Life in Slow Motion
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 69/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Music Box |  [3] |
| PopMatters | (6/10)[4] |
| Slant Magazine | [5] |
Life in Slow Motion is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray, released on 12 September 2005 in Europe and 13 September in the United States. Following a muted response to his previous album, A New Day at Midnight, this album was seen by many as a considerable return to the form that brought Gray international acclaim with White Ladder. This was also the last album recorded with longtime collaborator Craig McClune.
Gray cites Sigur Rós, Sparklehorse, Lucinda Williams, Björk and Mercury Rev as inspiration for the album. The album was also the first time Gray added a cello player.[6] The original choice for a producer for the album was Daniel Lanois, but as he was busy, he ended up working with Marius de Vries who had produced his previous hit single "Sail Away."[7] Throughout the tour supporting the album, Gray played a different setlist every night.[8]
The three singles from the album were "The One I Love," "Hospital Food," and "Alibi." The album was also released on DualDisc format, which included a documentary of the making of the album, a photo gallery, and complete lyrics on the DVD side of the disc.[9]
The non-DualDisc CD of the album was one of many titles released with the infamous MediaMax CD-3 copyright protection system.
Chart and sales figures
Life in Slow Motion debuted at No. 1 on the Irish Albums Chart, staying for three weeks at the top before dropping to No. 4. In the United Kingdom a week after release in Ireland, it debuted also at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, spending two weeks at No. 1 before dropping to #3; it spent seven weeks in the top 10 and 25 weeks in the top 75. The album debuted and subsequently peaked at No. 16 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Alibi" | Gray | 4:33 |
| 2. | "The One I Love" | Gray, McClune | 3:25 |
| 3. | "Lately" | Gray, McClune, Malone, Bradshaw, Nolte | 4:13 |
| 4. | "Nos Da Cariad" | Gray, McClune, Malone, Bradshaw, Nolte | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Slow Motion" | Gray, McClune | 5:00 |
| 6. | "From Here You Can Almost See the Sea" | Gray | 3:39 |
| 7. | "Ain't No Love" | Gray | 3:21 |
| 8. | "Hospital Food" | Gray, Malone | 4:43 |
| 9. | "Now and Always" | Gray | 6:45 |
| 10. | "Disappearing World" | Gray | 5:05 |
Credits
Musicians
- David Gray – vocals, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonium, Wurlitzer, melodica
- Craig McClune – drums, percussion, dulcimer, glockenspiel, whistles, backing vocals
- Rob Malone – electric and double bass, acoustic and electric guitar, percussion
- Tim Bradshaw – piano, keyboards, electric and lap steel guitar, cello
- David Nolte – electric guitar, cello, melodica, autoharp, samples, backing vocals
- Marius de Vries – percussion, autoharp, recorder, glockenspiel, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Natalie Mendoza – backing vocals
- Caroline Dale – cello
- Strings on tracks 1, 2, and 7: contracted by Isobel Griffiths
- Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
- Brass on tracks 1 and 5: performed by The Kick Horns
- Trumpet by Roddy Lorimer and Paul Spong
- Trombone by Neil Sidwell and Annie Whitehead
- Bass trombone by Dave Stewart
- French horn by Nigel Black, Dave Lee, and Michael Thompson
- Orchestral percussion by Frank Ricotta
- Track 5: baritone saxophone and assistant arrangement by Simon Clarke; French horn by Tim Jones
Production
- Produced by Marius de Vries with David Gray, Iestyn Polson, and Craig McClune.
- Recorded and programmed by Iestyn Polson.
- Mixed by Andy Bradfield.
- Additional mix engineer/additional programming by Jason Boshoff.
- Additional programming by Alexis Smith.
- Track 1: orchestra arranged by Chris Elliott.
- Track 2: orchestra arranged by David Nolte and Marius de Vries.
- Track 5: horns arranged by Marius de Vries.
- Track 7: strings arranged by Marius de Vries and Tim Bradshaw.
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig.
- Design and direction by Farrow Design.
- Cover image concept by Red Design.
- Cover photography by Joanna Thornhill.
- Booklet photography by Phil Knott.
References
- ^ "Reviews for Life In Slow Motion by David Gray". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (13 September 2005). "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ John Metzger. "Music Box review". Musicbox-online.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ Schiller, Mike. "PopMatters review". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Slant Magazine review". Slantmagazine.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Varsity.co.nz – THE INTERVIEW: David Gray". Varsity.co.nz. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ Jane Stevenson. "CANOE – JAM! Music – Artists – Gray, David : Exclusive interview with David Gray". Jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ "GIBSON". GIBSON. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ "Life in Slow Motion: David Gray: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ "Life in Slow Motion – David Gray". Billboard.com. Retrieved 28 February 2012.