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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's hardly the cure for anything but Antidotes, the debut album from Oxford's Foals, is a strong addition to the eternal tradition of dance-friendly art rock most recently exemplified by Franz Ferdinand and Klaxons. The five ex-public schoolboys that make up Oxford's Foals are hardly lacking self-confidence--comically cocky frontman Yannis Phillipakis could annoy for the nation and the band rejected producer David Sitek's original mix--but Antidotes is anything but pony. After spending their youth in rigorous "math rock" outfits, Foals started out in 2005 with the stated intention of having fun. Rather delightfully, this amounted to the discovery that audiences are well disposed to acts they can dance to. A clutch of well-received singles and a guest spot on popular sixth-form satire Skins sealed their popularity. Their origins in academic rock are sometimes obvious, but fine drummer Jack Bevan keeps things moving throughout. Opener "The French Open", with its gleeful chanted vocals (in French) and fashionable Afrobeat tinged guitar lines, evokes Talking Heads' dada nonsense classic "I Zimbra", itself older than any Foal. First top thirty hit "Cassius" saw jazz-punk back in the charts for the first time since that perennial football crowd favourite "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag". "Olympic Airways" is a charming if oblique tale of escape that couldn't be further from the bus stop/chip shop style while "Red Socks Pugie" already sounds like a single in waiting. The lyrics might charitably be described as impressionistic and Phillipakis's voice remains nondescript. But with better tunes than Bloc Party and a self-conscious precision that recalls Mogwai in their pomp, the effortlessly pretentious Foals are unmistakably the sound of 2008. --Steve Jelbert
Review
Hype is a double-edged sword. Bands, including this smart Oxford mob, sometimes complain that being endlessly praised early in their careers creates unrealistic expectations. But they also realise that being widely feted by critics helps attract new fans.
On this evidence Foals have nothing to worry about, hype or not. Antidotes is so far advanced of the UK indie pack it's as if frontman, Yannis Philippakis, and his bandmates are laughing at their contemporaries from outer space.Their mastery of tune construction is utterly surprising. It's all very well being clever and unexpected with changes of tempo and key changes, but to actually work this into songs that are anthemic and at times relentlessly funky is no mean feat.
A lot of this is owed to drummer, Jack Bevan. Balloons, for example, is underpinned by slowed down drum 'n' bass beats, joined by creeping horns and an insistent and fluid trebly guitar riff (a Foals trademark). The resulting infectious groove encourages unbridled dancing from every sentient listener.
At the heart of this band is set of pleasing contradictions. Aside from the unusual way they marry melodic sensibilities with avant garde percussive noises and riffs that'd be at home on a Battles record, there's the seriousness factor. Certainly the lyrical concerns, which Yannis said last year were often related to dreams and visual ideas, ostensibly centre around destruction and desertion.
In the extraordinary, sky-scraping Red Socks Pugie listeners hear of, ''Heartswells which make us explode'', before the nihilistic, ''Oh what the hell, we set it on fire''. In the reflective Olympic Airways, the idea is to ''disappear until tomorrow!if only we could move away from here''.
Thoughtful stuff, but when a band joke at industry shindigs about mugging The Hoosiers, you know they're up for a laugh, too.
There are many more reasons to love Antidotes from the clear influence of dance music throughout, to the way Like Swimming is a rare instrumental that is not only worthy of inclusion on an album, but actually merits more than its short length.
But what matters, aside from individual moments of excellence, is that Foals only real, current peers are truly great bands from abroad like Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend. Believe the hype, because there won't be a better British debut album this year. --Lou Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having first heard Foals a while back, I was instantly drawn to their music. I downloaded a few demos last year before all the hype started and was really impressed.Their use of multiple layers and time signatures leaves the listener slightly confused but ultimately amazed.
The only thing wrong with the album is prodction. The whole point of Foals' music is that it is multi layed and raw, and this album has lost some of that. Seeing them live will really make the listener appreciate them fully. Personally I dont like the use of saxaphone, and many of the songs have changed drastically from the original demos, mainly being mellowed out.
The 2cd version is the better deal, you get live recordings, which show what the main album was getting at, it just couldnt quite get there
Overall a good album for someone that is tired of typical indie and who wants to be absorbed into something very different.
The only thing wrong with the album is prodction. The whole point of Foals' music is that it is multi layed and raw, and this album has lost some of that. Seeing them live will really make the listener appreciate them fully. Personally I dont like the use of saxaphone, and many of the songs have changed drastically from the original demos, mainly being mellowed out.
