Free nationals free nationals
Music, Sounds

REVIEW: Free Nationals, Free Nationals

by Darcy MacDonald

The Free Nationals should have released their best songs as singles and left the fat on the cutting board.

Free Nationals, Free Nationals (OBE/Empire)

The Free Nationals (hitherto better known as Anderson Paak’s band) dropped a record on the same day as the aforementioned Kaytranada LP. They would have been harder pressed than Kaytra to make any real year-end noise had this album come out even at the peak of summer, where it arguably belonged, especially given that it was announced nearly two years ago. In a year that saw .Paak himself release two less- than-critically-adored (if Grammy-approved) projects nearly back to back, his homies in FN might have helped make sense of it all. Instead, their debut as a solo satellite in his orbit plays out not unlike the Roots when they back up and cover their favourite artists: fun, but hardly critical listening. There are some nice guests and moments hcere, but frankly the Free Nats probably would have had a more lasting impact releasing the best songs here as EP singles and leaving the fat on the cutting board. 6/10 Trial Track: “Cut Me a Break” ft. TI

“Cut Me a Break” ft. TI from Free Nationals

The Free Nationals on Spotify

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Cult MTL is a daily web and monthly print publication focusing on Montreal music, arts, culture and city life. Along with interviewing local and visiting artists, promoters and entrepreneurs, we feature analysis and criticism by our editorial staff and crew of columnists and freelancers, compile comprehensive event listings, curate a daily To-Do List and run the annual Best of MTL readers poll.

Posted in Music, Sounds

by Darcy MacDonald

Contributor
Darcy MacDonald has been with Cult MTL since day one, a decade ago. Which means today, he’s a middle-aged white guy (albeit one more interested in other people’s ideas than in his own). He was previously a columnist and reporter for Montreal Mirror, and has also created content (FKA “written”) for RBMA, Noisey, Montreal Gazette, The National Post and probably some other great places he’s forgotten about. Music, culture, community and miscellaneous questions in search of answers all come across his desk, sooner or later.