DAVE TOUGH: Gravity Always Wins

Dave Tough

Gravity Always Wins

© 2005 Dave Tough (634479024078)

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Solo male artist ala Joe Jackson, Alan Parsons and 80s new wave.

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notes

Dave Tough is a producer, bass player and songwriter from Nashville, TN. "Gravity Always Wins" was recorded at Steve Vai's Mothership Studios in 2004 and pays tribute to a time when synthesizers and analog ruled, image was nothing and music was everything. Tough's producing and writing skills showing us his love for retro 80s new wave and art rock. The album was co-produced by and features the fabulous string arrangements of Steven Leavitt, a Los Angeles based producer and keyboardist. Other notable players include Cameron Morgan (Mass Ensemble, Jessica Hoop), Neil Citron (Steve Vai, Johnny Hiland), Mitch Marine (Dwight Yoakam), Jake Simpson (Sony/Motown), Jim Demain (Josh Rouse, Keith Urban), Brandon Schott, Jesse Stern, Rabyn Taylor and others. The album was produced in Los Angeles and Nashville.

reviews

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  • Good FM rock style production
    author: Dan Jones

    Dave, I got your cd--thanks much. I really like the ballads especially on there. And I like the production style, FM rock style. I hope this doesn't bug you, but it reminds me of Mutt Lange style production, just off the hook pop/power rock hooky style. DJ

  • Down-to-earth releases like this new Dave Tough CD are invariably winners.
    author: Dan MacIntosh

    Dave Tough’s CD title, Gravity Always Wins, makes the assumption that someone is actually foolish enough to defy this well-known scientific law regarding gravitational pull. Even a child will tell you that what goes up must come down. But except for the title track, and one other tune called “Astronaut Sends His Regrets,” this disc is more concerned with matters of the heart than with pure science. It follows a strange emotional path, too. About the first half of the disc travels along dark corridors, but around the second half, during the appropriately titled “Light,” the proceedings brighten up considerably. On it Tough sings, “You put the light in my life.” This hopeful vibe is carried over to the very next track, “Here Again.” Here Tough sings, with loving stubbornness, “Nothing in this world can take you away from me.” Tough’s music doesn’t sound too much like the stuff you hear all the time on the radio these days. Instead, tracks such as “Photograph” and “Never Gonna Change” borrow chunks of inspiration from 80s New Wave guitar rock. It’s not all rock & roll from beginning to end, however, as this CD’s title track utilizes a classical arrangement. When it comes to battles of man versus nature, gravity always wins. And with rock music, down-to-earth releases like this new Dave Tough CD are invariably winners.

  • A cool pop album with an '80s thing happening.
    author: Allison Milionis

    This is one of those albums that you will leave on your disk player for weeks to repeat over and over. The tunes are well-composed, melodic, and genuine. While the general vibe is emo, there are a couple groovin' tunes to keep the energy up. I'm reminded of 80s pop - and that's a good thing.

  • Great Retro Sound - Killer Title Track!
    author: Ashley D.

    This CD represents a departure from the artist's previous album and a move in a great direction! There is a great blend of slow ballads and edgy rock songs reminescent of the 80's. I especially loved the Title Track Gravity Always Wins - thoughtful lyrics and a soulful sound.

  • A terrific, original pop/rock album that invokes memories of the 80's
    author: Kara Murphy

    I must go on record (no pun intended, really) - I am always impressed when every song on an album is not only listenable but filled with catchy hooks, memorable lyrics, and beautifully crafted melodies that draw the listener in, leaving an impression long after the music has stopped playing. As you may know, this doesn't happen too often nowadays but when it does, it's incendiary, much like Gravity Always Wins (GAW). A great deal of 80's influence permeates GAW as the final track, Kate, as many others on this album would not have been out of place on a motion picture soundtrack for cult hit movies in that decade like 'Sweet Sixteen' or 'The Breakfast Club' for example. However, what sets Dave Tough apart is the poignancy of the lyrics he croons, especially in the beautiful and brilliantly introspective song Find Your Way. With alternating inflections of Josh Groban and Chris Isaac, Tough breathes fresh air into a tale of believing in yourself and following your dreams. I recommend this album to anyone that enjoys the nostalgia of 80's pop/rock, appreciates thoughtful lyrics, and wants to listen to an album where every song is great for a change!

