Album: Free

Introduction
"Free" is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, released on March 31, 2009, under RCA Records. The album marks a departure from DeGraw's previous pop-rock noise, showcasing a more intimate, stripped-down, and raw design that highlights his emotional voice and outstanding songwriting abilities. Working together with manufacturer Camus Celli, DeGraw created a collection of ten songs that checked out themes like love, loss, and personal growth, leading to a seriously acclaimed album that commemorates both DeGraw's vulnerability and development as a musician.

Background and Production
After the success of his very first two albums, "Chariot" (2003) and "Gavin DeGraw" (2008), DeGraw decided to take a more organic method to his music and produce an album that was closer to his live performances. He composed and recorded "Free" in less than 2 weeks, which permitted him to record the raw feeling and energy of the songs.

Teaming up with Grammy-winning producer Camus Celli (Tina Turner, David Byrne), DeGraw chose to pare down the production and record most of the tunes with just vocals and piano, often in one take. This minimalistic method assisted to create an album that is both musically and mentally truthful. As DeGraw mentioned in an interview, "I wanted to highlight the simplicity of the songwriting and not conceal behind the production".

Track Listing and Themes
"Free" includes ten tracks that display DeGraw's soulful voice and genuine lyrics. The tracklisting is as follows:

1. Indian Summer
2. Free
3. Stay
4. Mountains to Move
5. Glass
6. Enthusiast Be Strong
7. Dancing Shoes
8. Waterfall
9. Why Do The Men Stray
10. Lovesick

The styles explored throughout the album consist of love, loss, self-reflection, and individual development. In the title track, "Free", DeGraw sings about the value of welcoming modification and releasing previous relationships to find joy. This theme is likewise evident in tunes like "Stay" and "Mountains to Move", where DeGraw explores the concept of overcoming challenges and welcoming the journey of self-discovery.

Throughout the album, DeGraw's lyrics are rooted in individual experience and feeling, permitting the listener to connect deeply with his stories and feel a part of his journey. For example, "Glass" is an introspective song that goes over sensations of vulnerability and insecurity, while "Dancing Shoes" explores the guts it requires to break free from a poisonous relationship and find one's own joy.

Vital Reception and Commercial Performance
"Free" received positive evaluations from critics who praised DeGraw's choice to disrobe his noise and focus on his raw vocals and songwriting. While the album did not reach the commercial success of his previous efforts, peaking at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart, lots of fans and critics felt that it was DeGraw's a lot of genuine and individual work to date.

In the years following its release, "Free" has ended up being a fan preferred and vital beloved in DeGraw's discography. It showcases the singer-songwriter's development as an artist, embracing a more authentic and raw sound that has actually resonated with fans and critics alike.

Conclusion
Gavin DeGraw's 2009 album, "Free", is a testament to the power of vulnerability and self-expression in music. With its stripped-down production, psychological lyrics, and concentrate on DeGraw's soulful voice, the album stays a standout in his discography. Although it may not have accomplished the industrial success of his previous albums, "Free" acts as a crucial turning point in DeGraw's profession and highlights the long-lasting effect of authentic songwriting and raw feeling in music.