The EP's 92-94
One of the nicer things about David Gray becoming  successful--which he very much has on the heels ofWhite Ladder's  much-deserved platinum sales--is the sudden availability of his older work.  Much of the material onThe EP's 92-94was unjustly ignored  outside the UK upon its release, despite certain influential  admirers--Joan Baez, after hearing his 1992 debut,A Century Ends, proclaimed  him "the best lyricist since Dylan." While that might be a bit much,The EP's, taken from singles and B-sides offCenturyand  1994'sFlesh, expertly  captures both the intensity and the schmaltz-free poignancy of Gray's  music. Kicking off with the stunning "Birds Without Wings," and moving  through now-familiar tunes (from Gray's frequent touring) like "Shine,"  Gray's distinctive vocal style is in full bloom as he chews and spits  out vowels like watermelon seeds. Like most of his work  pre-Ladder, Gray's approach here is sparser, often featuring only  voice and guitar, and even more akin to the naked poetry of folk  soulmates likeVan Morrison. There  are exceptions, as the up-tempo rocker "Wisdom" could easily fit onWhite Ladderif its earthy drum sound was leavened with a little  more of that record's subtle electronica. Regardless of his  arrangements, Gray can always be counted on to avoid easy  sentimentality while still rending hearts and reaching for  universality. (This enhanced CD also contains videos of "Shine" and  "Wisdom".)--Matthew Cooke