Like everyone who is an avid listener of Ty Segall I was looking forward to the experimental/bluesy melodies acquitted with relatable lyrics that are easy to sing along to. This is not the case for this album. I’ll start this by addressing the vocal progressions and melodies of some of the songs on this album. Most of the songs come with very fuzzy and punchy tones and catchy rhythms but most of it is drawn away from the song once the vocals are introduced. Not every song is like this but a majority are derived from the same experimental vision. It takes away quite heavily in some songs only because the melodies do not make much sense in their progressions.
In Ty Segalls past experiments he implements these rock and blues melodies both instrumentally and vocally. Songs that repeated lyrics, had a solid hook with catchy solos that ring emotion. Given the last thing released from him was “Ty Rex” in 2015, he didn’t seem in too much of a hurry to release something. The contemplation behind the structure of Freedom Goblin seems a bit rushed. Songs that were put on there that could have invoked more for the listener. Something that sells them on the experience of the album. Not to be hard to concentrate on and to quickly become background noise because of a seemingly unpleasant aspect of the song.
The guitar tones were out of this world. The good ol’ fuzz was expected to be crunchy and mean. Even in some of the more experimental songs everything sounded fully together and well-balanced. You could hear how each song changed in the textures and recording environments. The energy is the hardest to capture in these kinds of recordings and the producer did a fantastic job. There was a form of familiarity to the tones. Sort of a nostalgic feeling from past Ty Segall albums. It’s good to see that they have survived.
As I said, only some of the songs were disappointing in the vocal department, not all of them. Most of the album is very engaging and relatable. There was a certain attitude behind the experimental energy. The execution of that energy is where the album fell short. There’s a very fine line between being experimental for the sake of opening up new avenues in the music. This would help with progressions etc. In this album however I feel it was went about in a very certain way. Almost where in a vast audience like this one not everyone will quite fully enjoy it the same.
– By Samuel Pedroza