Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 (Album Review)

It's been a while since the last Foals record and even longer since they've been this interesting. I believe a return to form is, at the very least, beginning to occur.

2015's "What Went Down" proved, for the fourth time that the band could make something completely different, although lots of the original passion behind the music was notably absent on that album. Undeniably it was a step up from 2013's "Holy Fire" but overall it was far from the bar their debut album set so early on. Going into this album I was definitely intrigued as to the direction the band would take, although how impressed I am with the outcome is a more difficult opinion to pen.

My curiosity was peaked by the pretty fantastic lead single "Exits", a stomping 6 minute banger that manages to capture the vigor of the last album and the experimental nature of the debut, a blend that led me to believe this could be a very interesting album indeed. In the context of the album, it only stands out more and succeeds in proving the potency of Foals harder, edgier side and how they have perhaps finally got the blend between experimenting and edge balanced.

Whilst all this is true, they aren't the most consistent throughout this album and, despite it being their most enjoyable record in a long time, there are a couple of songs that go amiss and fail absolutely at sticking with the vibe that they so urgently pursue on the better tracks. An example of one of these misfires would be "Sunday", a slow and building cut that, given what they did on their album "Total Life Forever", you'd think they could pull off. Unfortunately, the payoff here just isn't worth the length and the entirety of the first 4 minutes or so are inexcusably dull. When the dance-funk beat finally comes in, I couldn't care less. This is especially due to how great the song "In Degrees" is at successfully integrating a dance beat and letting it dominate the whole song into a blur of perfection rather than constraining it to the last minute or so of a tedious labour that is "Sunday".

As just mentioned, "In Degrees" is a definitive highlight that managed even to grab a spot on the UK Top 100, showing for some a place for Foals still stands even if this is their commercial peak of their career. It is just a good, fun song, the sort Foals usually try way to hard to make with limited success (case and point their 2013 album "Holy Fire", a sad overextension of the band's abilities that is generally conceded as their worst record). This is such an accomplishment for the band, it overshines the other highlights such as the stompy "White Onions" or the smooth "Syrups", especially overshadowing the glitchy opening track "Moonlight".

In conclusion, Foals still might not be the go-to band for many strong music fans but they have managed to release their fare share of bangers and tear-jerkers throughout their career, surpassing 10 years at this point. For an alternative band to be maintaining the level of recognition they boast for so long, they must be doing something right and I hope this album is the first step back in the right direction as their best outing since their colourful, explosive debut in all regards. It is an eclectic mix of pretty much everything they've ever done, all wrapped up in more modern experimental flares and served with a welcome side of conscious lyrics and generally a step up in the writing department.

Overall, I reward "Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1" a light 8 out of 10.

Best Songs:
Exits, White Onions, In Degrees, Syrups, On The Luna

Worst Song/s:
Moonlight, Sunday

"Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1"

Foals

08/03/2019