Customer Reviews

Freedom

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Andy Griggs made his debut with "You Won't Ever Be Lonley." While that album was alright, it did have its faults (granted, not many). Now he releases "Freedom," and the faults are most definitely few and far between.

Not every song on here stands out, but many of them have something that will stick in your memory. You've probably heard the hit single "Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man," a romantic ballad for every workman. And you might've heard "How Cool Is That," featuring the ever-classic "preacher's daughter holding a beer." But there's more to this album than those two singles; so much more.

The title track, "Freedom", expresses how first impuleses aren't necessarily the best options. "Practice Life," featuring Martina McBride (not a duet, however) lets us know that we've only got one life to live. "Always" will tug at your heartstrings. "I've Learned" is a song about a man who's learned a lot about life, but not so much about what really counts.

"A Hundred Miles of Bad Road", featuring Tom Keifer, has a nice blues rythm to it. "Custom Made," while made up of sappy lyrics (She flew in first class straight from heaven above/I've gotta say/she's just like custom made/for me to love) does have a good rythm, and is certainly a toe-tapper. "Sweetheart of Beinja Bayou" is a cajun tune that differs from the rest of the album, but is still alright.

Probably the most affecting song on the CD is the hidden track, "Someone Like Me," written by Grigg's now-deceased brother Mason. It is a spiritual performed soley by Andy Griggs himself--just an acoustic guitar, vocal, and one take. It is short, but it lingers with you long after the last strum of the guitar.

Andy Griggs comes back with "Freedom." This CD is one that must be found with the rest of yours; that is, if you like country done the way it's supposed to be. The feel of this CD is reflective of the greats: Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and the rest of the Outlaws. And Griggs knows where he's coming from, and he knows how to sing. Listen to him.

Andy Griggs sings with heart and soul. He never gives half-measured feelings in his songs. As the Amazon.com reviewer said, "he gives blood." Freedom is a great album. The disc get's jump-started with the song "Freedom". I had to play that one over and over again. In "Practice Life" you'll hear a great back-up performance for the leading-lady of country music, Martina McBride. Freedom then heats up with sizzling cuts like "Custom Made" (which is my favorite song), "Brand New Something Going On," and "Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man." The suprise song on this album for me is "A Hundred Miles of Bad Road." Its sound replicates Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory." I absolutely love this song and hope it's a single for him. Freedom is definately one that you will not regret purchasing. Griggs is an absolute talent and compares to the likes of Travis Tritt.

Andy Griggs has one of the finest voices in young country. It's a crying shame that instead of singing COUNTRY music, he chooses (or is forced) to sing this maudlin faux-country pop junk. Bad enough this stuff is being shoved down everyone's neck already as being "country" music when all it really is, is sloppy, watered-down pop, they have to make good country singers go this direction, too.

This album is pretty far from being country music. It is an overproduced pop mess at best -- and not even very good pop. About the best track on this disc is "A Hundred Miles of Bad Road," and even there, although Andy appears to be trying to remain a country music singer, the obtrusive "bang bang bang" of the synth machine drums and electronic overproduction takes out any last traces of country the song may have had. The entire disc is awash with this foul overproduction and far too many electronic tricks, which makes it ANYTHING but country music, which is (according to the dictionary, if not Nashville) "a generally simple and straightforward style of music."

It would be delightful if artists like Andy would stick to just good country music instead of all being herded into the sound-alike, look-alike, cookie-cutter pop-faux-country mold Nashville is shoving every artist east of Texas into.

If you like actual COUNTRY music, I advise passing this one by and getting something by Dale Watson or Roger Wallace, instead.

What a great CD, this boy is so talented, writing, singing, playing guitar. Great mix of songs, he is county but not too country.

I love Andy's music. Freedom is the first CD I have of his but I will DEFINETLY be buying more. The song "Tonight I Want To Be Your Man" WOWEEEEEE! It Kicks!

WOW ANDY'S FIRST CD IS GREAT THIS ONE STINK'S BAD!