VOA常速英语:Gary Allan's 'Set You Free' Focuses on Hope

Country singer Gary Allan’s new album recently became his first to debut at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart and his third to top the Country list.

“Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” is the lead single from “Set You Free.” The million-selling song became the California native’s fastest-rising chart hit to date, and his fourth to top the Country list. Gary says “Every Storm” is a song about hope, the common theme running throughout the album.

“You can expect a lot of honesty and a lot of songs about life," he said. "It’s going to roll you through a breakup and it’s going to roll you through the anger and the healing and wind you up as good as new. So, what I think you can expect is something a little bit different musically out of this.”

Gary says his favorite song on the album is “One More Time,” inspired by the loss of his father. It’s one of five tracks he co-wrote for the album. He also recorded songs by some of Nashville’s most respected writers, including the Warren Brothers, Sarah Buxton, Hillary Lindsey and his 2012 tour partner Josh Thompson.

Gary is supporting “Set You Free” with U.S. concerts that will keep him on the road for most of 2013. He’ll headline the Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) free weekend “Fremont Street Experience” in Las Vegas, which leads up to the 48th annual ACM Awards on April 7. Allan explains what fans can expect from his shows.

“We play hard. We have an absolute blast and I think it’s transparent," he said. "I think that’s why people love to come and see us. It’s authentic. We’re giving it everything that we have every night.”