Draw the Line (David Gray album)

Last updated

Draw the Line
DrawTheLine.jpg
Studio album by
Released14 September 2009
RecordedMay 2008–May 2009
StudioThe Church Studios
Genre Folk rock
Length46:55
Label Mercer Street/iht
Producer
David Gray chronology
Greatest Hits
(2007)
Draw the Line
(2009)
Foundling
(2010)
Singles from Draw the Line
  1. "Fugitive"
    Released: 7 September 2009
  2. "Full Steam"
    Released: 28 December 2009
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 62/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
BBC (favourable) [3]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Planet Sound 5/10 [6]
Slant Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Draw the Line is the eighth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 14 September 2009 in Europe and 22 September in the United States. The first single "Fugitive" was released on 7 September 2009. [9] The second single, a duet with Annie Lennox, "Full Steam", released on 28 December 2009. [10]

Contents

Album information

Gray recorded the album, his first set of new songs since 2005's Life in Slow Motion , in his own studio—The Church Studios—while unsigned to a record label. [11] The studio previously belonged to the Eurythmics, and when Gray invited Annie Lennox to guest-record the duet "Full Steam," she reprimanded him for not changing the carpets. The track, described as "a broad political thing," [12] is one of two duets on the album. The second, "Kathleen," features Jolie Holland. Gray revealed in an interview that the original choice for "Kathleen" was Dolly Parton, to whom he wrote a letter with a demo of the song. Parton turned down the offer, as she was busy. [13]

Draw the Line is the first studio album after Gray parted with longtime collaborator Craig McClune in 2007. [14] Gray said that he felt "the creative spark was sort of diminishing between the people who were involved." [15] The album includes 11 new songs, with a new band: Neill MacColl on guitar (brother of Kirsty MacColl and who had played on Gray's first two albums), Robbie Malone on bass and Keith Prior on drums. Gray told The Irish Times that these changes were part of the thinking behind the title: "It's the end of one thing and the start of another. Because there was a chapter and it's ended and now there's a new one. But also it's like, 'don't cross this line!' It's confrontational, which is intentional. That's how I feel." [16]

A deluxe hardcover book edition of the album, featuring a booklet with 20 pages of illustrations and a bonus CD of tracks recorded live at The Roundhouse, was also released simultaneously. [17]

Commercial performance

Draw the Line entered and peaked on the UK Album Chart at number five and charted for only five weeks, [18] making it Gray's poorest performing release since The EPs 1992–1994 which charted for only one week. In Austria, it entered and peaked at number 74, charting for only one week. [19]

In the United States, the album performed better on the Independent Albums chart, peaking at number 2 [20] and charting for 20 weeks. The album also did better on the Swiss Music Charts, peaking at number 18 and charting for four weeks. [21] Draw the Line also made it into the top 20 in other charts such as the ARIA Charts, peaking at number 18 and charting for 7 weeks. [22] It also did well in New Zealand, peaking at number 15 and charting for 3 weeks. [23]

Track listing

Draw the Line track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fugitive"Gray, Malone, Prior3:43
2."Draw the Line"Gray, Malone, MacColl4:23
3."Nemesis"Gray, Malone, MacColl5:26
4."Jackdaw"Gray3:54
5."Kathleen" (featuring Jolie Holland)Gray3:49
6."First Chance"Gray, Prior6:00
7."Harder"Gray, Malone, MacColl, Prior3:51
8."Transformation"Gray3:23
9."Stella the Artist"Gray, Malone, Prior3:37
10."Breathe"Gray4:39
11."Full Steam" (featuring Annie Lennox)Gray4:12
Total length:46:55
iTunes-only bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Second Halo"Gray4:08
Bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You're the World to Me" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray3:43
2."Sail Away" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray5:24
3."Ain't No Love" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray3:17
4."Babylon" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray6:29
5."Slow Motion" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray, McClune4:38
6."The One I Love" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray, McClune4:12
7."The Other Side" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray6:48
8."Nightblindness" (Live at the London Roundhouse)Gray11:09

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Draw the Line
Chart (2009)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [24] 18
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [25] 74
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [26] 45
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [27] 21
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [28] 70
Irish Albums (IRMA) [29] 2
Italian Albums (FIMI) [30] 87
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [31] 15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [32] 18
UK Albums (OCC) [33] 5
US Billboard 200 [34] 12

Certifications

Certifications for Draw the Line
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Ireland (IRMA) [35] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [36]
2009 release
Silver60,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [37]
2015 release
Gold100,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>White Ladder</i> 1998 studio album by David Gray

White Ladder is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray. It was first released in November 1998 through Gray's own record label, IHT Records, but failed to chart. On 24 April 2000, the album was re-released by Dave Matthews' label ATO Records and debuted at number 69 on the UK Albums Chart, before climbing to number one on 5 August 2001, more than a year later. White Ladder produced five singles, including the hit "Babylon", which ignited interest in the album and shot Gray to worldwide fame. Other singles released from the album were "This Year's Love", "Please Forgive Me", "Sail Away", and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye".

