The return of Foals

Stompbox wrote: »

Where'd you hear that, Blackpitts?

sorry for the late reply, i knew it coz i have subscribed their newsletter.

This is the new song they played on Live at Abbey Road. It's called 'Late Night'. I like it!

I'm happier now after hearing 2 songs from the new album that I like. It gives us a little more insight into the direction the album will take. I was worried at first when I heard 'Inhaler'. Really can't warm to that track!

My Number - studio version:

After listening to the studio version of 'My Number' a few times, I like it a little bit less. It's quite funky but if you hear the first 15 seconds you've already heard the rest of the song, which is very unlike a Foals song. It's a good song, but hoping for better on the album.

This albums gonna be an absolute screamer, can't wait, brillant Late Night.

Been listening to Holy Fire since yesterday and still unsure what to make of it. There is a lot of good songs on there, but I'm not sure I like the distance they've moved away from their Antidotes stuff. Yannis likes to 'sing' a lot more now and I'm not sure it always works on this album. 'Moon' is like a Spanish Sahara wannabe that isn't nearly as good.

It's all very sentimental now, and as much as it was going that way on TLF, I had hoped they could still draw from their more aggressive stuff like 'Cassius' or 'Brazil Is Here'. Songs like 'Everytime' and 'Out of the Woods' are probably the closest to that type of stuff, but even then Yannis likes to harmonise quite a lot on them, which as I said, sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. A lot of the verses in songs are tough to tell apart and sometimes samey.

'Stepson' sums up what is a little wrong with the album, not very exciting at all and one of the least innovative Foals song I've heard on any of their albums. I'm a little disappointed, maybe more songs will need more time to sink in I'm not sure.

'Out Of The Woods' is probably the standout track, has a really great melody throughout it, especially after the first verse.

A V A wrote: »

providence has to be the stand out track for me

Yes, that and 'Out of the Woods' were the stand outs definitely. Yannis singing that start might be a bit iffy live though lol

Xenji wrote: »

Just finished listening to their new album, its the best they have produced yet, its the album that they have always had in them and does not fade away in the second half like Total Like Forever, anyone else hear it yet?

You read the posts above you?

Funnily enough I think this album fades a bit with the last two tracks, 'Stepson' and 'Moon', not being particularly inspiring. It has grown on me with more listens but I certainly don't think it's the best they've done. I'd still put TLF above it, if only because this one doesn't quite have stand outs like 'Alabaster' or 'Spanish Sahara'.

It is a really good album, I just think the first two albums were a tad more creative sonically.

Providence gets better every time I hear it.

So, Foals are back. New single is 'What Went Down', same name as the album.



Personally, I don't particularly like it. I think the people who have always wanted the heavier Foals will like it but for me they are losing their sound. I initially liked 'Holy Fire' but it's been my least listened to Foals album and I have a much less favourable view of it now. This track sounds like a very by the numbers rock song, no interesting riff or Foals sonic virtuoso to be found. Never been a fan of Yannis's shouty lyrics either.

Only 1 song of course, hope it improves on this.

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's bloody brilliant, caught it last night and listened to it, very loudly, several times this morning.

I suppose I contrast to some people here, while I still love Antidotes (an album that I loved from the very first track), Holy Fire is still an amazing piece of work, and seeing it played it live at a small venue is just amazing. There's something, and this is will sound artsy fartsy, pretty primal about it.

I think primal is a pretty good word for it actually, Yannis has said pretty much the same thing in interviews leading up to this. I think they are turning into the band Yannis has always wanted perhaps, and unfortunately I just don't feel it. For me they peaked on TLF, I still listen to 'Alabaster' quite often. It was brilliant how they could make something so minimalist sound so good, I think they are trying a lot of the opposite on that track, squeezing in a lot of animalistic rock but lacking creativity imo.

If this album is anywhere near the quality of the first two we are in for a treat.

Corholio wrote: »

I personally prefer this type of Foals to the louder stuff like 'What Went Down'. Them as musicians shines through a lot better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QHZ2YRPFVo

The riff at the end is the riff Yannis played during the extended outro of the live version of Late Night on the last tour.