16-01-2013, 19:05
online listen
pop/rock/alt, your choice
nothing great, nothing terrible
clip is the best for me
1.5 from me and a converted 1.8 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Girls Want Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMs2xlC4t0Y
released Jan 15th, 2013
![[Image: free-energy-450.jpg]](http://o.aolcdn.com/os/music/free-energy-450.jpg)
Bio - from allmusic
Free Energy formed in the aftermath of the Minneapolis-based indie rock group Hockey Night's
tumultuous breakup in 2007. The band coalesced in the two years following the split, when
former Hockey Night members Scott Wells and Paul Sprangers relocated to Philadelphia, teamed up
with Geoff Bucknum, Nicholas Shuminsky, and Evan Wells, and made a batch of freewheeling indie
rock tunes in the vein of glam and arena rock acts like Thin Lizzy and T. Rex. While he was
never an official member of the band, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy worked with Sprangers and
Wells on Free Energy's first recordings, both as a producer and, in the band's early days, as a
bassist. Free Energy's debut 7" single, Free Energy/Something in Common, was released on
Murphy's label, DFA Records, in 2009. A three-track EP followed that fall, and a full-length
album titled Stuck on Nothing was released in March of 2010. After striking out from DFA and
forming their own Free Energy Records, the band began recording with producer Jeff Glixman --
who was behind the desk when Kansas recorded "Dust in the Wind" -- but only one unreleased song
resulted. Next, they turned to seasoned producer John Agnello to get the kind of slick, radio-
friendly (if you time traveled back to 1981) sound they were after. During this time they lost
guitarist Bucknum, who was replaced by Sheridan Fox. The group's second album, Love Sign, was
released in January of 2013.
Album Review - from allmusic
After recording a debut album for DFA that ranged from exhilarating to a whole bunch of fun,
Free Energy -- Phillyâs answer to the common rock & roll complaint âthey just donât write âem
like that anymoreâ -- switched labels and producers for their second effort, 2013âs Love Sign.
Starting their own label wasnât a bad idea at all, but going from James Murphyâs live-sounding,
mistakes-and-all style to John Agnello's slick and precise corporate rock sound, drains much of
the rambunctious joy out of the groupâs retro-rock strut. Agnello got his start working with
bands like the Hooters in the '80s and he and the band set out to create that kind of perfect
airless sound, even going so far as to unapologetically say they were looking to capture the
kind of drum sound one would hear on an Outfield record. Not exactly a recipe for thrilling,
no-holds-barred rock & roll abandon, itâs true, but the record does succeed in almost exactly
the fashion they planned. Despite the lack of sweat and spilled beer, the songs are still
pretty darn catchy. Just about every track would sound good next to a Loverboy song on the
radio, proudly showing off high-fructose power chords, endlessly sunny dispositions, clanging
cowbells, and Paul Sprangers' devil-may-care vocals. They have the formula memorized and can
repeat it back in multiple variations, from midtempo groovers like "Hangin" and handclapping
rockers like "Girls Want Rock" to the power ballad-y "True Love." Fans of the first albumâs
low-rent, high-hook charm may feel that this record is a little too slick, a little measured,
and overall sort of tame, and theyâd have a point. But if you can get past that feeling and
embrace the polished, shiny surfaces, and satin-jacketed AOR clichés, then Love Sign delivers a
pleasing dose of nostalgic, good-time (almost) rock & roll.
Track Listing
1. Electric Fever
2. Girls Want Rock
3. Dance Hall Night
4. Hey Tonight
5. Hold U Close
6. Backscratcher
7. Hangin
8. Street Survivor
9. True Love
10. Time Rolls On
pop/rock/alt, your choice
nothing great, nothing terrible
clip is the best for me
1.5 from me and a converted 1.8 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Girls Want Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMs2xlC4t0Y
released Jan 15th, 2013
Bio - from allmusic
Free Energy formed in the aftermath of the Minneapolis-based indie rock group Hockey Night's
tumultuous breakup in 2007. The band coalesced in the two years following the split, when
former Hockey Night members Scott Wells and Paul Sprangers relocated to Philadelphia, teamed up
with Geoff Bucknum, Nicholas Shuminsky, and Evan Wells, and made a batch of freewheeling indie
rock tunes in the vein of glam and arena rock acts like Thin Lizzy and T. Rex. While he was
never an official member of the band, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy worked with Sprangers and
Wells on Free Energy's first recordings, both as a producer and, in the band's early days, as a
bassist. Free Energy's debut 7" single, Free Energy/Something in Common, was released on
Murphy's label, DFA Records, in 2009. A three-track EP followed that fall, and a full-length
album titled Stuck on Nothing was released in March of 2010. After striking out from DFA and
forming their own Free Energy Records, the band began recording with producer Jeff Glixman --
who was behind the desk when Kansas recorded "Dust in the Wind" -- but only one unreleased song
resulted. Next, they turned to seasoned producer John Agnello to get the kind of slick, radio-
friendly (if you time traveled back to 1981) sound they were after. During this time they lost
guitarist Bucknum, who was replaced by Sheridan Fox. The group's second album, Love Sign, was
released in January of 2013.
Album Review - from allmusic
After recording a debut album for DFA that ranged from exhilarating to a whole bunch of fun,
Free Energy -- Phillyâs answer to the common rock & roll complaint âthey just donât write âem
like that anymoreâ -- switched labels and producers for their second effort, 2013âs Love Sign.
Starting their own label wasnât a bad idea at all, but going from James Murphyâs live-sounding,
mistakes-and-all style to John Agnello's slick and precise corporate rock sound, drains much of
the rambunctious joy out of the groupâs retro-rock strut. Agnello got his start working with
bands like the Hooters in the '80s and he and the band set out to create that kind of perfect
airless sound, even going so far as to unapologetically say they were looking to capture the
kind of drum sound one would hear on an Outfield record. Not exactly a recipe for thrilling,
no-holds-barred rock & roll abandon, itâs true, but the record does succeed in almost exactly
the fashion they planned. Despite the lack of sweat and spilled beer, the songs are still
pretty darn catchy. Just about every track would sound good next to a Loverboy song on the
radio, proudly showing off high-fructose power chords, endlessly sunny dispositions, clanging
cowbells, and Paul Sprangers' devil-may-care vocals. They have the formula memorized and can
repeat it back in multiple variations, from midtempo groovers like "Hangin" and handclapping
rockers like "Girls Want Rock" to the power ballad-y "True Love." Fans of the first albumâs
low-rent, high-hook charm may feel that this record is a little too slick, a little measured,
and overall sort of tame, and theyâd have a point. But if you can get past that feeling and
embrace the polished, shiny surfaces, and satin-jacketed AOR clichés, then Love Sign delivers a
pleasing dose of nostalgic, good-time (almost) rock & roll.
Track Listing
1. Electric Fever
2. Girls Want Rock
3. Dance Hall Night
4. Hey Tonight
5. Hold U Close
6. Backscratcher
7. Hangin
8. Street Survivor
9. True Love
10. Time Rolls On
