Chariot [Chariot + Chariot Stripped]

Disc 1
1	Follow Through 3:59
2	Chariot 3:59
3	Just Friends 3:25
4	(Nice to Meet You) Anyway 3:45
5	Chemical Party 3:01
6	Belief 4:27
7	Crush 3:25
8	I Don't Want to Be 3:37
9	Meaning 3:35
10	More Than Anyone 2:57
11	Over-Rated 4:11
Disc 2
1	Follow Through Bonus Track 4:28
2	Chariot Bonus Track 4:59
3	Just Friends Bonus Track 4:49
4	(Nice to Meet You) Anyway Bonus Track 4:46
5	Chemical Party Bonus Track 4:54
6	Belief Bonus Track 3:09
7	Crush Bonus Track 3:20
8	I Don't Want to Be Bonus Track 4:04
9	Meaning Bonus Track 3:41
10	More Than Anyone Bonus Track 3:50
11	Over-Rated Bonus Track 6:22
12	Change Is Gonna Come (Encore) / Sam Cooke Bonus Track 12:27

Barnes & Noble

With his engaging debut, Chariot, Clive Davis protégé Gavin DeGraw is poised to follow in the impressive footsteps of ivory-tickling singer-songwriters such as Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and even Stevie Wonder. The confident, charismatic 26-year-old will win the hearts of swooning female fans with infectious songs that run the gamut from the soft rock of "Over-Rated" to the Wonder-reminiscent title song to the chiming, Mathew Sweet–ish power pop of "Crush." The glossy yet soulful Chariot features contributions from guitarist Michael Ward (Wallflowers) and drummer Joey Waronker (R.E.M./Beck), but DeGraw's supple voice is the real star. Seductive and surprisingly mature, DeGraw swoops, whispers, and even hollers with gospel-style fervor as he sings his sophisticated, mostly mellow love songs, such as the affirmative "Belief," on which he croons: "Belief makes things real / Makes things feel alright / Belief makes things true / Like you and I." So kick back with your honey -- and a bottle of your favorite vino -- and let DeGraw's voice and words make a believer of you. L.D. Beghtol

All Music Guide

After receiving strong notices from the New York press for his fiery club performances, Gavin DeGraw signed with J Records and issued Chariot, his debut, in July 2003. But while it had promise, Chariot also suffered from a lack of imagination in the production department. There was no denying the humanity and bawdy soul wrapped up in DeGraw's voice, so why was it stifled by unimaginative, mainstream-leaning production? It's unclear what exactly prompted it (perhaps the album's slow burn rise on the charts?), but a full year later DeGraw's Chariot was re-released. However, this time around, the original studio version was joined by a song-for-song acoustic reading of Chariot, and the rawer presentation is exactly what it needed. The basic setup of drums, bass, acoustic guitar, subtle harmonies, and the piano and untreated vocals of DeGraw kicks out the slickness that shriveled cuts like "Follow Through," "Belief," and "Meaning." Here, they're the leafy greenery of a solid band kicking it on a warm April night in New York City. The title track was already a standout, but in its new, understated guise, there's a comforting Ben Harper quality about it. And the brushed snare is a perfectly subtle touch. "Just Friends" gets a new, mildly funky arrangement, and the cynically funny hedonism jam "Chemical Party" -- "You're just too high to see my point/You think your name is 'Pass the joint'" -- becomes a delightfully ragged jam with overtones of Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia." You can just imagine DeGraw kicking the piano stool out after the a cappella singalong breakdown. The effect of this "Stripped" format on DeGraw's music is immediate, and made more apparent by the inclusion of the studio cousin. It's an illustration of how great -- how real -- artists can sound when they aren't constrained by radio-ready sheen. Johnny Loftus