Uncaged

Uncaged
Studio album by Zac Brown Band
Released July 10, 2012
Recorded 2012 in
Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Key West[1]
Genre Country rock, jam band
Length 44:08
Label Atlantic
RPM
Southern Ground
Producer Zac Brown
Keith Stegall
Zac Brown Band chronology

You Get What You Give
(2010)
Uncaged
(2012)
The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1
(2013)
Singles from Uncaged
  1. "The Wind"
    Released: June 4, 2012
  2. "Goodbye in Her Eyes"
    Released: October 1, 2012
  3. "Jump Right In"
    Released: February 25, 2013
  4. "Sweet Annie"
    Released: August 26, 2013

Uncaged is the third major-label studio album by the Zac Brown Band. It was released on July 10, 2012.[2] The album's lead single, "The Wind" was released on June 6, 2012.[3] The album won Best Country Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Background

Zac Brown called the album "Your basic country-Southern rock-bluegrass-reggae-jam record" saying "It's really about making people dance, you just don't let them go. There's a lot of songs on the record that when we play them live we'll extend out long. But it's really about just grabbing people in that pulse and then not letting them go that entire song."[4] Clay Cook said "This is first record that we’ve made from start to finish in one thought, the previous albums have been a collection of songs … this is an album.”[5]

Reception

Commercial

Uncaged debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 234,000 copies in its first week of release, giving them their second number one album and best sales week yet.[6] In its second week, it sold 78,000 copies, falling to number 2.[7] In its third week of release, it sold an additional 48,000 copies, returning to number one on the chart.[8] The album was specially priced for $3.99 at the Amazon MP3 store for its first week of release, which some sources suggest may have contributed around 25,000 to 30,000 of its debut number.[6] In Canada, the album debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 8,100 copies, the band's first number one in Canada.[9] Uncaged was certified Platinum by the RIAA on November 20, 2013,[10] and as of July 2014, it has sold 1,088,000 copies in the United States.[11]

Critical

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic (71/100)[12]
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [13]
AllMusic [14]
American Songwriter [15]
Consequence of Sound [16]
Daily News [17]
Los Angeles Times [18]
Rolling Stone [19]
Roughstock [20]
Slant Magazine [21]
Taste of Country [22]
USA Today [23]

Upon its release, Uncaged received generally positive reviews from most music critics.[12] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[12]

The positive reviews came from About.com, AbsolutePunk, AllMusic, American Songwriter, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Roughstock, Slant Magazine, Tampa Bay Times, Taste of Country and the USA Today. Robert Silva of About.com gave it a three and a half out of five stars, writing that "Overall, Uncaged is a more low-key effort than either The Foundation or You Get What You Give. There's a fair amount of genre-hopping on the album, but it feels authentic for a band that's always played outside the confines of the country box."[13] Gregory Robson of AbsolutePunk gave it a score of 87 percent, calling "Uncaged, a genre-bending, head-turning collection that vaults ZBB to the top of the roots-rock pedestal."[24] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated it four stars out of five stars, calling it "the sound of a band operating from a position of considerable strength".[14] Jeff Giles of American Songwriter rated the album a three and a half out of five stars, and writes of the album, "Uncaged is an album that proves a successful country artist really can have it all — that it’s possible to tastefully blend the sensitive singer/songwriter tropes of Laurel Canyon artists like James Taylor, the faux Caribbean pandering of Jimmy Buffett, the deeply felt roots excursions of the Avett Brothers, and the smartly crafted pop concessions of Jason Mraz."[15] Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly gave then album a B grade, writing that the album "isn't so much a folksy jam-band opus as a savvy industry professional's idea of what that should sound like."[25] Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times gave the album a two and a half out of four stars, calling it "modestly refreshing."[18] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the album a perfect five rating, noting that "Uncaged is without a doubt the best album of this band's career and make no mistake, the Zac Brown Band are clearly a band in every sense of the word...Uncaged only enhances their status as the best band in country music."[20] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine rated the album a four out of five stars, noting how "there's something to be said for an album that's such a refreshing and clean break from what has become country music's rather depressing norm."[21] Sean Daily of The Tampa Bay Times graded the album a B-, noting how "the chase is over."[26] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country rated the album a four out of five stars, writing that "On paper, ‘Uncaged’ should not work as an album, let alone a country music album. The new release from Zac Brown Band redefines “something for everybody.” Country, reggae, bedroom R&B… Brown and his ever-growing motley crew stretch the Nashville sound further than any other artist. If they weren’t so talented, this project would fall apart long before the title-track...Yet somehow, it doesn’t [sic]."[22] Brian Mansfield of USA Today rated the album a perfect four stars, writing that "Most country acts find a successful formula, then stick pretty closely to it. Uncaged, Brown's third major-label studio set, is just all over the place, a big, happy, sprawling musical celebration that encompasses square-dance and samba rhythms, California country-rock and sultry Southern soul."[23]

