| Nostalgic guitar rock has always gotten the better of me: it's one of only a
handful of musical traits that allure me time and time again without fail. When
done correctly, confident and anthemic riffs remain rock's most powerful and
endearing element. Just listen to songs like the Hold Steady's "Banging Camp,"
the Black Keys' "10 A.M. Automatic" and the Thermals' "Now We Can See." Go ahead
and try to resist these powerful licks. While these three artists are far from
similar, the one commonality that ties them together is their mastery of the
hook.
Upon hearing, Free Energy's opening track "Free Energy," off their debut
album Stuck on Nothing, their power instantly struck me in a similar fashion to
the bands mentioned above. Frontman Paul Spranger ambitiously declares, "We're
gonna start a new life and see how it goes," as this freewheeling, cowbell-laden
track establishes an excitingly intense and rousing tone for the remainder of
the album. To put it simply, these Philadelphia-based rockers are infectious in
every sense of the word. Free Energy broadcasts melodic, hook-laden rock tunes
with a heavy dose of bombastic glam and classic rock in a seemingly effortless
manner.
Those who notice Free Energy's affiliation with LCD Soundsystem's James
Murphy will not be surprised by the innate catchiness of Stuck on Nothing. What
emerges unexpectedly, however, is the form of this component: a sprawling,
classic glam-rock revival. "Bad Stuff" summons Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back
in Town" before transitioning into a Hold Steady impersonation with an epic,
bar-rock instrumental breakdown. "Bang Pop" is tinged with T. Rex's rousing
guitar fills, combined with a bombastic strut reminiscent of a late '90s,
mainstream punk-pop song, ringing full of bloated power chords and simplistic
lyrics.
The album's unequivocal highlight shines in the form of "Dream City," a
singalong summer groove that stands as refreshing as it is natural. Between its
harmonic "na-na-na's" and complimenting saxophone conclusion, Free Energy has
created something special on this cut. Despite the fact "Dream City" approaches
perfection, however, it never distinctly outshines the rest of Stuck on Nothing
for the sole reason that the remainder of the album impressively approaches that
same level. (Astrelwerks/DFA)
http://www.myspace.com/freeenergymusic
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