Free Energy's Debut Worth Getting Stuck On
Stuck on Nothing reimagines the classic rock genre, but doesn’t get too experimental.
Free Energy
Stuck On Nothing
Released on Mar 09, 2010
It takes quite a bit of confidence to use your band name as the title of your opening track. But when it’s as full of life and excitement as “Free Energy,” that confidence is well-founded. Whether it’s because of the dulled cowbell that drives the track or the old-school classic rock vibe, Free Energy (the band) certainly knows how to set up a great summer album.
When I say “summer album,” I don’t mean to be dismissive. The talent that it takes to make an album that can double as both background noise at a party and a karaoke soundtrack for road trips is enviable. It’s also not the kind of thing that goes unnoticed. Free Energy was formed after the breakup of another band (Hockey Night), and quickly caught the attention of James Murphy (Mr. LCD Soundsystem and DFA head). Murphy produced both “Dream City” and “Free Energy,” but really, the only thing he seems to be lending is his recognizable name. They’re certainly copping the styles of other artists, but LCD Soundsystem isn’t one of them.
Now, as much as I’d love to offer my own thoughts about who they sound like, it’s probably better to let the band do it themselves. In a July 2009 Pitchfork interview, member Scott Wells had this to say about what/who they hoped their sound would emulate: “pretty much what they play on any corporate classic rock station every single day.” Yup. Try to listen to these tracks and not hear some Tom Petty and new-wave pop-rock sounds. The best part? You’re going to hear them done well.
“Bad Stuff” falls nearly smack in the middle of the album, and it’s got a classic drum beat to start things off and give the track its momentum. What’s great about this album is that even their lyrics sound like classic rock ones—basically hopeless, but not wallowing. One refrain of this track is “they’ll come a time when it’s different/but not today.” Put that line against a single acoustic guitar line and you’ve got the potential for tears, but against the electric guitars and consistent percussion of this track, it translates to “shit happens—let’s move the fuck on.”
Speaking of moving the fuck on, feel free to do that and skip over “Dark Trance.” It’s too similar to “Bad Stuff”—believe it or not, an album that is entirely focused on sounding like classic rock can have unique tracks on it—and it’s way too long. “Bad Stuff” clocks in at 5:47, so to have another track immediately afterward that’s over five minutes is a little much. However, there’s a delightful reprieve in the form of “Psychic Lightening.” It’s a blissfully short track and slightly dancier than the rest, so I’m all over this one. In the general “summer” description, it’s got the sub-description of “best listened to when playing some sort of carefree sport outside.” Badminton would be best.
The remaining tracks, while all enjoyable, do have a tendency to blend together. Thankfully, they blend together as part of a classic rock soundscape that I personally enjoy, but if Tom Petty and the like make you want to die, steer clear of Free Energy. If you’re up for a revival of that classic genre, be sure to get your hands on these guys.
High Point
The opening track, “Free Energy.” Honestly, it makes me feel like I’ve just graduated high school and I’m about to have the best summer of my life. Not bad for a 4-minute track.
Low Point
The sequencing of the middle part of the album. Two long songs back-to-back? It almost sucks the entire album of its previous momentum.
Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Mar 31, 2010 @ 6:00 am