White Ladder by David Gray was released in the UK in the Spring of 2000, although it had been available in Ireland since 1998 where it had attracted rave reviews and a cult following.
It is a collection of 10 tracks with a very laid back acoustic feel. The songs themselves are quite bittersweet and poetic covering most emotions from love, passion and anger.
Listening to the superb quality of the tracks on the CD it is hard to believe that this, his fourth album and most commercially successful to date was actually self financed and released on his own record label IHT, as David had been dropped by his record label shortly after the release of his previous album.
It was recorded in the bedroom of his London flat with the windows open and cars, lorries and buses rumbling past…..The track listing is as below
1 - Please Forgive Me (Duration 5:35)
"Please forgive me If I act a little strange For I know not what I do. Feels like lightning running through my veins Every time I look at you Every time I look at you"
The opening words to the first track on the album will be familiar to many of you. This track was released as the third single from the album at the end of 1999 and was A listed on MTV. As a single it was a huge success and a fantastic tool for boosting sales
of the album during the pre Christmas months. The song itself is about a breakdown of a relationship, and spending time to reflect on where things when wrong. It starts off quite happy and hopeful building slowly to a peak and then fading back down again.
2 - Babylon (Duration 4:25)
"Friday night I'm going nowhere All the lights are changing green to red Turning over TV stations Situations running through my head Looking back through time You know it's clear that I've been blind I've been a fool To open up my heart To all that jealousy, that bitterness, that ridicule"
This is the true commercial success on the album and was released as the second single in the June of 2000 peaking at number 2 in the singles chart. It is a very catchy, infectious song which stays in your head and drives you mad. It was used more recently in a popular TV commercial but I can't remember what for at the moment.
3 - My Oh My ( Duration 4:37)
"What on earth is going on in my heart Has it turned as cold as stone Seems these days I don't feel anything Less it cuts me right down to the bone What on earth is going on in my hear"
This is very deep and melancholy song, definitely one of the highlights on the album.
4 - We're Not Right (Duration 3.03)
"Feel the weight if this passing time All those crazy faces run through my mind And that song has brought a teardrop to my eye Can't tell the bottle from the mountain top No we're not right"
This is the shortest track on the album. It tells the story about alcohol and how it distorts one's perception of the world
"Can't tell the bottle from the mountain top And now my hands are shaking But I just can't stop Can't tell the bottle from the mountain top No we're not right"
5 - Nightblindless (Duration 4:23)
"What we gonna do When the money runs out I wish that there was something left to say Where we going to find the eyes to see The bright of day?"
This is a very slow song. It is about worrying about the future and wondering what it holds in store.
6 - Silver Lining (Duration 5:59)
"Take this silver lining Keep it in your own sweet head Shine it when the night is burning red Shine it in the twilight Shine it on the cold cold ground Shine it till these walls come Tumbling down"
Another very slow track, One of my least favourites and the only one I tend to skip. 7 - White Ladder (Duration 4:14)
"White ladder Water and wine Forever crying Oh time Don't wanna feel tonight There's no rhyme or reason to life This sweet life"
The title track of the album and not surprisingly a true gem. This song shows off David Gray's voice at its very best.
8 - This Years Love (Duration 4:05)
"This years love had better last Heaven knows it's high time I've been waiting on my own too long But when you hold me like you do It feels so right ah now I start to forget How my heart gets torn When that hurt gets thrown Feeling like yuh can't go on"
My personal favourite. This track was released as the fourth single from the album. It is also the title of a film by the same name starring Kathy Burke, in which David also makes a small appearance. It is a very uplifting track telling how love can conquer all.
9 - Sail Away (Duration 5:15)
"Crazy skies all wild above me now Winter howling at my face And everything I held so dear Disappeared without a trace Oh all the times I've tasted love Never knew quite what I had Little darling if you hear me now Never needed you so bad Spinning round inside my head "
This is a song about commitment, honesty and trust. Another classic that will stay in your head all night.
10 - Say Hello Wave Goodbye (Duration 8:58)
"Take your hands off me, hey, I don?t belong to you, you see, And take a look in my face, for the last time, I never knew you, you never knew me, Say hello goodbye, Say hello and wave goodbye,"
This is a cover of a classic song by Soft Cell where the bittersweet lyrics of Marc Almond slowed down to suit David Gray's voice work like perfection. It is a long song about the end of a brief relationship and the thoughts of bitterness and revenge that follow.
The Album Itself
There are actually four different versions of this CD available. The early Irish copy is quite rare and collectable. My copy has a blue background with the album name and artist in very tiny writing in the middle. On the reverse the song titles are scattered quite haphazardly but they do not contrast with the background and are quite difficult to see.
This album in Ireland became a huge success and has now sold over 1 million copies in the UK. It is very easy listening and a true classic, one that I keep finding myself playing over and over again.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
A major artist in Ireland, David Gray has a loyal but somewhat smaller following ... more
throughout the rest of the world. Since his 1994 debut albumA Century Ends, he has consistently produced quality, folk-tinged songs that showcase his one major talent--a r...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
A major artist in his native Ireland, David Gray has a loyal but somewhat smaller ... more
following throughout the rest of the world. Since his 1994 debut albumA Century Ends, he has consistently produced quality, folk-tinged songs which showcase his one major...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
A major artist in Ireland, David Gray has a loyal but somewhat smaller following ... more
throughout the rest of the world. Since his 1994 debut album A Century Ends, he has consistently produced quality, folk-tinged songs that showcase his one major talent--a ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Wide range of music; some truly great tracks; consistently high quality Disadvantages: Very few, perhaps only that it is very slighty shorter than previous albums
Jun 30th, 2005
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