" Set Me Free" is the third single by alternative rock group Grinderman

Grinderman

Grinderman is an alternative rock band formed by Nick Cave , Warren Ellis , Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos in London, United Kingdom in 2006...

, and final single from their eponymous debut album, Grinderman

Grinderman (album)

Grinderman is the eponymous debut studio album by alternative rock band Grinderman, a side project of members of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on March 5, 2007 on Mute Records in Europe and ANTI- in the United States...

. Much like their first single "Get It On

Get It On (Grinderman song)

"Get It On" is the first single by alternative rock group Grinderman - a side project of the Australian post-punk group Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - from their self-titled debut album Grinderman...

", the single is a special a-side only release.

Critical reception

The single did not receive as much acclaim as the band's previous two singles, however reception ranged from mixed to positive, with Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 stating that:

the measured soul of "(I Don't Need You to) Set Me Free" and the familiar melodrama [...] are prime Cave, but each marks a slight deviation from the Grinderman aesthetic. They're just a little too classy, too neat, despite the roaring undercurrent of musical violence in the last, which picks up right before the song cuts off.

Track listing

• European 7" single (MUTE 381)

1. "(I Don't Need You To) Set Me Free" - 3:36

Musicians and personnel

• Nick Cave
  Nick Cave
  Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
  
   – lead vocals, electric guitar, organ, piano, artwork
• Warren Ellis
  Warren Ellis (musician)
  Warren Ellis is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer, best known for his work with Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman and his soundtrack scores with Nick Cave. He plays violin, piano, bouzouki, guitar, flute, mandolin, and tenor guitar...
  
   – acoustic guitar, viola, violin, electric bouzouki, electric mandolin, backing vocals
• Martyn Casey – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Jim Sclavunos
  Jim Sclavunos
  Jim Sclavunos is an American rock music drummer, percussionist and producer.Sclavunos, a half-Greek and half-Italian from Brooklyn, New York , is well-known for his exceptional height at 6'7". Sclavunos has performed with Sonic Youth, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Lydia Lunch and was a member of 8...
  
   – drums, percussion, backing vocals

• Nick Launay
  Nick Launay
  Nick Launay is an English record producer and recording engineer. He is currently one of the most sought after producers in the world due to his current success with recent albums by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
  
   – producer, engineer
• Grinderman
  Grinderman
  Grinderman is an alternative rock band formed by Nick Cave , Warren Ellis , Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos in London, United Kingdom in 2006...
  
  - additional production
• Stuart Hawkes - mastering