Wait a minute, this sounds like rock and/or roll…
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[4.86]
Thomas Inskeep: A great rock single that gets harder as it goes along, with an oddly provocative proggy quality to it. I suspect the key here is producer James Ford, formerly of Simian and Simian Mobile Disco, and the man behind the boards for the likes of Klaxons and Arctic Monkeys; his sensibility is all over this. Lead singer Yannis Philippakis has an appealing yelp.
[7]
Crystal Leww: One of the records I always forget about and remember as being absolutely fantastic from this decade is Cold Cave’s Cherish the Light Years, which is a collection of fantastic noise walls. I’m not too familiar with Foals’ previous work, but apparently “What Went Down” represents a shift in their sound to something grungier. Like Cold Cave, this is a carefully orchestrated wall of sound, and I have to say that I’m having a good time thrashing about.
[6]
David Sheffieck: The bridge is where it clicks for me (though the lion/liar elision in the hook is surprisingly effective); as the organ and guitar intertwine and climb, they create a vibe simultaneously eerie and aggressive. That unexpected combination is how the song works, as Foals manage to sound tightly wound yet unhinged — thrillingly so.
[7]
Iain Mew: They quickly build up a throbbing menace, but the lyrics don’t do anything with it and they don’t develop it any further except in volume. The result is potential slowly squandered.
[4]
Alfred Soto: “While you were sleeping, I took over your town,” he shouts over Spoon fuzz. He knows her initials but not her name. The best lack all conviction, and so on.
[3]
Brad Shoup: A head-rush of dude-guilt: a near-motorik rhythm and a lacerating, trebly guitar attack and a whole bunch of howled triteness.
[4]
Micha Cavaseno: Bluesy thunder thud over a slightly Neu-ish groove topped with inane babble from some hoary bloke. This band has always relied on gimmicks instead of songwriting, so nothing has changed, but I’m sure this “harsh rawkin’ sound” is going to make some bunch of babies feel really astonished.
[3]