New album adds variety

Good music to give you a lift when you’re feeling down can be found on the “Love Sign” album from the Philadelphia band Free Energy.

Set to be released Jan. 15, “Love Sign” is the band’s second full-length album.

After the release of its first album, “Stuck on Nothing” in 2010, Free Energy opened for Weezer during that group’s Memories Tour. Somewhat similar to bands such as Weezer and Train, there does not seem to be a genre this band could solidly fit into.

Band members include lead singer Scott Wells and his brother Evan Wells on bass, vocalist Paul Sprangers, rhythm guitarist Patrick Stickles and drummer Nicholas Shuminsky.

The songs are a mixture of 70s styles with some 80s rock-style, revved up by Free Energy’s talents. A train whistle, drum machine, classic synthesizer and various other elements, such as horns, add interesting elements to the variety of songs offered on the album.

The band admits that the lyrics are somewhat cheesy, which is what was intended. Free Energy wanted to create a fun album, and “Love Sign” is successful at that.

“Electric Fever” opens the album with strong guitar and popping drums. The song is catchy, light and upbeat.

In general, all of the songs on the album have an upbeat feel to them, causing you to tap your foot to the rhythm. None of the songs are so similar as to run together.

The slightly slower “Dance All Night” and the quicker “True Love” are both songs about falling in love. With a dreamy quality in the sound, they may cause one to reminisce about that ‘first love’ experienced.

“Back Scratcher” and “Hangin” have a definite element of 80s rock to them, with the guitars being heavier and more prominent than in other songs on the album.

The music is more fluff than substantial, but doesn’t slip into the teen-aimed pop category of music.

Although “Love Sign” is an enjoyable album, in its entirety it may be too much. However, a few of the songs thrown on an iPod or mp3 would add nice variety.