Gavin Degraw's "Gavin Degraw" Album Review

If you want Top 40 pop in it's purest form, then look no further than Gavin Degraw's self-titled album. Laced with guitars and subtle pianos, Degraw's new album contains some hits and some misses, but if you enjoyed his other forays, then there is no reason you will not like this one. Gavin Degraw is probably the wordiest singer you will ever listen to, but you can't argue that the musician knows how to create some fun lyrics and smooth guitar licks.

This is the first single from the album and it's very similar to his very first hit "I Don't Wanna Be". Good guitar melodies mixed with a catchy chorus makes for a hit single. Degraw is simply in love with a girl who knows how to treat him right and that's all a guy can ask for right?

So there's this girl that treats him cold and he decides to put his foot down. That's the second track, which is a total opposite of "I'm in Love With a Girl". Instead of wanting love, he just wants some sex. A little popier than most of his songs, but once again, Degraw creates a chorus that embeds itself in your brain.

This song may remind of you something by Nickelback, but with a John Cougar Mellancamp voice. A weird combination for sure, but Degraw is certain his girl is cheating on him and it's a nice song of disgraced forlorn love. Degraw's voice shines on this track and it's one of the best on the album.

He's a happy fellow in this song, but the song is subtly lackluster due to the simplicity of it. What will turn you off especially is his shouts in the middle of the song about thanking the girl. Given Degraw's powerful voice, this song is a step below what he can do, which is proven in "Next to Me".

You'll be torn between Degraw's beautiful voice and the weird lyricss ("I'm a cop stop, put up your hands and surrender to me"). Also, "You've been roughed up enough" is just that...enough. Maybe after a few listens the song might grow on you, but there is proof that 10 times hasn't done it yet.

If you want an overall nice song, then listen to "Young Love". This song could easily be the second single, which would compliment the first one, "In Love with a Girl". He sings about young love being the most easiest thing to do and that young love is what him and his girl represent. The bottom line is don't pass up this song because it's flow and melodies will hook you.

"Medicate the Kids" preaches about giving ADD drugs to kids. It's got some heavier guitars, which is probably used to transmit how angry he is about those who just use the drugs willy-nilly. The song is okay, but he should just stick to writing songs about love.

Degraw takes a cliche phrase, "it's all relative", and put writes lyrics to a dreamy background for the verses and a harder guitar melody for the chorus. What it boils down to is what you believe in and how you believe in others is how your life will turn out. It's a decent song with lots to say, so you may need to listen to it a few times to catch everything he is trying to say.

Another song that is reminiscent of Mellancamp, which isn't a bad thing. "She Holds a Key" is on the verge of being a ballad without leaving the rock style. There is nice funky part in break of the song that combines piano, a classic rock guitar sound and Degraw's voice.

One word: nope. The worst song on the album. The production value seems below standard compared to the rest of the album. It's hard to tell if he's telling people he's "Untamed" because he will do want he wants or if he's "Untamed" because his heart is a virgin when it comes to love. It's just a bad song.

With lyrics like "You're a shining ember" and "Why don't play hooky, we could both get lucky", it's the simple lyrics that will draw you in. Any sensible person could see that this song is full of cheesiness, but if you are a fan of love songs, then you'll enjoy the Eric Clapton-like guitar solo and the smoothness of Degraw's voice in this one.

The album could have done with or without this song. It starts off with the chorus with heavy guitar, then silences a little bit to Degraw's singing and a light guitar melody. Nothing extraordinary to this song and not a good song to end the album on.

About 60% of this album is good right off the bat and some of the other songs need a few listens. "We Belong Together" and "Untamed" are the worst songs on the album, but consider there are 12 tracks, that's not bad. A great album for current Gavin Degraw fans and loved his first album, Chariot, and a pretty good album for those who like pop-rock with great vocals.