The mixed reviews were from Consequence of Sound, Daily News and the Rolling Stone. Jon Bernstein of Consequence of Sound rated the album a three out of five stars, writing that "...if there’s anything at fault with Brown’s latest, it’s the trap of lapsing into self-satisfaction with the way in which the band defies labeling."[16] Jim Farber of the Daily News rated the album a two out of five stars, writing that "At least the surface of Brown’s songs can modestly please."[17] Chuck Eddy of the Rolling Stone rated the album a two and a half out of five stars, writing that "Uncaged, sounds, well, caged."[19]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Jump Right In"  Zac Brown, Wyatt Durette, Jason Mraz 3:01
2. "Uncaged"  Brown, Durette, Niko Moon, Coy Bowles, John Driskell Hopkins, Jimmy De Martini 3:30
3. "Goodbye in Her Eyes"  Brown, Durette, Hopkins, Sonia Leigh 5:24
4. "The Wind"  Brown, Durette, Levi Lowrey 2:56
5. "Island Song"  Niko Moon 3:43
6. "Sweet Annie"  Brown, Durette, Leigh, John Pierce 4:38
7. "Natural Disaster"  Brown, Durette 3:02
8. "Overnight" (featuring Trombone Shorty)Brown, Moon 4:44
9. "Lance's Song"  Brown, Moon 4:35
10. "Day That I Die" (featuring Amos Lee)Brown, Moon, Durette 4:53
11. "Last But Not Least"  Brown, Durette, Bowles, De Martini, Mac McAnally 3:42
Total length:
44:08[14]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–2013) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[27] 38
Australian Country Albums Chart[28] 2
Canadian Albums Chart 1
UK Albums Chart[29] 92
UK Country Albums Chart[30] 4
US Billboard 200[6] 1
US Billboard Top Country Albums[6] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
US Billboard 200[31] 35
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[32] 10
Chart (2013) Position
US Billboard 200[33] 69
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[34] 17
Chart (2014) Position
US Billboard 200[35] 179
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[36] 45

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US Country Airplay US CAN Country
[37]
CAN
2012 "The Wind"[38] 11 70 68
"Goodbye in Her Eyes" 5 1 48 1 54
2013 "Jump Right In" 13 2 53 3 63
"Sweet Annie" 6 1 47 2 47
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Gold 40,000^
United States (RIAA)[40] Platinum 1,088,000[11]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
Welcome to the Fishbowl by Kenny Chesney
Declaration of Independence by Colt Ford
Top Country Albums number-one album
July 28–August 18, 2012
September 1, 2012
Succeeded by
Declaration of Independence by Colt Ford
Dustin Lynch by Dustin Lynch

Personnel

Zac Brown Band
  • Coy Bowles – electric guitar, slide guitar, resonator guitar, Hammond organ
  • Zac Brown – acoustic guitar, lead vocals, electric guitar
  • Clay Cook – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Hammond organ, piano, back-up vocals, Fender Rhodes, pedal steel, co-lead vocal on "Last But Not Least"
  • Daniel de los Reyes – congas, shakers, timbales, cowbell, tambourine, chimes, triangle
  • Jimmy de Martini – violin, back-up vocals
  • Chris Fryar – drums
  • John Driskell Hopkins – bass guitar, back-up vocals, upright bass
Guest musicians
  • Matt Mangano — bass guitar on "Island Song"
  • Tim McFatter — tenor saxophone on "Overnight"
  • Dan Oestreicher — baritone saxophone on "Overnight"
  • Trombone Shorty — trombone & trumpet on "Overnight"
  • Amos Lee — co-lead vocal on "The Day That I Die"

Cover art

The cover features artist Brandon Maldonado's 2009 Our Lady of Merciful Fate.

References

  1. Watts, Cindy (May 28, 2012). "Celebrity Column: Zac Brown Band goes 'Uncaged' with new album". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  2. Maloy, Sarah (April 25, 2012). "Zac Brown Band's 'Uncaged' Drops July 10". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  3. Lipshutz, Jason (June 6, 2012). "Hear Zac Brown Band's Barn-Burning New Single, 'The Wind'". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  4. Talbott, Chris (April 25, 2012). "Zac Brown Band's new album 'Uncaged' out July 10". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  5. Conaway, Alanna. "Zac Brown Band Reveal Details About Forthcoming Album ‘Uncaged’". Taste of Country. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Caulfield, Keith (July 18, 2012). "Zac Brown Band, Frank Ocean Debut at Nos. 1 & 2 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  7. Caulfield, Keith (July 25, 2012). "Nas Bows at No. 1 with 'Life is Good'". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  8. Caulfield, Keith (August 1, 2012). "Zac Brown Band Reclaims Top Spot on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  9. "Zac Brown, Ocean make waves". Canoe.
  10. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum: Zac Brown Band albums". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Matt Bjorke (July 16, 2014). "Country Music’s Top 10 Albums: The Week Of July 17, 2014". Roughstock.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Uncaged Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Silva, Robert. "Uncaged review". About.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Uncaged review". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Giles, Jeff. "Uncaged review". American Songwriter. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Bernstein, Jon. "Uncaged review". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Farber, Jim. "Uncaged review". Daily News (New York). Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Lewis, Randy (July 9, 2012). "Uncaged review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Eddy, Chuck. "Uncaged review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Bjorke, Matt. "Uncaged review". Roughstock. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Keefe, Jonathan. "Uncaged review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Dukes, Billy. "Uncaged review". Taste of Country. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Mansfield, Brian (July 9, 2012). "Uncaged review". USA Today. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  24. Robson, Gregory. "Uncaged review". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  25. Maerz, Melissa (July 18, 2012). "Uncaged review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  26. Daily, Sean. "Uncaged review". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  27. "Zac Brown Band - Uncaged". Ultratop 50. Hung Median. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  28. http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/country-albums/329
  29. "Zobbel". UK Albums Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  30. "Archive Chart". UK Albums Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  31. "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End top-selling albums across all genres". Billboard.
  32. "Top Country Albums: 2012 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  33. "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End top-selling albums across all genres". Billboard.
  34. "Top Country Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  35. "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End top-selling albums across all genres". Billboard.
  36. "Top Country Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  37. "Zac Brown Band Album & Song Chart History - Canada Country". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  38. The Wind - Zac Brown Band, Billboard, retrieved July 2, 2012
  39. "Canadian album certifications – Zac Brown Band – Uncaged". Music Canada.
  40. "American album certifications – Zac Brown Band – Uncaged". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
Preceded by
Own the Night by Lady Antebellum
Grammy Award for Best Country Album
2013
Succeeded by
Incumbent