  • A Great Melodic Pop/Rock Album
    author: Chris Dunn

    Gravity Always Wins is a very diverse album. I believe it has some songs that anyone will enjoy. Photograph is a very strong opener. The chorus is very catchy and upbeat. It has a very rockin' vibe to it and sets the bar very high for the rest of the album. Never Gonna Change comes second and doesn't dissapoint. It maintains the vibe from the previous song but introduces a very melodic and introspective sound during the bridge, my favorite part of the song. This track also has a very cool guitar solo. The third track, Find Your Way, is much softer than the previous two. However, it's still just as well written and melodic. The fourth song, Astronaut Sends His Regrets, is just superb. The piano intro is one of the most original themes I've ever heard. The whole song is just unbelievable. It's a little experimental and reminds me of some of the more progressive bands I listen to. The melodic content of this song is the highpoint of the album. It's my favorite track by far. It's one of the best songs I've ever heard from any artist...seriously. Sweet Addiction kicks in and combines the heavy and soft sides of this album for a perfectly balanced track. Used To Be kicks in with a drum fill and the rock returns. The track has some killer guitar parts. The solo is just rippin. Light is in the vein of Sweet Addiction. A nice mix of the heavy and soft stuff. Here Again is another soft track. I really like the way all the instruments except for the strings fade out at the end. A very cool outro. The title track is my second favorite song. I really love the keyboard work on this song. The rhodes electric piano sound for the chords on the verse and the mellotron sound behind the chorus perfectly compliment the somber and melodic vocals. This is really a perfect title track. The album closes with Kate, which is credited as a bonus track. It is totally 80's and is actually pretty cool. For me though, the album closer has to be the title track. It's just a beatiful closing to a very well written album. I would buy this cd just for tracks 4 and 9, but there is so much other great stuff on here as well. As a growing songwriter, I really appreciate Dave making an album he wanted to make and sharing it with us. This is definetely a 5 star album.

  • Waiting for a miracle to come and set me free
    author: Jeff Storrs

    Dave Tough’s sophomore outing, Gravity Always Wins, is a mixture of what was accomplished on his first album, I’m Right Here, fused with a contemporary edge. Dave Tough has come to define himself as a Midwest songwriter/producer who is always aware of the ever changing landscape of the music industry. Tough’s sound, a soulful combination of pop, rock, country, gospel and contemporary Christian, has evolved from his first release, I’m Right Here, into a strong contemporary expression, complete with sequenced samples, synthesizers and string arrangements. However, Tough’s musical roots are still evident on Gravity Always Wins. I had the pleasure of working with Dave on this album. I first met Dave at CSPU Pomona, where he was head of the school’s music business department. Upon first meeting him, he mentioned to me that he had released an album some years prior and was considering writing and releasing another. After “begging” him to let me work on his upcoming album, I quickly went onto CDBaby.com and purchased his first album ($11.98 plus tax and shipping!). After listening to his first release, Dave and I spoke about the musical direction he was planning on taking with his upcoming album. At that time, Dave played for me several demo tracks that would eventually become Gravity Always Wins. I remember telling Dave that the new demo material he had played for me was a complete 180 degree turn from his first album. All of the demo material was sequenced and sampled (similar to the song “Kate”), a complete opposite from his first album of all acoustic instruments only! And I assumed that is what Dave had in mind; all electric, all sampled, all sequenced. But as the album began to take shape, Dave’s musical roots and influences began to craft each song. When I listen to tracks like “Never Gonna Change” and “Used To Be”, I hear the strong rock influence that encompassed Dave as a young drummer growing up in Springfield, Missouri. Listen to “Sweet Addiction” and you’ll hear the country and gospel influences that were part of his childhood. Tracks like “Gravity Always Wins”, “Astronaut Sends His Regrets” and “Find Your Way” showcase Dave’s professional production style complete with three part vocal harmony, string arrangements, and orchestral textures. Lyrically, Gravity Always Wins reads likes a book, detailing the transition from adolescence to manhood. Tough’s second album touches on themes of lost love, coming of age, and self enlightenment. A verse like “Some are gonna say, that I have lost my way, trying to escape, from my fears again” from “Here Again” portrays the often difficult dissension may of us feel when becoming an adult. Another example, “Looking down and empty road, I pray for someone to release my weary soul, thought I’d lost control” the first verse of “Light” demonstrates Dave’s longing in life. Lastly, listen to the song “Photograph” and you’ll hear Tough’s search for love and self worth; “And no more living in a photograph, Never thought I’d see you laugh again, I need you.” Dave Tough’s second album, Gravity Always Wins, marks a new direction in his career. Gravity reaffirms Tough’s love for eighties synthesizers and sequenced samples, all while exemplifying the soulful southern sound which has become synonymous with the name Dave Tough. The album’s release places Dave Tough on an echelon with such contemporaries as Rufus Wainright and Peter Yorn. F.Y.I – If you like this album, just wait for what Dave has in store for us next. We produced several songs, that didn’t appear on Gravity Always Wins, which are just as good as the material on the new album. Can’t wait for the next one Dave!

