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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Freedom

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 22 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Universal
Release Date: 02 December 2008
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): R&B
Summary
The third album for the Grammy-winning singer/producer features guest appearances by Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, and Wyclef Jean.
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Boston Globe
This tuneful, seemingly effortless set of sun-kissed pop reminds you why he's in so much demand.
Read Full Review >The New York Times
Whatever the reason, Freedom forgoes almost any signifiers that might pigeonhole him.
Read Full Review >Billboard
While 'Troublemaker' and 'Holla Holla' each sound a lot like prior Akon songs (the former like Kardinal Offishall's 'Dangerous,' the latter like '07's Akon/T-Pain pairing 'Bartender'), ultimately they're highlights for that very reason.
Read Full Review >Hartford Courant
Akon's undeniable gift for hooks makes this an easy listen, and the ex-con posturing isn't missed.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
Despite a preponderance of uptempo songs that puts Freedom in similar territory to Ne-Yo, the record is still very recognisably Akon.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
Beneath the digital production and R2D2 vocals, Akon is secretly an old-fashioned romantic, and his third album is his most heart-on-sleeve.
Read Full Review >Mojo
The writing on this third album's greatest strength. [Feb 2009, p.109]
All Music Guide
Akon sounds more comfortable than expected, and he reduces the lechery in favor of longing ("I wanna make up right now") and awe ("When I see you, I run out of words to say"). At times, the tensionless backdrops don't inspire Akon to do much with his pen.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Despite his hip-hop roots and the presence of guest rappers such as Lil Wayne, it's Akon's buoyant pop sensibility that prevails.
Read Full Review >Blender
On album three, he tests out heartbreak, and his emotional wiring doesn’t cooperate.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
If anything, the album sounds like a CD-R of demos that an aspiring pop star wouldn’t mind losing.
Read Full Review >The Phoenix
Freedom is mostly lame club tunes with mega-auto-tuned vocals about wishing "I could just stop by and lay by your side."
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Akon's philosophy of liberty also includes the freedom to reuse nearly identical hooks for 13 songs straight. That approach may bring him plenty money, but it yields only a few legitimately fun tracks, buried beneath a pile of boring retreads.
Read Full Review >NOW Magazine
Somehow, fond recollections of the bad old days in the ghetto with fellow superstar Wyclef Jean just don’t have the same resonance and uplifting power as previous songs that came from a place of near-defeat and unfulfilled aspirations.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Every track here is interchangeable, not only with each other, but with anything from his back catalogue. [Feb 2009, p.76]
musicOMH.com
Unfortunately, all this really means is an extra emphasis on weirdly pitched keyboard riffs and slightly dated sounding beats.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 22 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Roderic R gave it a9:
Very solid album, worth many listens, and a couple gems on here. Between Akon, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and Timbaland we've gotten some great music.
Anth gave it a0:
I'm betting that every vote that put this album in a positive light came from American. I apologize for stereotyping but please, 8.8 out 10 average rating?? every track on this album is horrendous! the lyrics are almost childlike, and I'm sick to death of hearing this auto-tune effect done to disguise talentless artists' poor vocals rather than as a creative tool..! "i never wanna see you cry, cry, cry/ and I'll never ever tell a lie, lie, lie." ...sickening.
discombobulator gave it a2:
who else is sick of auto-tune being used to cover up vocal shortcomings?? Go away Akon and Rihanna and get some singing lessons.
Jey C gave it a10:
This record entails some of the best work akon has ever done. Mixture of melodious tones, catchy words and phrases, explains why the man is in demand.
sean w. gave it a10:
Absolutely amazing album his best yet.
Robbie D gave it an8:
I honestly rate this a 7.5 good album but I dont see any club hits on here. Where's the party music that we know akon for (other then right na na na).
