Freedom

Andy Griggs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B000HEWG5Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,760 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Freedom

2. The Road to Lasting Love

3. Practice Life

4. Always

5. Custom Made

6. A Hundred Miles of Bad Road

7. How Cool Is That

8. I've Learned

9. Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man

10. Sweetheart of Beinja Bayou

11. Brand New Something Going On

12. Where's a Train

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fair Sophomore Effort, September 30, 2002

By 

A. Kulcsar "akulcsar" (Ypsilanti, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freedom (Audio CD)

I have been and still am a very big fan of Andy Griggs. His debut album blew me away, and he set very high expectations for his sophomore album. His first album demonstrated a great deal of talent and showed that he has the potential to be a very big artist. "You Won't Ever Be Lonely" impressed me a great deal (you can read my review of that album as proof :-) ).

His second album, though, is a bit disappointing. I really want to like this album, and I have listened to the album a half-dozen times before writing this review. "Freedom," however, does not seem to demonstrate Griggs's talents as well as his first album did. Most of the songs are mid-tempo and seem to have little identity...in a sense, they all sound like the same song. The first single that he released, "Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man," may prove to be the best song on this album, though there are perhaps two other songs that are quite good. The hidden track is emotionally charged, haunting, and great music. "Always" is a typically-Griggs ballad (which, of course, is quite good), but even this song seems to have a very weak sound to it. The album is missing a song with a really strong, driving sound (though "Sweetheart of Beinja Bayou" and, to a lesser extent, "Custom Made" come close). The remainder of the songs are very middle-of-the-road and seem to be missing Andy's signature. The songwriting is very good (Andy wrote or co-wrote a majority of the songs), but the arrangements are lacking.

Overall, it is a pretty good CD from a very talented artist. I really hope Andy can find his voice and pick a group of songs for his third album with arrangements that showcase his talent like his first album did.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, Sophisticated, Nuanced, August 23, 2003

By 

Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen (Central Gulf Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freedom (Audio CD)

How in the world do you follow-up a world-class debut, such as YOU WON'T EVER BE LONELY by Andy Griggs? Well, one good way would be to release a CD like Griggs' FREEDOM. Andy shows that he is not willing to be pigeonholed or stuck in a rut; in other words, he's not setting out to make YOU WON'T EVER BE LONELY PART TWO here. That said, this CD, much like his first, sounds like it could be a "Greatest Hits" CD, because each song is eminently listenable. Several stand out: the title track has a clever lyric and an arresting hook..."The Road to Lasting Love" is atmospheric and soaring in a TUNNEL OF LOVE-era Springsteen-esque way...the tour-de-force "Practice Life" with Martina McBride is a gripping and ultimately rewarding gritty real world tale of a family about to crack up; Griggs and McBride sound utterly sublime together..."Always" is achingly gorgeous; a nuanced, subtle, and sophisticated song that grows in stature with every listen..."Custom Made" is an irresistably sweet, crunchy rocker..."A Hundred Miles of Bad Road" with Cinderella's Tom Keifer is an inspired bluesy pairing with gospel overtones..."Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man" is a steamy ode to marital bliss..."Sweetheart of Beinja Bayou" is a kicky cajun number that is sung, played, and arranged in a tasty gumbo that makes the good times roll..."Where's a Train" is all guts and glory, showcasing Andy's soulful powerhouse voice as he wrings a ton of tears out of the evocative lyrics; it's one of six tunes that Andy wrote for this collection, and if Hank Sr. was still around, it's one he might like to cover. Then, in a peaceful coda, the stripped down bonus track "Someone Like Me" soothes and heals like a gentle rain; it just may be the best song Andy Griggs has recorded yet. Few artists can boast a one-two punch like Griggs can with his first two albums, and more evidence of his artistry can be found on the new Waylon Jennings tribute CD, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CRAZY. To sum up: Andy Griggs demonstrates once more that FREEDOM is never free; here, he pours out the blood, sweat, and tears to prove it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NO SOPHOMORE JINX FROM GRIGGS!, July 10, 2002

By 

David (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freedom (Audio CD)

Having enjoyed Andy's first single, YOU WON'T EVER BE LONELY, but skipping through many of the songs on the album of the same name, I was hoping this new set of material would be more consistent. I was thrilled when I heard each song and loved everyone! From the opening song about independence, FREEDOM, to the gorgeous duet with MARTINA MCBRIDE, PRACTICE LIFE...about the fact that life is not a dress rehearsal, to the fun rocker HOW COOL IS THAT...and of course is gorgeous ballad, TONIGHT I WANNA BE YOUR MAN....this is a solid set from start to finish...for anyone who has been a fan of Andy from the start and for those who enjoy his new single, give this album a try and experience FREEDOM! Enjoy!