Free Love is the third studio album by American indie pop duo Sylvan Esso, made up of singer Amelia Meath and multi-instrumentalist Nick Sanborn, released on September 25, 2020, by Loma Vista Recordings.[2]

Free Love
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2020
Recorded2019–2020[1]
Length29:14
LabelLoma Vista
Producer
Sylvan Esso chronology
What Now
(2017)
Free Love
(2020)
No Rules Sandy
(2022)

In a September 25, 2020 live listening party on NPR Music, the band stated that the album cover photo is of Nick leaning out of a Koreatown window observing the October 2019 Saddleridge Fire.

In lieu of a large album release party, the band hosted a multimedia art project on their website. The project included a video[3] with a 20 minute improvised modular set by Nick (sampling from the album), interviews with music video directors, various art pieces by Nathaniel Russell, an improvised dance by Emma Portner to "Numb", a song dedicated to the band by Jeff Tweedy and a DJ set by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs.

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, except where noted

Free Love track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What If" 1:25
2."Ring" 2:37
3."Ferris Wheel"
2:57
4."Train" 2:58
5."Numb" 4:25
6."Free" 2:36
7."Frequency" 2:50
8."Runaway"
3:01
9."Rooftop Dancing"
  • Meath
  • Sanborn
  • Daniel Kyriakides
3:03
10."Make It Easy" 3:19
Total length:29:14

Personnel edit

Sylvan Esso

Additional personnel

  • Joe Westerlund – drums, voices (2)
  • Homer Steinweiss – drums (8)
  • Stephen Sanborn – guitar (9)
  • Daniel Kyriakides – guitar (9)
  • John Hill – production (3)
  • Huntley Miller – mastering
  • BJ Burtonmixing
  • Christopher Leckie – art direction, design

Charts edit

Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 100
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[5] 12

References edit

  1. ^ Carley, Brennan (September 23, 2020). "Sylvan Esso on 'Free Love,' being married, and looking inward". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Krol, Charlotte (September 23, 2020). "Sylvan Esso – 'Free Love' review: a sonic tug-of-war that's light on the duo's trademark bops". NME. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Sylvan Esso – Opening Night YouTube". YouTube. September 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Sylvan Esso Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Sylvan Esso Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.