Life In Slow Motion
by David Gray
  • Record Label: ATO
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. ChrisS
    Oct 8, 2005
    10
    Superb as always. Anyone who says otherwise isnt listening properly or hard enough. Sounds closer to his earlier albums, which in my view are his best. buy it.
  2. Steve
    Oct 20, 2005
    8
    Pretty happy with the CD, and I haven't listened to any David Gray before. Melodic, beautiful, thoughtful.
  3. joanf
    Oct 3, 2005
    10
    i love this cd it is amazing! good job david keep it up!
  4. PaulD
    Oct 8, 2005
    6
    As a huge David Gray fan I expected something special from an album which seemed so long in the making and for the first few minutes of the first song on the album 'Alibi' I wasn't disappointed. But sadly, with the exception of a few moments of the 'This Years Love' magic during 'Slow Motion', this album drifts off into a the drone my wife oftens As a huge David Gray fan I expected something special from an album which seemed so long in the making and for the first few minutes of the first song on the album 'Alibi' I wasn't disappointed. But sadly, with the exception of a few moments of the 'This Years Love' magic during 'Slow Motion', this album drifts off into a the drone my wife oftens describes David Gray as. Forget what everyone says about his new use of backing music, what really let's this album down is a mixture of unimaginative lyrics with rather averagegy music. If you want something as "addictive" as White Ladder then James Blunt's Back To Bedlam is the new benchmark. P.S Am I the only one who loved A New Day At Midnight? (Dead in The Water, Real Love, Freedom, The Other Side, Be Mine .... not White Ladder but still something special)… Expand
  5. BobS
    Sep 15, 2005
    9
    David Gray is a top tier artist in an epoch where too few exist. This is yet another notch in his ever-growing catalog of gems.
  6. ErikE
    Sep 17, 2005
    5
    David never gets going on this album. After the 4th track I had to switch it of for a while because of his awful whining voice. It`s very much a "I`ve heard this before" type of album. It sound pretty much like a student with computer and Garageband.
  7. Jilian
    Sep 22, 2005
    10
    I find that each of David Gray's albums has a different sound, as if he is ever evolving, showing different facets of his artistic ability. I really enjoy Nos da Cariad.
  8. BobT
    Sep 24, 2005
    3
    I've always been a big David Gray fan, but this is album is too predictable and straightforward. Those saying its OK that he tossed away the brilliance of his style for "strings", "beauty", "passion" and "big sound" are only kidding themselves. Its a safe album to support the $50 concert seats.
  9. Andy
    Nov 21, 2005
    9
    Although I agree it's a tad "overproduced", his heartfelt songwriting still shines through.
  10. TiffTexas
    Oct 28, 2005
    10
    I am a long time fan and I love this album. David clearly challenges his consistant sound and moves toward a sound that is different and serenely powerful. His lyrics are amazing! I feel like this album is more intimate to me because I think he is trying something more exciting and creative and he is sharing it with his fans! My personal favorite tracks are "Lately" and "Life in Slow I am a long time fan and I love this album. David clearly challenges his consistant sound and moves toward a sound that is different and serenely powerful. His lyrics are amazing! I feel like this album is more intimate to me because I think he is trying something more exciting and creative and he is sharing it with his fans! My personal favorite tracks are "Lately" and "Life in Slow Motion"....okay they are each awesome!… Expand
  11. BrianM
    Sep 15, 2005
    6
    A perfect collection of sadly romantic songs that is sure to make the happiest listener want to call his mama and cry like a baby.
  12. Dev
    Sep 20, 2005
    9
    An album full of beautifully crafted, moving songs, especially "Alibi," "Lately," "Ain't No Love" and the title track."The One I Love" and "Nos Da Cariad" are great as well. The whole gets better with each listen.
  13. jasonr
    Sep 20, 2005
    8
    great song writing with great arrangements. from here you can almost see the sea is probably my favorite david gray song to date.
  14. williamc
    Sep 22, 2005
    8
    finally he's back. With two sub-par albums behind him, (White ladder and ...Midnight) Gray has returned to his poetry-lased lyrics and emotionally based songs. He sounds like he has gotten back the exploding soulfullness he had on his first 2 albums. WElcome back David.
  15. ScottY
    Jan 15, 2006
    7
    Not as good as his past couple of albums but for a David Gray fan, it's still worth owning. Still very good mellow music that's in line with what he's done before.
  16. tonyc
    Nov 3, 2005
    10
    I admit to being a david gray fan,but found his last album dissapointing,this on the other hand is a classic!! Favorite tracks include "from here you can almost see the sea" "lately" and "aint no love" buy it
  17. dave
    Oct 13, 2005
    5
    very over-produced. any album he makes from now on will never match the anger and emotion of A Century Ends and Flesh..Not one track on this album is close to Shine and Coming Down. I am a big David Gray but I will be sticking to his older albums for the time being. A let down.
  18. EmilyW
    Dec 25, 2005
    10
    Great Album, 'The One I Love' is such a beatiful song! Love it!!!
  19. Matt
    Sep 16, 2005
    6
    kind of dull but it has its moments. not as good as past efforts. ain't no love is the best song.
  20. JulianC
    Sep 18, 2005
    8
    An album of truly beautiful songs delivered with such passion. Another fantastic collection of emotive songs from Mr Gray
  21. PeterM
    Sep 24, 2005
    6
    over-produced... most songs drag on at the end... he's lost the spirit that made `white ladder` and even `new day` so moving... sounds confused and depressed
  22. TheDaveHimself
    Jul 13, 2011
    9
    David Gray is definitely one of the more underrated artists out there and I never did quite understand all this talk of his material lacking ever since White Ladder. This album is enough in proving otherwise. If I had to own just one David Gray album, this would be it. Highlight: "Lately"
  23. Ricko
    Dec 5, 2013
    7
    Life in Slow Motion starts off reasonably decent but about 3 tracks in Gray starts to thread water and pretty much continues to do so for the rest of the record. Lets be fair, the album is never bad but doesn't do enough often enough to really and truly impress. It has a few good moments but too often relies on slick production to put a nice sheen on some of the more average tracks.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. E! Online
    91
    [Gray has] stepped up his own game with richer production, bigger arrangements and a renewed sense of purpose that makes songs like "Alibi" and "Disappearing World" sound like his most epic work yet.
    Read full review
  2. Dot Music
    90
    With "Life In Slow Motion" he's delivered an album so rich and deft that it pushes beyond the realm of the humble singer-songwriter, to earn him a place alongside the likes of Springsteen and Van Morrison as one of music's revered elite. Without question, this is a classic album.
    Read full review
  3. The A.V. Club
    60
    A tendency to devolve into Coldplay-esque atmospherics makes it a less than wholly successful effort.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »