Here's a review that was written over on the Hittin the Web site by a poster that goes by the name of dadof2. Pretty good review. Btw, Zieman, the sonics of this CDs are much better than what's on the Tedeschi CD.
"Starting with the inside cover &,the pics,the layout,if in album form(!),for you ole timers,this is a blast from the past.The liner notes are top notch,the kind you read in the ole days that let ya know ya were about to hear something special.
The sonic quality of the cd is pretty good,but i still gotta believe this would be even better on vinyl.
1.Down in The Flood--Dylan song....nice! DT on bass--heavy,musta been listening to Woody-lol.
The mix is busy or muddled at times,but it's focus is on the song...Mike does justice on this song(speaking as a Dylan/Band freak)...anyone notice(particularly on live,extended cuts) that the lead intro sounds like the JGB on Dear Prudence!
2.Something To Make You Happy--Love Doyle's singing & his playing augments the sound perfectly--a perfect guitar buddy for Derek! nice song...
3.Maybe This Time--song grabs ya...great bass by Pecchio & Doyle is kick ass...nice groove,becomes hauntingly metaphysical. DT wrote a good one! And he plays inspiring guitar...
4.Sweet Inspiration--this song & album) requires multiple listens to absorb.vey tuneful.DT plays the dums too.Susan joins in,nice!a nice sing along at the end & evokes togetherness still yearned for--well done song!
5.Don't Miss Me--DT wrote another...great groove,love Greenwell on drums & pecchio on bass.Catchy tune & DT blows the roof with his geetar...
very professional production,an album to listen to many times!
6.Get What You Deserve--DT,Mattison,Bramhall song.no bass listed here?.DT leads special. a bit of a pedestrian song.
7.Our Love--sweet ass vocal by Doyle.nice acoustic by DT & also written by DT & Doyle.Kofi piano interlude was very well done & was great lead in to great lead by DT (i'd love to hear a bit more piano in the mix--but,that's my personal preference!) Oteil on bass--very nice. excellent song as most have been so far.
8.Down Don't Bother Me --Susan joins in the fun! sweet groovin' music with Mike laying down the song & the band humbly laying back with little bursts of DT leads--short,but hittin' the note.The influence of Duane,EC,Santana,Miles,Coltrane,Robbie,Muddy,Son House,HUbert,Howlin',etc.& all the older or depated musical giants are evident in his passion,tone,choice of notes,style,& the virtue of patience--to respect the integrity of the song.He does it here!!
9.Days Is Almost Gone--DT,Kofi,Mike wrote this.Another example of the deep respects for the song & the art of song writing.DT soars above & the horns are finally somewhat in the mix on this song.
10.Susan sings like an angel in a DT/Warren tune & DT's sarod & acoustic playing are soulful & deeply felt...Pecchio & Greenwell excellent on bass & drums.
a general comment--horns are barely heard throughout most of the cd,but all said this is the best DT album--truly mature & disciplined--it may piss some off,but it's all taste,& i think this release would be a cause for celebration for music freaks in the 60's & 70's--the business & tastes have changed,even cd's don't matter,but people would have long ago got up & showed the recognition of this man's wide ranging brilliance & talent & the future possibilities...nonetheless an album worth deeply exploring...
11.I Know--great intro,crisp DT playing is the standout here.very melodious & tuneful & renegizes the album as it's last song approaches(OK--unless ya got it at best buy--lol)
12.Already Free--down in the delta feel--tribal touch,with DT shining--backporch playin'...too short...leaving me eager to hear the next album he is kind enough to release & bless us with.Thank you Derek & everyone involved!"
and this my review from the Hittin the Web site.
"I picked up the 15 track Best Buys version of "Already Free" today for $9.99. All I can say is that I'm very impressed and that the dTb has become the "keepers of the flame". I'm an "old school" guy who was fortunate to see the orginal ABB (w/ Duane Allman) on three different occasions. I like Derek's playing but for a long time I think he was a more technical player than one like Duane, who had so much emotion, feel, soul and heart in his playing. On this CD, Derek has let his playing become much more emotional and comes closer to the spirit of Duane Allman. Some where Duane Allman is smiling. The Allman Brothers Band, by and large has become a "legacy band" (although a very good one), but the real future of what Duane wanted the ABB to become lies with Derek and the dTb. As such, at least with recordings such as "Already Free", I think it's in very good hands."
