• Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Apr 8, 2008
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. It's hard not to admire the jerky, clean-toned guitar scribbles on 'Cassius,' but most of the rest of the song sounds like a Franz Ferdinand b-side.
  2. These are early days, of course, but some worrying lapses into blustery Editors’ territory aside, Foals prove to be a tricksy, livewire prospect.
  3. 60
    You can only imagine the verbal bonbons Gallagher has in store for Oxford’s Foals, whose bristling, high-energy dance shtick borrows heavily from better U.K. bands--and whose members were gracing magazine covers months before the release of this underwhelming debut.
  4. These moments of misplaced weight make Antidotes hard to recommend, but there are good ideas and moments all over the record.
  5. Two forgettable bonus tracks tacked on to Sub Pop’s U.S. edition of Antidotes don’t help on that score. We don’t need any more of what’s already here.
  6. Q Magazine
    60
    While there is no denying the heady rush of the band in full flow, predictability creeps in over 45 minutes. [Apr 2008, p.113]
  7. 'Balloons' and 'Cassius' will prompt widespread jerking movements on indie dancefloors, but it would be nice to hear them let their hearts rule their heads for a change.
  8. Antidotes is really a pleasurable record that found itself displaced by its worn-out, second-hand clothing
  9. Under The Radar
    60
    Antidotes is a great dance-rock record, but Foals still have a few lessons to learn before they reinvent the genre. [Spring 2008, p.76]
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 83 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 83
  2. Negative: 6 out of 83
  1. Sep 15, 2019
    8
    Well, Antidotes by Foals in a great math rock debut album. It has a lot of energy that Foals have. (8/10)

    Favorite tracks: Olympic Airways
    Well, Antidotes by Foals in a great math rock debut album. It has a lot of energy that Foals have. (8/10)

    Favorite tracks: Olympic Airways and Tron.
    Least favorite tracks: Red Socks Pugie and Like Swimming.
    Full Review »
  2. Feb 28, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Rythmically it's interesting, because the drummer is amazing. Unfortunately, this brand of 'math-rock' or prog-rock, whetever you want to call it, doesn't provide any emotion. Music should be about making you feel a type of way, but this album just doesn't do that, because it focuses too much on the intellectual aspect of the music. It reminds me of Silent Alarm by Bloc Party in that regard, except BP provide more emotion despite being a similar style of indie rock. Full Review »
  3. Jun 9, 2015
    5
    This album is one of the cornerstones of what silly indie pop is. It contains some hints of math-rock (IMHO an useless sub-genre of prog-rock)This album is one of the cornerstones of what silly indie pop is. It contains some hints of math-rock (IMHO an useless sub-genre of prog-rock) but they seem really out of place and casual. There's no real sound research or study under this album, which is also difficult to hear from start to finish. Full Review »