  • a different side than i was familier with. great song writing across genres
    author: franks

    The recording is crisp and warm. The songs concise and to the point. All in all a very inspired and homogenous album.

  • The soft side of Tough
    author: Ken Devine

    Dave succeeded in his goal to not produce “another formulaic pop album”. He reaches back to his influences and adds his own touches to produce a familiar sound that manages to stand on its own. You’ll discover punk rock strum patterns, 70s synthesizer flourishes, soaring string arrangements, and some mean guitar licks.....But the key to Gravity is Dave’s arrangements that highlight his pop sensibility and make for an instantly listenable album...... Gravity gets Dave down on this album. In the end, he concedes that gravity always wins, but all is not lost: If we look within our hearts, we can overcome the weight of the world with faith and love......Life can be tough, but Gravity rises.

  • Tight and potent rock and roll, great package
    author: Johnny Mehalia

    Dave's playing, singing and production skills leave no question: This is the real deal. Catchy tunesmithing, smart lyrics and top-notch performances make for a most enjoyable listen. The CD cover is clever, too, another indication Dave's put together a quality album worth owning.

  • A sweet addiction.
    author: Steve Leavitt

    Not that I'm biased or anything, but this CD rocks! Even after more than a year of toiling endlessly; hearing the same tracks nearly a million times I still enjoy the songs as much as when I first heard them in all their unfinished glory - songs which have simply become a part of me. This is not your typical cookie-cutter piece of plastic. This is a well-written journey through the range of human emotion, experienced as three years of the writers life love and frustrations in LA. Dave Tough is like a modern-day Jeff Lynne or Alan Parsons and is quickly coming into his own.

  • Simply the Best!
    author: Johnny Kim - Raspberry & Lavender

    I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of Dave Tough's Gravity Always Wins album. The songs are well written and all of the instrument parts are well arranged. Talk about kick ass crunch guitar riffs along with very tight bass and thurderous drum beats. The synthesizer/keyboard parts are absolutely fantastic! I strongly believe that Dave Tough will become one of a premier recording artist/producer in the entertainment industry very, very soon!

  • Dave Tough's album is original and exceptional.
    author: Lisa

    Unlike other reviews, I won't compare Dave Tough's music to that of other artists. This CD is truly original. Passionate vocals, well-crafted songs, and excellent production and arrangement make this album necessary for anyone who listens to pop, rock, new wave, country, and anything in between. It's perfect for hearing in the morning because it gets me pumped up, is fun to sing along to, and the songs get stuck in my head throughout the day. The CD also includes songs that are more mellow and thought-provoking. Always a pleasure to listen to.

  • CHILL............
    author: My High School Music Teacher Rocked Music

    I've been around Dave's music for quite some time as a collegue of his here in LA - I've been waiting for years for him to make an album this rich!! "GRAVITY ALWAYS WINS" is easily a MASSIVE quantum leap from his last collection (the equally retro, "I'm Right Here"). The arrangements are well considered, but not overthought, and the songs (particularly the melodies) are not only beautifully written, but very heartfelt and sincere...a welcome addition to today's stiff music climate. Here's looking forward to the next one...

  • Cool cover
    author: Ryan

    Thanks for the album Dave. Good songwriting and track sequencing. The album reminds me of 80s new wave at its good era…especially Joe Jackson and Flock of Seagulls. The slower tunes sound like Alan Parsons and the Beatles all mixed up.

  • Very original CD
    author: Jen Freimund

    If you like retro 80s artists like Duran Duran, Joe Jackson and The Psychedelic Furs you surely enjoy Dave’s Music.

  • Great song quality of the 80s
    author: J.D.

    Good diversity, this album has everything from hard driving rock to British-influenced pop. “Find Your Way” reminds me of OMD. “Never Gonna Change” and “Photograph” have that “modern retro” (or retro modern) sound like The Killers or Franz Ferdinand. Thank God we are back to the great song quality of the 80s. Keep it up studly!

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