After a number of dark, brooding releases, Gary Allan lightens up a touch on Set You Free. The crisp, driving rhythms on opener "Tough Goodbye" give the rootsy rocker an animated, almost new wave-ish feel. Although the song is about a difficult break-up, it feels lighthearted and buoyant -- until the last line, anyway. "Bones" is a menacing rocker about an unfaithful partner; it rocks as hard as any Jason Aldean song and burns as hot as anything by Miranda Lambert. "You Without Me" and "One More Time" sound like vintage Gary Allan; both are sad, introspective tales of lost loves.