David Gray - A New Day at Midnight

The Manchester-born, Welsh-raised Gray has been quietly winning fans for years with his bright, intelligent and tuneful songs. After opening for stadium rockers Radiohead and Dave Matthews Band in the mid-1990s, Gray self-financed his fourth release, White Ladder, a stirring acoustic album that drew rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. His latest is even better: a collection of quiet, unaffected pop gems like the melodic “Caroline,” the slow, soulful “Freedom” and the Dylan-like “Last Boat to America.” Gently delivered, but deeply affecting.