just has that something about it. That something you can't quite put a finger on but keep going back to to find more of it. David pulls out all the stops and uses voice, guitar, masterful orchestral arrangement, and once again, his use of lyricism to produce a fast driving sing-a-long. The Light is gritty, yet polished, refined, yet loose, and an instant toe tapper. The guitar is extended and complex and seems to come at the listener from every direction. The sound and lyrics are big and capturing. I ranked it number two; however, on any given day or mood, it can easily find itself at the top of the list as David's number one song.

1. Shine (A Century Ends)

Shine is THE David Gray standard. David has recorded Shine on a number of albums and compilations from solo acoustical sets on The Greatest Hits to the slick studio version on A Century Ends. To get the best feel for the urgency and lover's angst for the lyrics, The EP's 92-94 may be your best bet. Shine is a tale of a lover's wish to rekindle a lost romance. As with most singer/songwriter's autobiographical lyrics, listener's can feel the heartbreak coming from David's guitar, voice, and lyrics.