| ABOUT
THE ALBUM A Century Ends |
His debut album, A Century Ends was released
to great acclaim in the first half of 1993- ten tracks of anger,
love, passion. It has become a classic In its own right and
succeeded in winning over a core of loyal followers who have
stayed with him ever since.
Upon its initial release, A Century Ends created somewhat of
a stir, gaining good critical reviews, yet little radio support,
but unfortunately little popular success. However, when introduced
to Ireland, via the Today FM radio station
DJ, Donal Dineen, Gray started out on a slow
journey that eventually propelled him on to the world stage.
After hearing A Century Ends, Joan Baez proclaimed
him "the best lyricist since Dylan".
The record had gone largely unnoticed until White Ladder finally
became successful. Leading off with the stunning anthem "Shine,"
a favourite of many of David Gray fans, he indelicately chews
on his earnest words with a thick Welsh accent, soaking up every
syllable like a sip of fine wine.
Throughout, the intensity and sparseness of Gray's music can
be heard in the hard-edged folk of songs like "Birds Without
Wings," as a simple acoustic riff drives a growling, soaring
vocal through its paces. Like most of his work pre-Ladder, Gray's
approach here is sparser, often featuring only voice and guitar,
and even more akin to the naked poetry of folk-music soulmates
like Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteens
spase sounding Nebraska.
There are exceptions, in the up-tempo rocker "Wisdom"
could easily fit on White Ladder if its earthy drum sound was
produced with a little more of that record's subtle electronica.There
are shades of what is to come in his future albums especially
in the vocal delivery and .
There was a U.S. reissue of the 1993 debut album for the British
adult alternative sensation in 2001 aimed at the new fans of
David Gray who finally got the attention his music deserves
with his 1999 album 'White Ladder'.
MUSICIANS ON THE ALBUM :
David Gray (vocals, acoustic guitar);
Neil Maccoll (vocals, guitar, mandolin);
Robin Millar (guitar);
Michael Smith (saxophone);
Dave Anderson (piano, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer
organ);
Mark Smith (bass);
Steve Sidelnyk (drums, percussion
A
Century Ends
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