Gavin DeGraw - Chariot

Not as baroque as Rufus Wainwright, and more downtown than Matchbox Twenty, but embodying elements of both acts, Gavin Degraw's J Records debut is a strong showcase for his soulful wail and piano playing, even if it's occasionally grayed out by bells-and-whistles production that pushes it too strongly toward beigeist AAA accessibility. Degraw's willowy vocal on opener "Follow Through" brings to mind Jeff Buckley, even if the cut is musically vacant adult alterna-whatever, but the title track and "Just Friends" are much better. Read More