Set Me Free (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Set Me Free
Type = Album
Artist = Marion Raven


Released = flagicon|Germany June 8 2007
flagicon|United Kingdom June 18 2007
flagicon|Netherlands June 25 2007
flagicon|United States July 24 2007

Recorded = 2005-2007
Genre = Alternative/Rock/Pop
Length = 45:00
40:33 (iTunes version)
Label = Eleven Seven Music/Warner Bros. Records/Townsend Records [cite web | author=Townsend Records| publisher=Townsend Records/ Universal | year= 2007 | url=http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/marion+raven | title=Set Me Free Record labels |accessdate=2007-05-24]
Producer = Dr. Luke, Marion Raven, Max Martin, James Michael
Reviews = * Soundbase-online (9 out of 12) [http://www.soundbase-online.com/marion-raven-set-me-free link]
* Max.de Rating|3|5 [http://www.max.de/pop-kultur/musik/marion-raven link]
* CDstarts.de rating-10|6.5 [http://www.cdstarts.de/kritiken/Marion%20Raven%20-%20Set%20Me%20Free.html link]
* Musiqtone Rating|4|5 [http://www.musiqtone.com/news/reviews/albums/marionraven_setmefree_052907.php link]
* Mix1.de (6 out of 8) [http://www.mix1.de/neuheiten/Marion-Raven/Set-Me-Free/ link]
* Commonsense Media Rating|4|5 [http://www.commonsensemedia.org/music-reviews/Set-Me-Free.html link]
Last album = "Here I Am"
(2005)
This album = "Set Me Free"
(2007)
Next album =

"Set Me Free" is Marion Raven's North American and European debut album released under indie label Eleven Seven Music. The album incorporates a mixture of fresh tracks and previously released tracks, with some revised versions, from her Asian and Scandinavian debut album, Here I Am. She also played the piano, acoustic and electric guitars on the record. "Set Me Free" headlines Raven's inclination to harder rocking songs and a darker lyrical scope. The album has been released in Germany and the U.K. with a digital release on the Dutch and US versions of iTunes. Interscope will be releasing the album in Canada, where Raven recently performed in ten Canadian cities as the opening act on Meat Loaf's March 2007 Arena tour.

Singles

* "Falling Away" is the first single from the album, 'Set Me Free', that was released as a single in Germany and Holland. It was also made available on iTunes Canada on April 10, 2007 together with the "Break You" single.
* "Break You" was the first single to be released exclusively in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2007. It was previously released in Norway, Japan and Southeast Asia from the "Here I Am" album, where it peaked at #1 and #9 in Japan and Norway respectively. The iTunes version of the single also has "Surfing The Sun" as a bonus track. The song peaked at #12 on the HPL30 U.K. chart. [cite web | author=HPL30 UK chart | publisher=hpl30.com | year= 2007 | url=http://www.hpl30.com/ | title=HPL30 U.K. Charts|accessdate=2007-06-21]

Track listing

Europe Tracklisting

US iTunes version

* The enhanced version of the album contains the music video for the single, "Falling Away".

* The album was made available on the US and European iTunes on June 26, 2007, but its online release was only officially announced, on Raven's MySpace, on July 28, 2007. The iTunes version of the album does not include the acoustic hidden track, "Let Me Introduce Myself".

