“On his sophomore album—the follow-up to 2003’s slow-building platinum smash “Chariot”—Gavin DeGraw deftly weaves together rock, pop and soul influences without letting the seams show. Courtesy of producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, P.O.D., My Chemical Romance), this 12-song set leans more on its rock muscle than anything else, with biting guitar chords punctuating DeGraw’s taut and tuneful melodies in the opening track and first single, “In Love With a Girl,” to such classic rock-aping pieces as “Relative.” DeGraw’s soulful vocal swoops stand out on “I Have You to Thank,” while his balladeer side emotes on “Young Love” and “Let It Go.” “We Belong Together” moves from an anthemic start into a delicate dynamic build that provides a master class in DeGraw’s deft straddle between craft and passion.—Gary Graff”
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