With their sophomore full-length release Love Sign, Free Energy reinforces their steadfast appetite to produce retro-oriented pop rock. However, some changes were made this time around. John Angello (Kurt Vile, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, etc.) took over the producing duties, previously held by LCD Sound System’s James Murphy. The group is also no longer with DFA Records, and has gone on to self-release the album.

From the jump, “Electric Fever” dips into the nostalgia with a slick doubled-up guitar front, and then just in case you missed the memo, the infamous cowbell makes a not so stealth entrance into the party. The following track “Girls Want Rock” has that anthem-in-the-making feel signified by its initial use of handclaps which provides an influential nod to pop-rock champions The Cars, and is realized by the chorus, “Wild life, it’s alright /all around the world tonight.”

Free Energy doesn’t try to mask their musical intentions. Song after song has that “school’s out, let’s celebrate” aesthetic appeal. The drums and bass are used in that manner building suspense and anticipation, and are culminated by an aggressive yet subliminally premeditated guitar solo.

While the album does show on a slower side with a song like “True Love,” Love Sign doesn’t deviate that far from the script. At their best, Free Energy are producing sleek party-inspired rock harnessing simple user-friendly songs that are ideally used as the soundtrack to a host of fun activities. At it’s worst, the record sounds like the nondescript background music in a Brat Pack film.

This music may not be deep from a lyrical point of view dabbling in the area that detractors call “cheese,” but it delivers in its ability to lighten the air in a room. Love Sign isn’t a cerebral album. It doesn’t break the pop-rock mold, but the band never promised that from the get-go. Love Sign is nicely packaged as a feel-good party record complete with choruses begging for crowds to sing in unison. With its catchy hooks and upbeat mentality, the album may be one of this year’s guilty pleasures. – Michael Colavita 

Below is a new track from Bridge Underwater called "Scarecrow." It’s off their EP Dead Man, which was released yesterday and mixed/recorded by Arc in Round‘s Matt Ricchini with help from him on "keyboard magic."

You You Dark Forest seems to stand by its name quite tastefully – picture walking through a dark, mysterious forest while listening to the steadily building instrumentals of the atmospheric post rock outfit. The four-piece is best experienced in a live setting as you may be able to tell from the band’s three releases so you’ll want to join them tonight at Kung Fu Necktie when they open for rising, jangly Austin indie-pop crew Tiger Waves and indie rock locals The Goodnight Lights. Seems like it’ll be a smoke-‘em-if you-got-‘em evening. But isn’t it always? Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Rachel Barrish

Sounds like Gliss is gettin’ High on a Weekday, which is fine by us. Check out his latest freestyle called “Same Shit” featuring $¥£ that is available to be downloaded for free. Enjoy! 

Renaissance woman Ellei Johndro, a.k.a. Shadowscene, has been tirelessly documenting Philly’s nightlife scene for years now along with the number of other cities that she has temporarily called home. You may have caught her bustin’ a move with a camera in hand ready to capture moments that others may have forgotten. However, the daughter of a biker has no desire to simply pigeonhole herself as a nightlife photographer, though she is damn good at it. We recently caught up with Ellei to find out more about the origin and evolution of Shadowscene as well as her life outside its shadow, which you can check out HERE.

Chris Forsyth showcases the art of guitar playing tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. In town for some home cooking, Forsyth crafts musical sojourns drawing sonic maps, which turn at a moments notice, even backtracking to a common thread or chord when he sees fit. The key isn’t attempting to nail down the route that this experimental path takes, but rather to embrace the unknown possibilities that accompany a trip off the beaten path. Fellow drone guitarist Ben Seretan will also etch the cosmic musical surface, while Neighborhood Choir, a.k.a. Bennett Daniels who will be joined by Andy Molholt (Laser Background), Paul Sukeena (Spacin’) and Steve Urgo (Speed Skating, ex-War on Drugs), floats on a peaceful cloud of auditory bliss. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Below is a dichotomic new music video for the title track from Meek Mill‘s album Dreams & Nightmares. The footage starts off rather dreamy, but at a flip of a switch, it intensifes bringing you into an urban Mad Max-like landscape. Ha…and then closes out to what looks like a Ciroc product endorsment.

Did you every want to ask Free Energy questions like who were they pretending to be when lip-syncing in front of a mirror as kids and which is their favorite Spice Girl? Well, sixth graders Connie and Olivia from Kids Interview Bands had the opportunity to hit the group (minus Paul Sprangers) with those hard-hitting questions and more at Ace of Cups in Columbus, Ohio, which you can view below.

When Black Cab Sessions came to Philly, local Twitter accounts were all abuzz, but as time went by, we just never seemed to hear much more about their visit except for a teaser trailer. And when the session finally saw the light of day, U.S. viewers weren’t able to access it. Well, we were reminded this morning about the Philly Black Cab Sessions, which is filling us with so much pride as we watch it over and over again. It’s Monday morning, and we thought that you might need a pick-me-up too. Check out some of the familiar faces of Philly’s music scene talking about the city that we all love so much with performances by local favorites Meg Baird, Grandchildren, “Reading Rainbow”/Bleeding Rainbow, Tone Trump, Freeway, Plastic Little and Spank Rock as well as visiting artists The Morning Benders and Rain Machine (a.k.a. Kip Malone) HERE! Good morning, and enjoy!