Set You Free (Gary Allan album)

Gary Allan talked to The Boot writer Vernell Hackett, and Allan commented on the time during making of this album was one of transition for his label. In addition, Allan noted how he worked with producers in a competitive effort to make this album better. ;Title Gary Allan talked to The Boot writer Vernell Hackett, and Allan mentioned the title came from the lead single from the album because it is what the effort as a whole is all about. ;Theme Gary Allan talked to The Boot writer Vernell Hackett, and Allan stated the album's songs are set to the arc of a relationship. ==Commercial performance==

On February 9, 2013, Set You Free was the most sold album in the United States by the Billboard 200 chart, as well as the most sold Country Album the same week on the charts. In addition, the album was the second most sold Digital Album, which it was the No. 13 most sold album in Canada, and this was all for this same week on the charts. As of March 6, 2013, the album has sold 219,000 copies. ==Critical reception==

Upon its release, Set You Free received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Similarly, Rolling Stone music critic Chuck Eddy gave it the same rating as well, and evoked how "the 45-year-old singer lets the crazy out" on the album. Bob Paxman of Country Weekly gave the album an A grade and affirmed that "Set You Free doesn't sound like every other album coming out of the Nashville factory these days—and that's definitely a good thing." Paxman went on to describe how "[t]he album flows freely, again as the title might suggest, and the divergent styles truly complement one another." PopMatters' Matt Cibula give the album a seven-stars-out-of-ten rating and acclaimed that "[t]his album is the truth." Taste of Country's Billy Dukes rated the album even better, giving it a four-and-a-half-out-of-five. He noted how "[e]ach track is a surprise that pays off handsomely when the time is invested." Donna Block of Got Country Online rated in a perfect five-stars and evoked how "[i]t is said a picture is worth a thousand words," and saying, "Here the lyrics sketch out what the music (and Gary’s vocals) paints in bold, rich colors. Here is a mix of old and new country, blended with acceptance and hope throughout." Finally, USA Today music critic Brian Mansfield also rated it a perfect four star effort, and wrote, "It's a hard-won hope. Brooding songs, like the one where's he's digging a grave for an unsuspecting, unfaithful love, are as scary as hell." Mansfield concluded saying, "Gary Allan has [...] lived a life that most other country acts can, well, only sing about. That's why the cracks in Allan's voice convey experience, not affection, and why he doesn't have to sing about how country he is for everyone to know." ==Track listing==

Musicians • Gary Allan – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), electric guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Giles Reaves – acoustic piano (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), Fender Rhodes (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), synthesizers (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), Hammond B3 organ (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), drums (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), percussion (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), xylophone (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • John Lancaster – acoustic piano (2, 3, 5, 6), Wurlitzer electric piano (2, 3, 5, 6), keyboards (2, 3, 5, 6), Hammond B3 organ (2, 3, 5, 6), organ (2, 3, 5, 6) • Steve Nathan – Wurlitzer electric piano (8, 9, 12), Hammond B3 organ (8, 9, 12), synthesizers (8, 9, 12) • Jedd Hughes – acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), electric guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Jay Joyce – acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), electric guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Rob McNelley – electric guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Tom Bukovac – electric guitar (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12), acoustic guitar (8, 9, 12) • Levi Dennis – acoustic guitar (2, 3, 5, 6), fiddle (2, 3, 5, 6), viola (2, 3, 5, 6) • Greg Droman – 12-string guitar (2, 3, 5, 6), electric guitar (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12) • Jaime Hanna – acoustic guitar (2, 3, 5, 6) • David Steele – acoustic guitar (2, 3, 5, 6), electric guitar (2, 3, 5, 6) • Kenny Greenberg – electric guitar (8, 9, 12) • Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar (8, 9, 12), hi-string acoustic guitar (8, 9, 12), mandolin (8, 9, 12), ukulele (8, 9, 12) • Russ Pahl – pedal steel guitar (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), steel guitar (8, 9, 12) • Dan Dugmore – steel guitar (2, 3, 5, 6) • C.J. Udeen – steel guitar (2, 3, 5, 6) • Lee Hendricks – bass (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Michael Rhodes – bass (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12) • Craig Wright – drums (1, 4, 7, 10, 11), percussion (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Chad Cromwell – drums (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12) • Eric Darken – percussion (8, 9, 12) • Matt Warren – harmonica (2, 3, 5, 6) • David Angell – strings (12) • David Davidson – strings (12) • Sarighani Reist – strings (12) • Kristin Wilkinson – strings (12), string arrangements (12) Background vocalists • Jaime Hanna – backing vocals (1–7, 10, 11) • Jay Joyce – backing vocals (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Gary Allan – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12) • Levi Dennis – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6) • John Lancaster – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6) • Hillary Lindsey – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6) • Rachel Proctor – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6) • David Steele – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6) • Perry Coleman – backing vocals (8, 9, 12) • Vicki Hampton – backing vocals (8, 9, 12) • Wes Hightower – backing vocals (8, 9, 12) • Marilyn Martin – backing vocals (8, 9, 12) • Cindy Richardson-Walker – backing vocals (8, 9, 12) Production • Scott Johnson – production assistant (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Carie Higdon – project coordinator (2, 3, 5, 6) • Hannah Sanford – production assistant (8, 9, 12) • Karen Naff – art direction • Craig Allen – design • Eric Adkins – photography • Lorrie Turk – hair, make-up • Renee Layher – wardrobe stylist • John Lytle – management Technical credits • Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee) • Jason Hall – recording (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • F. Reid Shippen – mixing (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Greg Droman – recording (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12), mixing (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12) • Matthew Wheeler – recording assistant (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Erik "Keller" Jahner – mix assistant (1, 4, 7, 10, 11) • Lowell Reynolds – recording assistant (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12) ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==References==