Sound Bites

David Gray “A New Day at Midnight” RCA
Records

After a four-year hiatus, Welsh singer David Gray’s fifth
album marks a maturation of the sound in his previous album,
“White Ladder.” Everything from the jacket of the
album, which depicts an illuminated skyline at sunset by a river,
to Gray’s twangy yet sultry vocals accompanied by organic
instrumental sounds, combines to create a homegrown and deeply
reflective ambience. Gray holds onto some of the pop flavor and
infectious sampling of “White Ladder” in songs such as
“Caroline,” “Be Mine,” and
“Knowhere” with their house beat undercurrent, yet
piano and acoustic guitar dominate the pseudo-techno beats in many
of the songs, such as “Easy Way to Cry” and “Long
Distance Call.” Gray goes further emotionally on this album,
writing raw and honest lyrics about different states of the heart.
On “The Other Side,” he contrasts live-for-the-moment
feelings and the secrecy associated with a one-night stand with the
inevitable conclusion of the encounter. “A New Day at
Midnight” is innovative, lyrically rich, and musically
stellar. Gray is a composite of style similar to that of Dave
Matthews, with a voice that parallels the likes of Rob Hotchkiss of
Train. For faithful Gray fans still playing “White
Ladder,” it is time to clear the way for “A New Day at
Midnight.” For those vaguely familiar with David Gray, (yes,
the guy who sang “Babylon,” unfortunately, the only
track of his album that reached MTV airwaves) try this album.
-Monique Keshishian

Justin Timberlake “Justified” Jive
Records

John Lennon did it. So did Michael Jackson. But breaking away
from a popular group to sustain a level of success and relevance
can be difficult. With “Justified,” Justin Timberlake
tries to moonwalk his own path with moderate results. Imagine The
Neptunes having lunch with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder hamming it up
with Timbaland, and Jacko giving Justino a few pointers. The
verdict: “Justified” relies heavily on its influences
and is saturated with mediocre contemporary R&B. Produced
mainly by Timbaland, whose distinct hip-hop soul was more exciting
a few years ago when accompanied by Aaliyah, and the Neptunes,
whose infectiously danceable rhythms are becoming equally
predictable, the tracks straddle the line between manufactured
beats and soulful treats. Justin sings of heartbreak, swinging
bachelorhood, and narcissistic romance through awkward lyrics:
“I want to be your sky, so blue and high.” Juvenile
lyrics are imbalanced by racier ones: “I could think of a
couple positions for you.” Of course, there are a few
highlights. Justin’s vocals are more studied; often an homage
to The King of Pop, other times offering a soulful hint of Stevie
Wonder. The leap from boy band to solo artist will have legions of
fans unyieldingly tearing up the Billboard charts, but when they
do, they will stumble upon a more soulful Justin. -Sinh
Tran