Track information

* The songs, "Break You", "Crawl", "Here I Am", "For You I'll Die" and the duet "At The End Of The Day" were first released in Raven's 2005 international debut album, "Here I Am", while the re-recorded version of "Heads Will Roll", "13 Days", "All I Wanna Do Is You" and the acoustic version of "Let Me Introduce Myself" are tracks that preceded the album in the EP, Heads Will Roll, that was released on October 31, 2006. [cite web | author=Marion Raven | publisher=Marion Raven | year= 2007 | url=http://www.marion-raven.com/raventalk/viewtopic.php?t=424 | title=Songs in Set Me Free originally from the Heads Will Roll EP |accessdate=2007-03-11]
* "13 Days" is the only collaborative track that has been released without any alterations in both debut albums, "Here I Am" and "Set Me Free" as well as the "Heads Will Roll" EP.
* "For You I'll Die" was inspired by the love Jim Morrison shared with his long-time companion Pamela Courson, coupled with their stormy relationship, separations and reunions. Raven wrote the ballad after reading the American singer's biography: [cite web | author=Marion Raven | publisher=Marion2u.com | year= 2007 | url=http://www.marion2u.com/triva.html | title=Marion Raven trivia |accessdate=2007-06-01] [cite web | author=Artist Direct| publisher=artistdirect.com | year= 2007 | url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,1739031,00.html#bio | title=Biography |accessdate=2007-08-01] cquote|I was in this Jim Morrison period where I was listening to the box set, reading his biography and watching the movie, I was very touched by Jim's relationship with Pamela, how she would always be there for him. The song is about being willing to do that for someone, but getting nothing in return except a spot in the grave next to them.
* Raven wrote the duet, "At The End Of The Day", which features a collaborative effort with Art Alexakis and Everclear, in memory of the first time she fell in love. [cite web | author=Marion Raven | publisher=Marion2u.com | year= 2007 | url=http://www.marion2u.com/triva.html | title=Marion Raven trivia |accessdate=2007-06-01]
* The acoustic version of "Let Me Introduce Myself" is a hidden track on the album that comes 40-50 seconds after "All I Wanna Do Is You". Raven has denied that "Let Me Introduce Myself" is directed at Zac Hanson's girlfriend. [cite web | author=Kev The Viper 66 | publisher=marion-raven.com | year= 2007 | url=http://www.marion-raven.com/raventalk/viewtopic.php?t=627&sid=468a52f79909d2af35574b77669f1382 | title=Set Me Free |accessdate=2007-06-05]
* Raven has stated that she decided on the album's tracklisting to begin with a rock song and ending with another rock number.

Reception

* "Set Me Free" was made available while Raven was on tour with Meat Loaf, as an opening act, in the entire month of June 2007, with Raven being present to autograph the albums. The album was sold out when it was made available in Ottawa, Canada, while Raven was part of Meat Loaf's Canadian tour.
* Townsend Records praised the album for being "Heated, intense and heart-felt". [cite web | author=Townsend Records| publisher=townsend-records.co | year= 2007 | url=http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/product.php?pId=10002405&pType=1 | title=Set Me Free Release info |accessdate=2007-06-23]
* German website Soundbase-online gave the album 9 out of 12 stars, commending Raven's ability to emote her feelings through her songs. [cite web | author=Katze | publisher=soundbase-online.com| year= 2007 | url=http://www.soundbase-online.com/marion-raven-set-me-free | title=Marion Raven: Set Me Free |accessdate=2007-06-25]
* Max.de praised Raven for using life as an inspiration for her music, and on being a genuine pop artist. [cite web | author=Markus Weiß | publisher=Max.de | year= 2007 | url=http://www.max.de/pop-kultur/musik/marion-raven | title= Set Me Free: Marion Raven |accessdate=2007-06-28]
* Mix1.de commended the mixture of heart-felt histronics of grief and of illusions on many of the album's tracks. [cite web | author=Mix1.de | publisher=Mix1.de | year= 2007 | url=http://www.mix1.de/neuheiten/Marion-Raven/Set-Me-Free/ | title=Set Me Free |accessdate=2007-07-22]
* BBC reviewer, Harry Holgate, praised Raven's vocal ability as being on par with Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne as well as commending Raven's invective nature as better than either of them. However, "Set Me Free" was criticised for its long production time and the lack of a consistent band, questioning Raven's decision to leave Atlantic Records. [cite web | author=Harry Holgate | publisher=BBC | year= 2007 | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/rh25/ | title=Marion Raven, Set Me Free |accessdate=2007-07-22]

External links

* [http://www.marion-raven.com/ Marion Raven Official Site]
*MySpace|marionraven|Marion Raven
* [http://www.swagrox.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=215/ Album Digital Download via Swagrox.com]
* [http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fid%253D257824646%2526s%253D143441/ "Set Me Free" on iTunes]

References