I'm a fan (and you should be too) because...honestly, I really can't pinpoint just one particular reason. I enjoy several aspects of Gavin DeGraw's music. The lyrics are great. I always wonder how he can come up with his material and then put it all to amazing tunes that always manage to stick in my head. For example, I love the song "Medicate the Kids". Each time I listen to it, I start to sing or hum along and then I can't get it out of my head for the rest of the day. The lyrics are witty but have a lot of truth in them. The accompaniment is catchy and it sticks with you. And the vocals--all I can say is WOW! (How does he do all of that?)
Besides the voice, music, and lyrics, I enjoy that fact that I can play most of the songs in the presence of young ears. (For some odd reason, I don't want to have to answer the questions that may come up if I play "Relative" or "Chemical Party" while they are in my car with me.) I also enjoy the fact that the songs are about something. I hear a lot of music everyday on my hour-long drive to school and back. Some of the songs I hear have absolutely no meaning whatsoever. At least with Gavin DeGraw as an artist on the radio, I can be assured that there will be something worth listening to.
Finally, I have to say that I hadn't heard the Chariot Stripped album up until a few weeks ago. That was when I became a real fan. I was impressed that it was all done in one day and that it sounded, in my opinion, much better that the regular album. I love the acoustic sound. I would love to hear a stripped version of his current album.