Life In Slow Motion
by David Gray
  • Record Label: ATO
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
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. The A.V. Club
    60
    A tendency to devolve into Coldplay-esque atmospherics makes it a less than wholly successful effort.
  2. AllMusic
    60
    A rewarding listen for the faithful who have the time, patience, and inclination to dig into this, but for those whose dedication isn't so strong, this is sweet, gentle, and ultimately forgettable.
  3. musicOMH.com
    60
    Compelling to some, maddening to others, it should be said that at least Gray's voice is tuneful.
  5. The Guardian
    60
    Life in Slow Motion [is] as arresting as these things get. Which is not all that arresting.
  6. Rolling Stone
    60
    On his most affecting cuts, such as the lilting, elegiac title track, Gray works up the kind of gentle melancholia that goes down smooth, but reappears later, in your head.
  7. PopMatters
    60
    Such missteps and miscalculations are permissible, however, given that Life in Slow Motion plays as much like a debut album by a young star-in-the-making who just got a record deal with a big studio budget as much as it does like an eighth album by a jaded industry veteran over a decade into his career.
  8. Splendid
    60
    Gray is wise to continue experimenting and testing the boundaries of his art, but his changes don't need to be this bold. In this case, he comes up short: his minimalist mastery does not translate to resounding baroque success.
  9. Uncut
    40
    Feels timid and trite. [Oct 2005, p.98]
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User Reviews

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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
  1. 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 theLife 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.… Full Review »
  2. 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 lackingDavid 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"… Full Review »
  3. 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 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.… Full Review »
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