I cannot stop listening to this cd. True, it's not David Gray's most upbeat set of songs, but it is just *so* beautiful.

Like many others, I didn't discover David Gray until DMB introduced me to him. 'White Ladder' was my favorite album last year. I love his electronic-infused folk sound, and admit that I worried that 'Lost Songs' would be too mellow for me.

I shouldn't have worried at all. This album is just breathtaking from start to finish. It's by far my favorite David Gray cd. If you are hesitating over purchasing this because of the time frame of the songs- don't wait to buy it. Ever since it arrived, it's been in my discman non-stop. Yes, it is introspective, and will not make you jump up and down and dance, but it will make you *feel* and isn't that what counts?

I was introduced to David Gray, like many people, through White Ladder. Though I liked White Ladder I was a bit hesitant about picking up Lost Songs, thinking it may be like a collection of B sides.

Nothing could have been further from the truth! Though a fairly short CD, this album is an absolute gem. The sparse acoustic guitar and occasional piano arrangements of these songs only serve to accentuate David's songwriting talent.

If you're not a David Gray fan, you will be after this album. And if you already are, this album will reinforce that feeling.

I just saw David Gray in concert last weekend and he played a lot of these songs, which I was unfamiliar with. But when I bought this cd, I was amazed. It is so wonderful. As much as I love White Ladder, Lost Songs wins. It's got a smooth, mellow feel that is perfect for any time of day or night. I haven't taken it out of my cd player since I bought it.

It's no coincidence David Gray achieved notoriety with White Ladder, and not with any of his previous, sparsely arranged releases. Simple genius is much more difficult to recognize than its skillful application to a sound that fits within the latest music trend (though the price of this success is the genius remains largely unrecognized).

The Lost Songs album illustrates Gray's simple genius most clearly: original, honest lyrics, a masterful vocal delivery, and memorable, complementary melodies. What Gray creates here are songs that sound so natural, so effortless, that the genius in them is like the use of light in a painting: essential, yet unintrusive; very often subtle, yet beautifying every detail it falls on. The result is communication that contains a perfect balance of artistic expression and personal candidness, primarily within the exceedingly difficult medium of the pop love song.

To be sensitive and not overly sentimental, self-revealing and not overly self-indulgent, is a very fine line to walk. Gray does so as if it is a casual stroll through a forest. The very fact that he makes it look so easy is why this album will never be widely recognized as a masterpiece.

My favorite David Gray work is his more stark material found on "As the Century Ends" and found sporadically on his other releases. This wonderful low budget production proves for the umpteenth time that when the songs and performance are strong, "less is more" should be the catch phrase for the arranger.

Half of the songs on here feature Gray by himself. The songs with the backings feature only drums, bass and piano to complement Gray's distinctive guitar stylings. The material is mighty, from the uplifting "Flame Turns Blue" to the pleasingly dissonant "As I'm Leaving" to the harrowing "Falling Down the Mountainside" and "Red Moon." And my favorite, "A Clean Pair of Eyes" reminds me of one of my personal musical heroes--the late lamented Gene Clark.

Another listener called this a "cynical" release. Not a chance--this is the real David Gray without the sweeteners. I'd give it higher marks than "White Ladder."