"Starting with the inside cover &,the pics,the layout,if in album form(!),for you ole timers,this is a blast from the past.The liner notes are top notch,the kind you read in the ole days that let ya know ya were about to hear something special.
The sonic quality of the cd is pretty good,but i still gotta believe this would be even better on vinyl.
1.Down in The Flood--Dylan song....nice! DT on bass--heavy,musta been listening to Woody-lol.
The mix is busy or muddled at times,but it's focus is on the song...Mike does justice on this song(speaking as a Dylan/Band freak)...anyone notice(particularly on live,extended cuts) that the lead intro sounds like the JGB on Dear Prudence!
2.Something To Make You Happy--Love Doyle's singing & his playing augments the sound perfectly--a perfect guitar buddy for Derek! nice song...
3.Maybe This Time--song grabs ya...great bass by Pecchio & Doyle is kick ass...nice groove,becomes hauntingly metaphysical. DT wrote a good one! And he plays inspiring guitar...
4.Sweet Inspiration--this song & album) requires multiple listens to absorb.vey tuneful.DT plays the dums too.Susan joins in,nice!a nice sing along at the end & evokes togetherness still yearned for--well done song!
5.Don't Miss Me--DT wrote another...great groove,love Greenwell on drums & pecchio on bass.Catchy tune & DT blows the roof with his geetar...
very professional production,an album to listen to many times!
6.Get What You Deserve--DT,Mattison,Bramhall song.no bass listed here?.DT leads special. a bit of a pedestrian song.
7.Our Love--sweet ass vocal by Doyle.nice acoustic by DT & also written by DT & Doyle.Kofi piano interlude was very well done & was great lead in to great lead by DT (i'd love to hear a bit more piano in the mix--but,that's my personal preference!) Oteil on bass--very nice. excellent song as most have been so far.
8.Down Don't Bother Me --Susan joins in the fun! sweet groovin' music with Mike laying down the song & the band humbly laying back with little bursts of DT leads--short,but hittin' the note.The influence of Duane,EC,Santana,Miles,Coltrane,Robbie,Muddy,Son House,HUbert,Howlin',etc.& all the older or depated musical giants are evident in his passion,tone,choice of notes,style,& the virtue of patience--to respect the integrity of the song.He does it here!!
9.Days Is Almost Gone--DT,Kofi,Mike wrote this.Another example of the deep respects for the song & the art of song writing.DT soars above & the horns are finally somewhat in the mix on this song.
10.Susan sings like an angel in a DT/Warren tune & DT's sarod & acoustic playing are soulful & deeply felt...Pecchio & Greenwell excellent on bass & drums.
a general comment--horns are barely heard throughout most of the cd,but all said this is the best DT album--truly mature & disciplined--it may piss some off,but it's all taste,& i think this release would be a cause for celebration for music freaks in the 60's & 70's--the business & tastes have changed,even cd's don't matter,but people would have long ago got up & showed the recognition of this man's wide ranging brilliance & talent & the future possibilities...nonetheless an album worth deeply exploring...
11.I Know--great intro,crisp DT playing is the standout here.very melodious & tuneful & renegizes the album as it's last song approaches(OK--unless ya got it at best buy--lol)
12.Already Free--down in the delta feel--tribal touch,with DT shining--backporch playin'...too short...leaving me eager to hear the next album he is kind enough to release & bless us with.Thank you Derek & everyone involved!"
and this my review from the Hittin the Web site.
"I picked up the 15 track Best Buys version of "Already Free" today for $9.99. All I can say is that I'm very impressed and that the dTb has become the "keepers of the flame". I'm an "old school" guy who was fortunate to see the orginal ABB (w/ Duane Allman) on three different occasions. I like Derek's playing but for a long time I think he was a more technical player than one like Duane, who had so much emotion, feel, soul and heart in his playing. On this CD, Derek has let his playing become much more emotional and comes closer to the spirit of Duane Allman. Some where Duane Allman is smiling. The Allman Brothers Band, by and large has become a "legacy band" (although a very good one), but the real future of what Duane wanted the ABB to become lies with Derek and the dTb. As such, at least with recordings such as "Already Free", I think it's in very good hands."