Songs from Free Energy: Love Sign

by josh keller · Published January 25, 2013 · Updated January 30, 2013

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I have respect for bands that go all out for their sound. If you are going to do ambient synth tunes, give me 18 minutes of wonked out sorcery. Garage rock? I want so much fuzz people ask if the speakers are broken. Free Energy strive for the bubble gum infused version of power pop that requires warm power chords, major keys, cowbells and gigantic sing-along choruses. To their credit, they check off all the requirements with enthusiastic gusto. I would understand someone not liking Free Energy, but it shouldn’t be because they cut any corners. You can listen to about half their new record, Love Sign, below to get a taste of where they are coming from with their second LP. From the anthemic, surgery sweet “Electric Fever” to the funky pop of “Street Survior” to the pop crunch of “Hangin,” the band are not afraid of larger than life melodies. Even when the band slows down, like on the gentle, jangly “Dance All Night,” the band craft a song that sounds ready made for an emotional climax of some mid level romantic comedy. Their material seems tailored made for soundtracks, songs crafted for moments of euphoria that transcend belief and elevate moments into something larger than just their everyday context. If you are predisposed a)believing in these moments and b)wanting songs to accompany them, I have a record for you. If you are a grouch like me, you may quickly find yourself with gut rot from the saccharine material on Love Sign.

Love Sign didn’t connect with me as much as their debut LP, Stuck on Nothing, maybe because the sound has a half life that finds my interest waning over time. It is a record that continues their trend of being unabashed in their quest for power pop nirvana, and may even take a step forward in rounding out their sound. If you dig the material below, grab their record and you can see them Saturday night, January 26th at the Turf Club.

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