Track Listing

1. Fugitive
2. Draw The Line
3. Nemesis
4. Jackdaw
5. Kathleen
6. First Chance
7. Harder
8. Transformation
9. Stella The Artist
10. Breathe
11. Full Steam

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103 in Music
• Released on: 2009-09-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 47 minutes

CD Description
With 12 million album sales to date, including the smash hit White Ladder and number one album Life In Slow Motion, David Gray returns with his highly anticipated new album Draw The Line. Draw the Line features the single "Fugitive", and collaboration with Annie Lennox on the album’s epic finale "Full Steam Ahead". The album was written and produced by David in his North London studio, The Church.

Customer Reviews

As Good As It Gets
Mr Gray has produced a not insignificant body
of work since his 1993 debut 'A Century Ends'.

I cannot say that I have ever been a fan of his music.
'White Ladder' won him legions of admirers and I could
not count myself among them.
He was good. He possessed a kind of everyman charm
and an approachable, uncluttered and unpretentious
compositional style which did not demand too much of
his listeners. Good....but not that good.

His last album, 2005's 'Life In Slow Motion' delivered
some of his best songs to date - I will admit to being
rather fond of 'The One I Love' and 'From Here You Can
Almost See The Sea', both perfectly decent tunes.

With 'Draw The Line', however, my attention has been caught
in quite a different way. This album is more than good.
It is very, very good indeed. A revelation in fact.

Suddenly it seems that Mr Gray has discovered a rich and
deep seam of golden creativity hidden from him until now.

The eleven songs in this collection are the product of
an untethered artist, recorded in his own studio and with
a stunning new bunch of musical compatriots breathing life
and energy into the project. Everyone gives of their best.

The album as a whole has a wonderfully coherent ambience.
Warm, dry and vividly alive. The voice is always well-forward
in the mix and he has never sung better

Now, here's a thing...stay with me here for a moment... a wayward
thought perhaps...but...I am reminded of some of Elton John's
finest music of the early seventies; the Elton John of
'Tumbleweed Connection' and 'Madman Across The Water'.
This reflection is nothing less than respectful in intent.
Mr John's songs of that period were truly great; created before the rot
of excessive showmanship set in. He was as good as it got back then.

'Draw The Line' is a masterpiece of restrained, unshowy songwriting
of the very highest calibre. This is as good as it gets right now !

From the solid piano chords and chattering snare at the opening
of 'Fugitive' to the simply beautiful closing duet with Annie Lennox,
(an inspired and inspiring pairing!) 'Full Steam', there is not one
weak or lacklustre idea in the whole bunch.

The limpid guitar eddies and gorgeously restrained brass arrangement
on 'Nemesis' frames, arguably, Mr Gray's finest moment.
A once-in-a-lifetime song for any artist.
The truth of the tale cuts like a knife.

'Kathleen' is a tender, rolling composition enhanced by
Jolie Holland's fragile but expressive harmonies.

'First Chance' is another stunner. A stripped-down, edgy number
blessed with a raw and beautifully sustained vocal performance.

'Transformation' and 'Breathe' provide further evidence that
the composer is riding the biggest creative wave of his career.

It's a wave I was happy to be carried along by from
the beginning to the end of this stupendous album.

Where once there was doubt (mine) there is now complete conviction.

Essential.

Effortless
I have friends who go on and on about how great David Gray is, which made it hard to be objective to listening to Draw The Line after such a build-up. I just decided to let the album flow with no pre-conceptions and I really enjoyed it. You do get what it says on the tin with David Gray, i.e. good well-written songs through a raw vocal that hits the spot.

Fantastic
I must admit to being a bit biased as have been a die hard fan of DG for many years.

I bought Draw the Line on Monday and was a bit disappointed on first listen; it didn't have that stand out quality that other David Gray albums seemed to have. I have listened to it many times since then and it just grows and grows on you. Nemesis is one of the most perfect songs I've heard for a long time and is lyrically brilliant.

Full steam Ahead is a great song and I think the collaboration with Annie Lennox is inspired.

All in all I think this is a great album and well worth a listen.