Record Review: Free Energy – Stuck on Nothing

[Ed. Note: This review was written and submitted three weeks ago. The delay in posting is on me. Any similarity between this review and one of the same record posted by a popular Chicago tastemaker is purely coincidental. Alex probably came up with it first. - Rube]

I believe Christopher Walken said it best, “I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell”. Philly’s Free Energy have the cure on their debut, Stuck On Nothing, and as you can tell from their namesake they play nothing but sunny party anthems to last you all summer long. Their sound is nothing new but it’s still exciting: a splash of Cheap Trick; dual guitar assaults á la Thin Lizzy; and “Taking Care of Business” style drums drive this record straight to the party.

So what sets this band apart from the other retro-rock style bands? Well, for one thing they don’t fall into that “too-cool-to-care” category like The Strokes and so many other Brooklyn band. Everyone is invited to this party. They remind me of Weezer’s Blue Record or even the first few Sloan records. It’s just good poppy fun.

The record kicks off with “Free Energy.” Cowbell? Check. Dual guitar solos? Check. Awesome chorus? Oh yeah! “We are young and still alive” they sing. Yeah, I remember that kind of youth even as I hurl headlong into my 30s. This record makes me want to pound Miller Lite and do a cannonball into pool…for real. It’s just good times and in today’s indie rock climate of “lets be all complicated and not good” Stuck on Nothing is like the heavens splitting open.

There really is not a bad song on this record. Although I must admit that songs like “Bang Pop” are so dumb they are good. Sometimes that’s all you need. When you are driving around in your car with the windows down it’s albums like this that make everything alright. This band can play, the arrangements are super tight and the dual solos could give Boston a run for their money.

My only gripe with Stuck on Nothing is that they did not include “Something in Common” from their self-titled EP. It’s really one of their strongest songs. I’ve been a fan since last year when a few songs were released back in September. I just can’t get enough of the hooks.

I’ve read some critics calling Free Energy “The Darkness of 2010.” I don’t really agree with that, although it’s about time someone came back out with some crotch rock we can all appreciate. This record is kind of like watching Revenge of the Nerds or Grandma’s Boy; they are not really profound in any way but they are funny and they make you feel good. If you do not like having a good time do not buy this record.

Listen: Free Energy – Something In Common

Posted in Music, Record Reviews.