Free Nationals (album)

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Free Nationals
Studio album by
Free Nationals
ReleasedDecember 13, 2019 (2019-12-13)
Genre
Length41:11
Label
Singles from Free Nationals
  1. "Beauty and Essex"
    Released: October 9, 2018
  2. "Time"
    Released: June 12, 2019
  3. "On Sight"
    Released: September 20, 2019
  4. "Eternal Light"
    Released: October 15, 2019
  5. "Shibuya"
    Released: November 8, 2019

Free Nationals is the debut album by American R&B band Free Nationals. It was released on December 13, 2019, through OBE and Empire Distribution.[1] The album features guest appearances from Mac Miller, Kali Uchis, Daniel Caesar, Anderson .Paak, T.I., JID, and MIKNNA among others. It was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[2]

Musical style[edit]

Free Nationals has been described as classic R&B, funk and soul with a modern twist, nodding to legends like Stevie Wonder and Parliament-Funkadelic.[3]

Recording and production[edit]

The album was produced by the four Free Nationals band members. The songs were run through a tape recorder to add analogue distortion and warmth, adding to the retro feel of the album.[4] It was mixed by Callum Connor and Andrew Wuepper at The Crying Panther Studio, Los Angeles and mastered by Dave Kutch at The Mastering Palace, New York City.[5][6]

Release and promotion[edit]

Background[edit]

Free Nationals announced the album in early 2018 and it was expected to be released before 2019 however the release was delayed until December 2019. The band stated in a tweet: "The real reason it was delayed was because of our rigorous touring schedule", referring to touring with fellow musician Anderson .Paak.[7] In the same tweet, the band confirmed that the release date would be December 13, 2019.

Singles[edit]

A total of five singles were released for the album throughout 2018 and 2019.[8] The first single, 'Beauty & Essex' was released on October 9, 2018.[9] 'Time' featuring Mac Miller and Kali Uchis was released on June 12, 2019.[10] It was the first posthumous release from Mac Miller and reached number 22 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.[11] 'On Sight' was released on September 20, 2019,[12] Eternal Light on October 15, 2019,[13] and Shibuya on November 8, 2019.[14]

Music videos[edit]

The music video for "Beauty & Essex", directed by Scott Lazer, was released on November 8, 2018.[15]

The music video for "Time" was released on August 1, 2019.[16] The colorful video was animated by BABEKÜHL, a Sydney-based creative studio.[17]

Artwork[edit]

The album's retro airbrush style artwork was created by Lexington based artist and musician Robert Beatty.[18]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.0/10
Metacritic74/100
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim[19]8/10
Q Magazine8/10
Mojo8/10
The Line of Best Fit[20]7/10
Pitchfork[21]6.4/10
NME[22]
The Observer (UK)[23]
Evening Standard[24]

Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 74 out of 100 based on 7 critic's reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[25] Q Magazine stated "Free Nationals say less about the band's identity than it does their taste, skill and curatorial clout--but that's still more than plenty". Mojo said "Free Nationals' blissed-out, woozy slow-jams make for a low-key triumph". NME also reviewed the album, stating "The Free Nationals' supreme musicianship is unquestionable, but they more often than not seem to require an outside presence leading from the front to really bring it all home".[26]

Accolades[edit]

Awards for Free Nationals
Year Organization Award Result Ref
2021 Grammy Awards Best Progressive R&B Album Nominated [27]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by José Rios, Kelsey Gonzales, and Matt Merisola, with others noted.

Free Nationals track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Obituaries" (featuring Shafiq Husayn)
  • Ron Avant
  • Husayn
2:21
2."Beauty & Essex" (featuring Daniel Caesar and Unknown Mortal Orchestra)
4:37
3."On Sight" (featuring JID, Kadhja Bonet and MIKNNA)
4:09
4."Shibuya" (featuring Syd)
2:17
5."Apartment" (featuring Benny Sings)
3:05
6."Gidget" (featuring Anderson .Paak and T.Nava)
3:39
7."Rene" (featuring Callum Connor)
  • Avant
  • Byun
2:30
8."Time" (featuring Mac Miller and Kali Uchis)
3:30
9."Cut Me a Break" (featuring T.I.)
1:57
10."Eternal Light" (featuring Chronixx)
3:14
11."Oslo" (featuring Callum Connor and T.Nava)
  • Avant
  • Byun
3:34
12."Lester Diamond"
  • Avant
2:48
13."The Rivington" (featuring Conway, Westside Gunn and Joyce Wrice)
3:37
Total length:41:11