The 2cd version is the better deal, you get live recordings, which show what the main album was getting at, it just couldnt quite get there
Overall a good album for someone that is tired of typical indie and who wants to be absorbed into something very different.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What's everyone complaining about? Why are they saying its a disappointment? O.K i'll admit that its not a one-listen pure pop album, but after a few listens there's really not a record on this that i don't think would be able to be released as a single. The best part about it is the feeling you get of moving along with the band, progressing from the beginning to the end, i generally feel that most peoples music taste and horizons will be changed and expanded after a good few listening of this debut. If you've seen them live or ever met them you'll realize that they defiantly feel that they're all about the live performances, and recreating this on an album would be impossible and create horrific results of beautiful songs. So they decided to go down a much cleaner, refined and go full out and throw in some extras, like the horns and sax. Overall it creates a stunning album that, I'm sure although many attempts will never be replicated.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having first heard Foals a while back, I was instantly drawn to their music. I downloaded a few demos last year before all the hype started and was really impressed.Their use of multiple layers and time signatures leaves the listener slightly confused but ultimately amazed.
The only thing wrong with the album is prodction. The whole point of Foals' music is that it is multi layed and raw, and this album has lost some of that. Seeing them live will really make the listener appreciate them fully. Personally I dont like the use of saxaphone, and many of the songs have changed drastically from the original demos, mainly being mellowed out.
The 2cd version is the better deal, you get live recordings, which show what the main album was getting at, it just couldnt quite get there
Overall a good album for someone that is tired of typical indie and who wants to be absorbed into something very different.
The only thing wrong with the album is prodction. The whole point of Foals' music is that it is multi layed and raw, and this album has lost some of that. Seeing them live will really make the listener appreciate them fully. Personally I dont like the use of saxaphone, and many of the songs have changed drastically from the original demos, mainly being mellowed out.
The 2cd version is the better deal, you get live recordings, which show what the main album was getting at, it just couldnt quite get there
Overall a good album for someone that is tired of typical indie and who wants to be absorbed into something very different.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Favourite album for definite!
Antidotes has got to be the best album by Foals, but also my favourite album!
I own all of their songs - even the B-side ones that no one has ever heard of which I think... Read more
I own all of their songs - even the B-side ones that no one has ever heard of which I think... Read more
Published 3 months ago by joandra
On full blast on the eardrums, great
Its a very paced & interesting album. Go see them live, they work hard for the money.
Not sure about the sequencing of the tunes, but it really hits the spot. Read more
Not sure about the sequencing of the tunes, but it really hits the spot. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Trits
Disappointing
I found this album pretty much a disappointment. I actually quite like the start of a few of the songs, being quite lively, but as soon as the singing started I began to dislike... Read more
Published 10 months ago by C. Booler
Fresh, exciting and very very catchy
I love this album. Let's get that out of the way first. I'm not a hype-merchant, I didn't even expect to enjoy the album quite frankly, but it was suggested to me, I listened and I... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Dominic Goulding
An album that never tires.
Foals produced a special album in 'Anitdotes'. I wasnt taken by it when I first bought the album, but it grew strongly on me to a point now where its my most played album. Read more
Published 24 months ago by L. Morris
Jolly Good Stuff
Not my usual fare and took a few listens to get into, but will definitely buy the next album aswell. Read more
Published on 31 July 2009 by A. J. Davies
Complex and beautiful.
I had the pleasure of seeing these guys live before i heard the album. I don't know if that makes me biased, but this is a fantastic album and is best listened to in its entirety. Read more
Published on 30 April 2009 by R. G. Lapidus
The Best Album of 2008...
Simply wish to add another five star review for this joyful, inventive, unique and stunning debut album. This is music that challenges, invigorates and never fails to surprise. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2009 by D. L. Young
Delightful album
I first heard of Foals through a friend and egged me on to buy their album, the opening of the French Open grabbed my attention, such a classy intro of guitars and the slow build... Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2008 by Andy Lloyd
Genius!
Original, inspirational, beautiful music.
The stand-out track for me, Red Socks Pugie, is original songwriting at its best.
Listen to it. Buy it.
The stand-out track for me, Red Socks Pugie, is original songwriting at its best.
Listen to it. Buy it.
Published on 1 Sep 2008 by Jon Turner
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