Face the River
Gavin DeGraw · 2022
41 min · 10 tracks · blue-eyed soul
Soulful melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a reflective and heartfelt atmosphere throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Face the River Start here — The title track serves as a poignant introduction to the album’s themes of reflection and emotional resilience, encapsulating DeGraw's signature soulful delivery.
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Freedom (Johnny’s Song) — This track stands out for its lyrical tribute to freedom and personal liberation, illustrating DeGraw's ability to weave storytelling with an uplifting melody.
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Hero in Our House — A powerful ballad that highlights familial love and support, showcasing DeGraw’s emotional depth and vocal prowess in conveying heartfelt sentiments.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines soulful melodies with introspective lyrics, creating a cohesive yet familiar sound.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features layered vocal harmonies and a gradual build-up of instrumentation, setting a reflective tone.
- Several tracks incorporate a call-and-response structure between DeGraw's lead vocals and background singers, enhancing the soulful feel.
- The last three tracks feature a noticeable drop in tempo, creating a contemplative atmosphere as the album concludes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- introspective themes of resilience
- soulful melodies for emotional connection
- for afternoon relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening experiences
- seek standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — The album showcases continued artistic exploration and resonates with fans post-fame.
- Themes
- emotional resilience· familial love· personal liberation
- Career context
- By the time 'Face the River' was released in May 2022, Gavin DeGraw was well-established in his career, having gained fame with hits like 'I Don't Want to Be'. This album marked his return after a four-year gap since his last studio release, showcasing a mature sound that reflects his personal growth and artistic evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Legend· Ryan Tedder· Marc Broussard
Tracklist
- 1 Face the River Start here 3:37
- 2 Summertime 4:17
- 3 Ford 3:37
- 4 Freedom (Johnny’s Song) 4:12
- 5 Greatest of All Time 3:39
- 6 Destiny 4:43
- 7 Lighthouse 4:21
- 8 Chasing When 3:19
- 9 Hero in Our House 4:55
- 10 Let Someone In 4:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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