Customer Reviews

Antidotes

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a minor prediction for the musical year -- the Foals just might be the Next Really Big Thing in indie-rock.

Yeah, someone says that about a fledgling band every year, sometimes more than once. But this little Oxford band has what it takes, and "Antidotes" is a gloriously energetic debut album -- mellow, bright rock'n'roll that makes you dance and bounce, yet has some postrock spaciness, nimble electronics and clever funky twists to keep things interesting. And it actually gets better as it goes on.

It opens on a relatively simple note -- "The French Open," an jazzy-funky little pop intro that periodically erupts into solid dancy rock. "Un peu d'air sur la terre/D'air sur la/D'air sur la/D'air sur la terre!"

With that as the intro, they leap wholeheartedly into the cocky, rollicking "Cassius," with its muscular riffs and confusingly jabby lyrics ("Cassius, it's over! You're second best!"). And with "Red Sock Pugie," we get another catchy indie-rock melody -- but wrapped in a shimmering post-rock blanket, riddled with kettle drums.

And most of the songs that follow linger somewhere between those two styles -- ringing circling pop with convulsing violins, moody rock tunes, fast funky dance music, fast-moving spacey tunes with airy fantastical lyrics, and a shimmering pop anthem in "Big Big Love (Fig. 2)."

The Foals seem to wind down the album with the catchy "Like Swimming," a little instrumental that sounds like eavesdropping on a tropical pool party. Then they yank you back up for the final song "Tron," a dark little rocker with tight, muscular instrumentation and chirruping guitars.

The Foals don't seem satisfied just by making music that makes you dance -- they seem to be striving for something cool yet fun, clever yet not pretentious. And they apparently want a mishmash style -- if you listen carefully, the indie-rock sound is infused with elements of funk, dance, and shimmering hazy spaciness. All this, and it's fun too.

Part of what makes their music so appealing is the versatility -- we've got powerful bouncy riffs, undercurrents of grainy bass, and solid, hollow-sounding drums keeping the music energetic. But they can also make those instruments do some very odd things -- their guitars alone are a sonic circus, chirping or creaking or spiraling around in glittering loops.

And then you get the really out-there stuff -- blares of Afrobeat brass, the occasional kettle drums, shimmers of keyboard, and some pedal guita to, as it's been reported around the Web, "mimic the sound of the solar system." I don't really know what a solar system sounds like, but I presume that's the gloriously spacey, shimmery sound that wafts through most of these songs.

Yannis Philippakis always sounds like he's about to run out of breath, but his flexible voice has enough energy to keep up with the music. And for a beginner band, the Foals have a knack for lyrics, filled with "butcher birds," falling towers, nameless fuels, exploding hearts, and eating clouds to pass the time when you're not fighting vampires. Isn't that great?

The Foals at first sound like just another art-rock band, but these guys have a special knack for effortlessly mixing elaborate cross-genre indie-rock with energetic dance. Keep an eye on these lads.

I first stumbled across the music of UK band Foals last Christmas on TV in the UK when I heard and fell in love with "Balloons". A hybrid of dance and rock, it reminded me of an other favourite band of mine; Franz Ferdinand.

Their debut, "Antidotes" is more of the same; high octane dance/rock with jangly, melodic guitars. My favourites are "Olympic airways" and "Electric bloom", which are both insanely catchy dance rockers.

However, it's a very tight race as much everything else is really great, from the more subdued and jangly "Big big love (Fig. 2)" with lovely rolling guitar sounds, the opening horn sprinkled epic "The French open" (with a Ska feel which morphs into something slightly African), the awesome "Red sock pugie" (starting off with skittery beats and spacey effects), the hand clap-filled instrumental "Like swimming", and closing cut the synth based "Tron" (with fleeting horns and haunting harmonies) which is truly dazzling.

This album is incredibly catchy and clever. The album hit #3 in the UK, and I hope they hit it big like they truly deserve.

WOW! This is the most exciting album I have had the pleasure to bump into in years! Where to begin? First, I am a drummer...it has been an even longer time since a "new" drummer on the scene has blown me away, not only with his skills, but the creative angles he comes up with rhymically...outstanding! On track 7, he just gets stanky!!! This band takes the 80's retro comeback to a whole new level...they don't come off as contrived, they sound like a tight-knit unit that's getting it's groove on. The songs are catchy, but in a challenging, have to listen to it a couple of times to catch the hook kind of way...I really love this album! I always try to include references to other artists/bands...this will be easy and hard for this band/album...I hear traces of Talking Heads "Remain in Light" ie groovy rhythm section, funky basslines, rhymic-yet static guitar w/ lots of reverb and delay at times reminding of The blessed Chameleons, PIL ie chanting vocals, Hood ie glitchy electronica ala Cold House, Steve Reich ie use of repetition, Adam and the Ants "Kings of the Wild Frontier" tribal rhythms/chanting vocals, Polyrock ie well, it just reminds me of them, and even Devo at times just cause. All of this combined into an original blend...check this album out..make no judgement until you've listened to the whole thing and it will blow you away if you are into original, New Wavish sounding music. Just GREAT!!! PS For us fans of this kind of music...remember the first couple of times you listened to Interpol's "Turn on the Bright Lights" and you were transported immediately back to "Strange Times" and "Heaven Up Here", but you felt that Interpol was not faking the sound, that it was REAL...you will have the same reaction to this album. Album of the year...hands down, no contest!

