The Go
Free Electricity
scum stats: Loser edition on gold vinyl (I'd imagine 1000 copies) the rest on black
Twenty-five years ago the Go recorded their sophomore album "Free Electricity" and it's only now been released today.
Opinions vary as to WHY it wasn't released...get at me in person and feed me two Red Bulls to get my honest unfiltered take on it all...but over the years, it's been bootlegged on vinyl, seemingly offered to Third Man for release and generally been the music closest to me in my life that could ever hope to achieve "legendary lost album" status.
A quarter century later, I think it holds up. I don't think the mix is great, but I don't think the Go's first album sounded great either. The songwriting here feels more singular and focused, the vision all sinew and motor and chug and an attempt to lean into the stylistic predilections of their Motor City forebears as opposed to eschewing it.
So while at the time it felt like the Go was hamstrung missing out on a high-profile release in 2001 in the heat of the Detroit garage rock explosion ("White Blood Cells" to "Life, Love and Leaving" to "Ultraglide" to "Lack of Communication" to to to to), I still don't think that had this record seen the light of day the band's fortunes would've been any different.
I'm holding up the vinyl bootleg version here. No, I did not release it, but I do know who did, I in no uncertain terms provided him with the appropriate master to do so and I believe he is now dead, so there you go.
(For what it's worth, 4/5's of the band was aware of this plan and approved of it)
This version is one of 5 test pressing copies in gatefold sleeve with wax seal, lenticular and hand-painted elements. Refreshing the effort and time that went into it.
All to say...that's an effort and attention befitting of the nature of the music. Real rock and roll that despite being shelved is immediate and connects and succeeds in leaving you feeling better after having listened to it. What more could you ask for?
