A new day at midnight

Grade:

B+

David Gray, who has pulled off a rare double play by being a favorite of music lovers and critics alike, has finally released A new day at midnight, the follow-up to his multi-platinum White Ladder.

Recorded from September 2001 until August of this year, Midnight has the chance to eclipse the success that Ladder achieved on both sides of the Atlantic.

Gray eschews the current trend of frat boy pop for a more adult, serious album that delivers on nearly every track.

The only downfall, albeit a minor one, is that sometimes Midnight can be a little too serious. One man cannot possibly have that many problems in his life. That being said, Gray is very good at having his heart on his sleeve for all to appreciate.

Even the songs that seem like they may have a lighter tone, like "Caroline," still find a way back to the darkness that permeates the rest of the album.

Gray sets the tone on the very first track, "Dead in the water," a song that cold be interpreted many different ways, all of which lean towards the darkness.

Through the dark themes in Midnight, Gray is in fact conveying a positive message. No matter how bad things may seem, you always have a chance to redeem yourself the next day. Let's hope for Gray's sake that his new day will be a good one.