"Antidotes" is not a masterpiece. It's not flawless, nor is it easily pigeonholed into a nice little genre. The lyrics are bizarre, and almost as cryptic as the made up musical laws the guitars to pluck away to. Dense. Solid. Chaotic. Rythmic. It was never meant to top the charts, nor will it ever generate poppy singles to play on your local radio station. However, between the almost aggressive, sometimes discordant vocals, and the dense jungle of math-y drums and guitars, one can find no seams. This is the most solid sounding record I have ever had the luxury of owning. Every little nook and cranny has been filled with it's own unique bit of flick and fuzz. It is the most beautiful, structured sort of noise that can fuel a party AND a deep, late night writing session simultaneously. Simply put, it's perfectly flawed, and Foals have made something amazing here, from start to finish. I eagerly await their compositions to come!

I can only describe as... "Imagine Bloc Party meets Clarence Clemmons at a party and jamming ensues"... absolutely brilliant!

I saw Foals live last weekend (more on that in a bit) and immediately went out and bought their debut album. Foals has created quite a buzz in their home country of England on the strength of early singles like "Hummer" and "Matheletics", and finally in Spring, 2008, the debut album arrived.

"Antidotes" (14 tracks, including 2 bonus tracks; 53 min.) starts off a bit tentative with the misleading sound of "The French Open" but then immediately finds traction with "Cassius" (2nd UK single), followed by a blazing "Red Socks Pugie" (3rd UK single). The highlights keep on coming, including ""Balloons" (1st UK single), and even better the 1-2 knock-out punch of "Heavy Water" and "Two Steps Twice", the absolute highlights of the album. Ican't stop listening to this album, and that is saying a lot. After a 54 sec. gap (which is credited somehow as a "track") following the proper 11 tracks of the album, this US edition also includes 2 bonus tracks, the afore-mentioned early singles "Hummer" and "Mathletics", which fit in perfectly with the proper album. In all, this is quite the debut album, just outstanding.

Last weekend I was at the Monolith Festival at the fabulous Red Rocks outdoor arena just outside of Denver, and Foals played an early afternoon set that simply blew me away, bringing a lot of the tracks from this album, none better than "Heavy Water". Their set was the highlight for me of that 2 day festival, bar none. "Antidotes" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you wonder where you can hear these guys, check out WOXY ("The Future of Rock and Roll, BAM!), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, period.

I can't believe how much I have become addicted to this album. I first listened to it while driving on the NJ Turnpike, a long, boring trip that I must take twice a week during the school year. About halfway through the album, I thought it was too repetitive or, at least, the songs seemed too similar. But then things clicked. My favorite tracks have to be "Two Steps, Twice" "Big Big Love (Fig. 2)" and "Tron."

This is a great driving album. Enjoy!

This is the first band in a while I can openly recommend to friends and not expect disapproval. "Olympic Airways" resonated in my head for so long I had to buy their album. Thank God for KCRW helping their music get out there!

I heard The Foals one day while searching some upcoming new releases. I knew these guys were something different. I was really impressed with the pop and hooks rallied throughout the tracks. I think this is one of the most energetic records, by far, for 2008. There is something up The Foals sleeves for sure, but truthfully, there can't be anything more exciting than the way they placed the drop of their beats! Make it your purchase today....word?!

Here's a minor prediction for the musical year -- the Foals just might be the Next Really Big Thing in indie-rock.

Yeah, someone says that about a fledgling band every year, sometimes more than once. But this little Oxford band has what it takes, and "Antidotes" is a gloriously energetic debut album -- mellow, bright rock'n'roll that makes you dance and bounce, yet has some postrock spaciness, nimble electronics and clever funky twists to keep things interesting. And it actually gets better as it goes on.

It opens on a relatively simple note -- "The French Open," an jazzy-funky little pop intro that periodically erupts into solid dancy rock. "Un peu d'air sur la terre/D'air sur la/D'air sur la/D'air sur la terre!"

With that as the intro, they leap wholeheartedly into the cocky, rollicking "Cassius," with its muscular riffs and confusingly jabby lyrics ("Cassius, it's over! You're second best!"). And with "Red Sock Pugie," we get another catchy indie-rock melody -- but wrapped in a shimmering post-rock blanket, riddled with kettle drums.

And most of the songs that follow linger somewhere between those two styles -- ringing circling pop with convulsing violins, moody rock tunes, fast funky dance music, fast-moving spacey tunes with airy fantastical lyrics, and a shimmering pop anthem in "Big Big Love (Fig. 2)."

The Foals seem to wind down the album with the catchy "Like Swimming," a little instrumental that sounds like eavesdropping on a tropical pool party. Then they yank you back up for the final song "Tron," a dark little rocker with tight, muscular instrumentation and chirruping guitars.

The Foals don't seem satisfied just by making music that makes you dance -- they seem to be striving for something cool yet fun, clever yet not pretentious. And they apparently want a mishmash style -- if you listen carefully, the indie-rock sound is infused with elements of funk, dance, and shimmering hazy spaciness. All this, and it's fun too.

Part of what makes their music so appealing is the versatility -- we've got powerful bouncy riffs, undercurrents of grainy bass, and solid, hollow-sounding drums keeping the music energetic. But they can also make those instruments do some very odd things -- their guitars alone are a sonic circus, chirping or creaking or spiraling around in glittering loops.

And then you get the really out-there stuff -- blares of Afrobeat brass, the occasional kettle drums, shimmers of keyboard, and some pedal guita to, as it's been reported around the Web, "mimic the sound of the solar system." I don't really know what a solar system sounds like, but I presume that's the gloriously spacey, shimmery sound that wafts through most of these songs.

Yannis Philippakis always sounds like he's about to run out of breath, but his flexible voice has enough energy to keep up with the music. And for a beginner band, the Foals have a knack for lyrics, filled with "butcher birds," falling towers, nameless fuels, exploding hearts, and eating clouds to pass the time when you're not fighting vampires. Isn't that great?

The Foals at first sound like just another art-rock band, but these guys have a special knack for effortlessly mixing elaborate cross-genre indie-rock with energetic dance. Keep an eye on these lads.