<i>Life in Slow Motion</i> 2005 studio album by David Gray

Life in Slow Motion is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 12 September 2005 in Europe and Sept. 13 in the United States. Following a muted response to his previous album, A New Day at Midnight, the album was seen by some as a return to the form that brought Gray international acclaim with White Ladder; it was also the last album recorded with longtime collaborator Craig McClune.

<i>A New Day at Midnight</i> 2002 studio album by David Gray

A New Day at Midnight is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 28 October 2002 in the UK by East West Records and IHT Records and November 5, 2002 in the United States by the former RCA imprint ATO Records and iht as well. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1 upon its opening week, and spent a total of 49 weeks on the chart.

<i>On How Life Is</i> 1999 studio album by Macy Gray

On How Life Is is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on July 1, 1999, by Epic Records and Clean Slate. Produced by Andrew Slater, it became Gray's best-selling album to date, selling 3.4 million copies in the United States and seven million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AC/DC discography</span>

Australian rock band AC/DC have released 18 studio albums, two soundtrack albums, three live albums, one extended play, 57 singles, 11 video albums, 52 music videos and two box sets. Although many AC/DC singles have been released, the band refused to issue any greatest hits albums. Who Made Who, which served as the soundtrack to Stephen King's film Maximum Overdrive, Iron Man 2 and the band's various live recordings are the closest they have issued to such a compilation.

<i>Bare</i> (Annie Lennox album) 2003 studio album by Annie Lennox

Bare is the third solo studio album by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released in Europe on 5 June 2003 by 19 Recordings and RCA Records and in North America on 10 June 2003 by J Records. It peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the US Billboard 200. The album has been certified Gold in both the UK and the US and was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 46th Grammy Awards.

<i>Songs of Mass Destruction</i> 2007 studio album by Annie Lennox

Songs of Mass Destruction is the fourth solo studio album by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released on 1 October 2007 by RCA Records and 19 Recordings. It was her first album of new material since 2003's Bare and to date her most recent of original material.

<i>Only by the Night</i> 2008 studio album by Kings of Leon

Only by the Night is the fourth studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon, released in September 2008 through RCA Records. Writing for the band's fourth album commenced just days after the release of their third, Because of the Times. The album was recorded by producers Jacquire King and Angelo Petraglia in April 2008 at Nashville's Blackbird Studio.

<i>The Annie Lennox Collection</i> 2009 greatest hits album by Annie Lennox

The Annie Lennox Collection is the first greatest hits album by Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox. It was released on 17 February 2009 and contains two brand-new songs, "Shining Light", originally a song by Ash, and a cover version of Keane's B-side "Closer Now", retitled "Pattern of My Life". The artwork was shot by Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Script discography</span>

Irish pop rock band the Script has released six studio albums, four EPs, 22 singles and 20 music videos.

<i>Yes</i> (Pet Shop Boys album) 2009 studio album by Pet Shop Boys

Yes is the tenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 18 March 2009 by Parlophone. The album was recorded throughout 2008 and was produced by Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania. Xenomania also co-wrote three of the tracks. Guitarist Johnny Marr and string arranger Owen Pallett appear as well. "Love Etc." was released on 16 March 2009 as the album's lead single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Lennox discography</span>

This article is the discography of the Scottish pop and rock singer-songwriter Annie Lennox. After a decade of major international success as part of Eurythmics, Lennox began her solo career in earnest in 1992 with the release of her first album Diva, which produced several hit singles including "Why" and "Walking on Broken Glass". The same year, she performed "Love Song for a Vampire" for Bram Stoker's Dracula. To date, she has released six solo studio albums, three of them being covers albums and a compilation album, The Annie Lennox Collection (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gray discography</span>

The discography of David Gray, a British singer-songwriter, consists of twelve studio albums, a live album, three compilation albums, an EP, and twenty-one singles.

