Get Off on the Pain

Gary Allan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B002ZV12NG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,097 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Gary Allan, named "country music's mainstream maverick" by Rolling Stone magazine, has become one of the hottest artists in modern country music. He's sold over 6 million albums,released 4 #1 hits and 10 Top 10 hits at country radio. His authentic approach to his music and renegade swagger have made him a fan-favorite among music lovers and critics alike.

Product Description

Long awaited 2010 album from the Country great, his first in three years. Gary Allan was offered his first recording contract aged 15 in 1982, but his father made him turn it down so that he could concentrate on his schooling. Much later, having left school, he left a demo tape in the car of a couple to whom he had sold a car. They were so impressed that they gave him money to chase his dream. With it, he moved to the Country Music capital Nashville, signed a record deal - and paid them back!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Allan's "Pain" Has Never Been Better March 9, 2010

By Timothy Yap TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Prime Cuts: Today, When You Give Yourself Away, We Fly By Night

When Allan sings, "I'm not an easy man to understand," he's telling the truth. Allan is a curly character: beneath his aloof Californian surfer veneer is a vulnerable heart that pulsates with sensitivity. And just like all his albums, Allan vacillates between these two character traits throughout these songs here again. On some of the tracks he puts his foot to the pedal rocking like these is no tomorrow. Yet, on the quieter moments he casts aside his machismo for some heart -to-heart confabulations. Such an approach has continued to garner respect from Allan's male fans while adding much to flourish the romantic fantasies of his female aficionados. As with his other records, Mark Wright is again at the knobs and he's to be thanked for such a quality record without an ounce of filler at all. As far as the backings are concerned, this is your typical contemporary country record--slick and polished augmented by some occasional fiddling and steel guitar riffs.

Allan seems to be at his best when he delves into his soul-searching moment. Lead single "Today" sits comfortably with Gary-Allan's classics such as "Watching Airplanes" and "Tough Little Boys." Performed with shovels of emotions, Allan sings of a man not giving up on his girl until the day of her wedding. Except that she's marrying another man. Prepare a box of Kleenex when Allan sings: "Today is the happiest day of her life/I should be happy for her/So tell me, why are these tears in my eyes?" Though nothing quite comes close to this Titanic of a ballad, "When You Give Yourself Away" comes close. Few men are willing to admit the vulnerability of committing to a relationship, Allan tells it in such a moving way without sounding whimsical. A soothing Keith Urban-like ballad with deft shades of 60s pop, "We Fly By Night" is a homily about not allowing the busy activities of life to rob the joys of our relationships. "She Gets Me," harkens back to country music way back in the 90s, where sensitive love ballads over a gorgeous melodies abound.

Allan does let his swaggering side emerge with the album's title cut "Get Off on the Pain." It's a forgettable busy barnburner with screeching guitars turned up to the max. Thank God producer Mark Wright had the sense to turn down the mix on the bluesy "I Think I've Had Enough" - a coming-of-age confession of a man seeing the futility of a rambling lifestyle. Allan is one who doesn't just sing about songs plastered with rosy glee, "Kiss Me When I'm Down" is a realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional relationship. A mid-tempo narrative "Kiss Me When I'm Down" that tells of the protagonist's obsession with his girl that he's even willing to be abused by her in order to keep her. It's a realistic slice of life that makes the song so intriguing.

As it's the current trend now with most country records, it's often tail end with an inspirational tune. At times such songs can be pretty obligatory but not with Allan. The opening line of "No Regrets" is arresting enough for mandatory listening: "Scarecrows and devils are the only things out this late." "No Regrets" is tell-it-all confession of a life well-spent despite its detours that is so perfect for Allan's rugged delivery. In short,"Get Off on the Pain" scores again with spades of heart tugging moments, honest confessions, and some rowdy party kickers too.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Allan's "Pain" Has Never Been Better March 9, 2010

By Timothy Yap TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Prime Cuts: Today, When You Give Yourself Away, We Fly By Night

When Allan sings, "I'm not an easy man to understand," he's telling the truth. Allan is a curly character: beneath his aloof Californian surfer veneer is a vulnerable heart that pulsates with sensitivity. And just like all his albums, Allan vacillates between these two character traits throughout these songs here again. On some of the tracks he puts his foot to the pedal rocking like these is no tomorrow. Yet, on the quieter moments he casts aside his machismo for some heart -to-heart confabulations. Such an approach has continued to garner respect from Allan's male fans while adding much to flourish the romantic fantasy of his female aficionados. As with his other records, Mark Wright is again at the knobs and he's to be thanked for such a quality record without an ounce of filler at all. As far as the backings are concerned, this is your typical contemporary country record--slick and polished augmented by some occasional fiddling and steel guitar riffs.

Allan seems to be at his best when he delves into his soul-searching moment. Lead single "Today" sits comfortably with Gary-Allan's classics such as "Watching Airplanes" and "Tough Little Boys." Performed with shovels of emotions, Allan sings of a man not giving up on his girl until the day of her wedding. Except that she's marrying another man. Prepare a box of Kleenex when Allan sings: "Today is the happiest day of her life/I should be happy for her/So tell me, why are these tears in my eyes?" Though nothing quite comes close to this Titanic of a ballad, "When You Give Yourself Away" comes close. Few men are willing to admit the vulnerability of committing to a relationship, Allan tells it in such a moving way without sounding whimsical. A soothing Keith Urban-like ballad with deft shades of 60s pop, "We Fly By Night" is a homily about not allowing the busy activities of life to rob the joys of our relationships. "She Gets Me," harkens back to country music way back in the 90s, where sensitive love ballads over a gorgeous melodies abound.

Allan does let his swaggering side emerge with the album's title cut "Get Off on the Pain." It's a forgettable busy barnburner with screeching guitars turned up to the max. Thank God producer Mark Wright had the sense to turn down the mix on the bluesy "I Think I've Had Enough" - a coming-of-age confession of a man seeing the futility of a rambling lifestyle. Allan is one who doesn't just sing about songs plastered with rosy glee, "Kiss Me When I'm Down" is a realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional relationship. A mid-tempo narrative "Kiss Me When I'm Down" that tells of the protagonist's obsession with his girl that he's even willing to be abused by her in order to keep her. It's a realistic slice of life that makes the song so intriguing.

As it's the current trend now with most country records, it's often tail end with an inspirational tune. At times such songs can be pretty obligatory but not with Allan. The opening line of "No Regrets" is arresting enough for mandatory listening: "Scarecrows and devils are the only things out this late." "No Regrets" is tell-it-all confession of a life well-spent despite its detours that is so perfect for Allan's rugged delivery. In short, "Get Off on the Pain" scores again with spades of heart tugging moments, honest confessions, and some rowdy party kickers too.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Country Rocker delivers his best art to date ... March 9, 2010

By Bernadette A. Moyer

Format:Audio CD

So much great art is born of pain, NO REGRETS made me cry and is truly reflective and insightful. WE FLY BY NIGHT will appeal to all of us with that youthful night time party persona while managing real life. The women will swoon over the image of "When you pull me down on the couch and slowly slide off my boots" and like all Allan music there is enough country for the die hard fan and enough rocker here to keep both entertained. Who doesn't need a song like ALONG THE WAY? a great shot of I am sorry and humility. His subject matter is always timeless and as a result my bet is he will have staying power in an industry that otherwise thrives on "flash in the pan" "made" artists. He is a triple threat in that he sings, plays and writes add that to country meets rocker and he will be around for a good long time. Great record, his best work to date! Can't wait to see him again this April in Biloxi, MS!