Greg Freeman’s sprawling double album trades hooks for restless experimentation
Greg Freeman has released his third album, All Set the Bone, an ambitious double album that represents a significant step up in scale from his breakthrough record Burnover. The album is more expansive and imagistic than his previous work, though it proves less immediately appealing to listeners, as Freeman trades some of his earlier directness for more diffuse, experimental songwriting.
Freeman, a Maryland-born singer-songwriter, wrote the record whilst travelling through the US and grappling with major personal upheaval. The album channels that searching quality through proggy, kinetic music: his voice strains at its limits over frantic guitars and drums that create queasy unease. Whilst All Set the Bone contains fewer instant hooks than Burnover, Freeman retains considerable spark and ambition.
- New double album is more ambitious than his breakthrough but less immediately appealing
- Freeman wrote it whilst travelling the US and dealing with personal upheaval
- Experimental alt-country with kinetic energy, though fewer instant hooks than previous work
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Greg Freeman is a Maryland-born singer-songwriter. His album Burnover brought him significant recognition and established his presence in contemporary songwriting.
All Set the Bone is Freeman's third album and, as a double album, his most expansive to date. It represents a significant shift from Burnover: Freeman's breakthrough record featured direct, hook-driven songwriting, whilst All Set the Bone pursues more expansive, imagistic compositions with complex instrumentation. Freeman's voice sits over frantic guitars and drums creating unsettling textures, a marked stylistic departure from his earlier work.
Freeman wrote the record whilst travelling through the US and grappling with major personal upheaval. The album emerges from this period of searching and reflects his decision to pursue experimentation over the more accessible approach of Burnover. For listeners familiar with Freeman's earlier work, All Set the Bone demonstrates a significant evolution in his artistic direction.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Greg Freeman: All Set the Bone review – ambitious alt-country double album spreads its talents a touch thin”.