Almost Free
by FIDLAR
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
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  1. DIY Magazine
    Jan 25, 2019
    100
    Highlight ‘By Myself’ sings of relapsing after getting sober, but is set over a simply joyous ska-tinged musical romp - musical and lyrical contradictions are all over Almost Free, but it gains its power from dancing through the hard times with a massive grin on your face. The musical experimentation of the record continues throughout.
  2. Kerrang!
    Jan 24, 2019
    100
    Freewheeling spirit and casual non-sequiturs are all over Almost Free, with a cornucopia of ‘anything goes’ creativity on offer, comprising flashes of hip-hop, glam rock, fuzzed-out funk, punk and everything in between. Yet not once does it sound contrived or anything but an album very much of the here and now. ... An absolute joy to behold. It’s a trip to listen to, and an instant modern classic.
  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 4, 2019
    80
    This enjoyably jumbled set could be their London Calling. [Mar 2019, p.115]
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  5. Glide Magazine
    Jan 28, 2019
    80
    The beauty of Almost Free is the underlying honesty that exudes from each riff and lyric.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jan 24, 2019
    80
    Stuffed with fizzing hooks and brilliantly frank lyrics, Almost Free could be FIDLAR’s best record yet. A blistering collection of eclectic tunes threaded together by punks’ fearless riffs and unguarded admissions, which add even more weight to their sound, it’s a reminder of how much we’ve missed them. Welcome back, lads.
  7. The Line of Best Fit
    Jan 25, 2019
    75
    All in all, Almost Free is a FIDLAR album - brash, unhinged, wild, a tad nonsensical, but most of all, a testament to their nature.
  8. Consequence
    Jan 25, 2019
    75
    FIDLAR have always been creatively bold, and their dabbling with musical variety is merely an extension of that. Making a starkly different-sounding record is a creative gamble, but FIDLAR rolled their dice and made off well.
  9. Paste Magazine
    Jan 28, 2019
    71
    While FIDLAR benefit from cleaned-up production, the hit-or-miss, albeit courageous, tracklist is indicative of a band that’s still workshopping their sound.
  10. Exclaim
    Feb 1, 2019
    70
    FIDLAR have expanded their sonic palette on a record that seems destined to be appreciated more with time.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 4, 2019
    67
    Produced by Grammy-winning producer Ricky Reed (Twenty One Pilots), the troupe also trades in the lo-fi blades of Too for a polished maturity without sacrificing any edge.
  12. Pitchfork
    Jan 31, 2019
    65
    They’ve made a record that captures the tumult of feeling displaced, without abandoning the hyped-up spirit that made them such a spectacle during their party-animal days.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. trey_willi
    Feb 16, 2019
    5
    An enjoyable, yet forgettable album. The song writing, in my opinion, is the downfall for this album. It takes to many influences and copiesAn enjoyable, yet forgettable album. The song writing, in my opinion, is the downfall for this album. It takes to many influences and copies them to the tee. Still enjoyable, but sounds like everything I have ever heard before.… Full Review »
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