Century Ends

David Gray's sudden success, on the heels of White Ladder's much-deserved platinum sales, has suddenly created demand for his older work. Happily, this has resulted in the rerelease of his 1992 debut record, A Century Ends, along with its followup, Flesh, and a new compilation, The EP's 92-94. Despite the impact Century had upon its release, gaining Gray a devoted following that included more than a few influential admirers (after hearing Century, Joan Baez proclaimed him "the best lyricist since Dylan"), the record had gone largely unnoticed until Ladder finally hit the mark. Leading off with the stunning anthem "Shine," Gray 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 schmaltz-free poignancy 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. There are exceptions, as the up-tempo rocker "Wisdom" could easily fit on White Ladder if its earthy drum sound was leavened with a little more of that record's subtle electronica. Regardless of his arrangements, Gray's music can always be counted on to avoid easy sentimentality while still rending hearts and reaching for universality. --Matthew Cooke