One time as I listened to David Gray's early album at my mom's house, she mentioned that he was clearly British. I asked, "Could you tell by his accent?" She said, "No, his diction. His word choice is clearly British; an American would never use some of those words."
She's right. Although his music has improved over time, his lyrics lack the prophetic passion his earlier work had. There's a poetry and accuracy within his early stuff. It's as if he went to LA and learned how to be shallow. As if he fell in love with a blond, got a tan, and penned "Please Forgive Me" and "Babylon" in lieu of "Let the Truth Sting." Not that "Please Forgive Me" isn't a great song; it just lacks scope and magnitude. Yes, there's universality in particularity, but there's also a place for the poetic pointing finger calling us out. Please forgive me, I miss the old David Gray.
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