Personnel[edit]

Adapted from the album's liner notes and online sources.[28]

Free Nationals

  • Jose Rios
  • Callum Connor
  • Kelsey Gonzales
  • Ron "T.Nava" Avant

Featured artists

Other musicians

  • Maurice Brown - Trumpet (track 13)
  • Omar Dominick - Bass (track 7)
  • Jonah Levine - Trombone (tracks 4 & 5)
  • Chris Lowery - Trumpet (track 8)
  • Wes Lowery - Trombone (track 8)
  • Emil Martinez - Trumpet (tracks 4 & 5)
  • Danny McKinnon - Guitar (tracks 2 & 10)
  • Vicky Farewell Nguyen - Keyboards (track 10)
  • Erwin Pierce - Saxophone (track 13)
  • David Pimentel - Drum Programming, Keyboards (tracks 2, 10, 13)
  • Aaron Shaw - Flute (track 8)

Production

  • Dave Kutch - Mastering
  • Andrew Wuepper - Mixing

Design

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Free Nationals Drop Self-Titled Studio Album". Complex. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  2. ^ "63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards". GRAMMY.com. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  3. ^ "Free Nationals put an irresistible modern twist on classic R&B, funk and soul on debut LP". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  4. ^ "The Free Nationals: Free Nationals". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  5. ^ "The Mastering Palace". www.themasteringpalace.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  6. ^ The Free Nationals – Free Nationals (2020, CD), retrieved 2021-11-30
  7. ^ "Free Nationals Drop Self-Titled Studio Album". Complex. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  8. ^ "Free Nationals: albums, songs, playlists | Listen on Deezer". Deezer. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  9. ^ Free Nationals - Beauty & Essex (feat. Daniel Caesar & Unknown Mortal Orchestra): lyrics and songs | Deezer, 10 October 2018, retrieved 2020-11-28
  10. ^ "Listen to Mac Miller's first posthumous verse on new Free Nationals song, 'Time'". NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  11. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  12. ^ Free Nationals - On Sight (feat. JID, Kadhja Bonet & MIKNNA): lyrics and songs | Deezer, 20 September 2019, retrieved 2020-11-28
  13. ^ Free Nationals - Eternal Light: lyrics and songs | Deezer, 15 October 2019, retrieved 2020-11-30
  14. ^ Free Nationals - Shibuya: lyrics and songs | Deezer, 8 November 2019, retrieved 2020-11-30
  15. ^ "Free Nationals Drop Vivid "Beauty & Essex" Video f/ Daniel Caesar & Unknown Mortal Orchestra". Complex. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  16. ^ "Free Nationals Release "Time" Video ft. Mac Miller and Kali Uchis". Highsnobiety. 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  17. ^ "BABEKUHL : Design-driven creative : Motion content & Animation studio". BABEKUHL : Design-driven creative : Motion content & Animation studio. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  18. ^ "The Free Nationals - Free Nationals". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  19. ^ "Free Nationals Free Nationals". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  20. ^ "Free Nationals put an irresistible modern twist on classic R&B, funk and soul on debut LP". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  21. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (2019-12-23). "Free Nationals". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  22. ^ "Free Nationals – 'Free Nationals' album review". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  23. ^ "Free Nationals – 'Free Nationals' album review". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  24. ^ Fletcher, Harry (2019-12-13). "Sublime musicians Free Nationals brim with boundless potential". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  25. ^ Free Nationals by Free Nationals, retrieved 2020-11-29
  26. ^ "Free Nationals – 'Free Nationals' album review". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  27. ^ "63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards". GRAMMY.com. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  28. ^ Free Nationals - Free Nationals | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-11-28
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