<i>Sigh No More</i> (Mumford & Sons album) 2009 studio album by Mumford & Sons

Sigh No More is the debut studio album by British folk rock band Mumford & Sons. It was released on 2 October 2009 in the UK, and on 16 February 2010 in the United States and Canada. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 11 and peaked at No. 2 on 20 February 2011, in its 72nd week on the chart and following its Album of the Year win at the Brit Awards. In early 2011, the album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the US.

<i>Foundling</i> (album) 2010 studio album by David Gray

Foundling is the ninth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray. The double album was released on 16 August 2010 in the United Kingdom and on the following day in the United States, by Mercer Street/Downtown Records.

<i>A Christmas Cornucopia</i> 2010 studio album by Annie Lennox

A Christmas Cornucopia is the fifth solo studio album, and the first Christmas album, by Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox, released in November 2010. It was Lennox's first album after signing to the Universal Music Group following her departure from Sony BMG, which had been her label for almost 30 years.

<i>Boys & Girls</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Alabama Shakes

Boys & Girls is the debut studio album from American band Alabama Shakes. It was released on April 9, 2012, through ATO Records. The album peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 and number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. A tenth anniversary deluxe edition was released on December 9, 2022, including a bonus disc of the band's live performance at KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Lambert (singer)</span> Musical artist

Mary Danielle Lambert is an American singer, songwriter and spoken word artist. She worked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on a track on their album The Heist. Lambert is the featured artist of their LGBTQ rights single, "Same Love". Her contributions to "Same Love" draw upon her experiences as "a lesbian growing up in a tumultuous, Christian upbringing." Lambert took the content she created for "Same Love" and used it to develop the song "She Keeps Me Warm" which she released on July 30, 2013. A music video was released on Vevo on August 24.

<i>Mutineers</i> (album) 2014 studio album by David Gray

Mutineers is the tenth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 17 June 2014 on IHT Records. "Back in the World" was the first single from the album.

<i>Lily Was Here</i> (soundtrack) 1989 soundtrack album by David A. Stewart

Lily Was Here is the soundtrack album to the 1989 Dutch drama film of the same name, directed by Ben Verbong. The soundtrack was produced and largely written by David A. Stewart, one half of the British pop duo Eurythmics.

References

  1. "Draw the Line by David Gray". Metacritic . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. Allmusic review
  3. Diver, Mike. "BBC – Music – Review of David Gray – Draw the Line" . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  4. Sullivan, Caroline (10 September 2009). "David Gray: Draw the Line" . Retrieved 3 October 2016 via The Guardian.
  5. "Album: David Gray, Draw the Line (Polydor)". Independent.co.uk . 11 September 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  6. "Cheap Holidays: Great Cheap Holiday Deals – Teletext Holidays" . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  7. "Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. Brown, Helen. "David Gray: Draw the Line, CD review" . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  9. King, Stacey (12 December 2011). "Celebrity Gossip, latest Celebrity News and Showbiz Gossip | Eleven UK". Spinnermusic.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  10. Archived 3 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Information Not Found". Billboard.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  12. "A line under the ladder". The Irish Times. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  13. Photo by Phil Knott (17 August 2009). "Catching Up with... David Gray :: Music :: Features :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  14. "David Gray parts ways with drummer". Hotpress.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  15. "David Gray 'Draws The Line' On Upcoming Album". Billboard.com. 14 September 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  16. "Draw the Line by David Gray Songfacts" . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  17. "Music | Mp3 Player | Satellite Radio at". Musicratty.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  18. "David Gray – Draw The Line". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  19. Steffen Hung. "David Gray – Draw The Line". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  20. "David Gray Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  21. Steffen Hung. "David Gray – Draw The Line". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  22. Steffen Hung. "David Gray – Draw The Line". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  23. Steffen Hung. "David Gray – Draw The Line". charts.nz. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  24. "Australiancharts.com – David Gray – Draw the Line". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  25. "Austriancharts.at – David Gray – Draw the Line" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  26. "Ultratop.be – David Gray – Draw the Line" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  27. "Dutchcharts.nl – David Gray – Draw the Line" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  28. "Offiziellecharts.de – David Gray – Life in Slow Motion" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  29. "Irish-charts.com – Discography David Gray". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  30. "Italiancharts.com – David Gray – Draw the Line". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  31. "Charts.nz – David Gray – Draw the Line". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – David Gray – Draw the Line". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  33. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  34. "David Gray Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  35. "The Irish Charts - 2009 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  36. "British album certifications – David Gray – Draw the Line". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  37. "British album certifications – David Gray – Draw the Line". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 April 2022.