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Antidotes Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 83 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length album for the Oxford, England-based band.

Top Track

Olympic Airways
Sun's up we wait All day Sun's up we wait All day all day The hell outside kept away If only we could move away From here This is how We build a... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Promise delivered, divided by expectations frenzied, multiplied by still-evident potential for future releases… equals a Pitchfork-style 8.6.
  2. A perfectly executed debut as might be expected from a band championed in OMM53 for their mathematical precision.
  3. They do make thoroughly exciting music that becomes quickly airborne, able to move the listener to a different plane with disarming ease.
  4. Foals are a tight band with hook-laden grooves. Not worth the hype, but definitely worth keeping an eye on.
  5. 70
    They never let math get in the way of a good time. [Apr 2008, p.96]
  6. These are early days, of course, but some worrying lapses into blustery Editors’ territory aside, Foals prove to be a tricksy, livewire prospect.
  7. 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.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. danielw.
    May 17, 2008
    10
    Absolutely brilliant, such a good beat throughout. Best album of 2008 so far!
  2. GeorgiaF.
    Apr 1, 2008
    10
    Mathletes? Whatever you want to call them, they've combined math rock, afropop, and dance rock, setting a daring new paradigm & an Mathletes? Whatever you want to call them, they've combined math rock, afropop, and dance rock, setting a daring new paradigm & an impossibly high benchmark for other indie johnny come latelies to gaze up at nervously. Smashing. Will be considered "breakthrough" by summer in the US. Give us an extra 18 months to let it sink in, but we're trying at least. Expand
  3. DRSu
    May 2, 2008
    9
    Not as frenetic as the early EPs but after the 10th it sneaks up on you and you notice the nuances in tracks you thought were duds. (see Not as frenetic as the early EPs but after the 10th it sneaks up on you and you notice the nuances in tracks you thought were duds. (see Electic Bloom, Big Big Love #2 and the ridiculously good Heavy Water). Expand
  4. ChristianP.
    Apr 9, 2008
    8
    Great debut. However it is ABSURD to call this math rock. Is every song in 4/4? NOT MATH ROCK. Common sense people.
  5. Feb 19, 2011
    8
    'Tis a pretty strong debut! Was flirting with being harsh and giving it a 7, but I think it just about deserves an 8. With a strong balance of'Tis a pretty strong debut! Was flirting with being harsh and giving it a 7, but I think it just about deserves an 8. With a strong balance of Indie anthems and soundscapey journeys like Olympic Airways and Big Big Love, it's got a good variety. There are a couple of lame ish ventures in the form of Red Socks Puge and Electric Bloom, but other than that, damn fine. Expand
  6. Nov 25, 2014
    7
    A decent record throughout and if you wanted one word to describe it I would say solid. This is much more frantic stuff than the band's twoA decent record throughout and if you wanted one word to describe it I would say solid. This is much more frantic stuff than the band's two albums output since which are more in the typical indie rock/pop vein. Some will argue that this is where Foals sound at their most unique and what they have done since fails to stand out to the same extent. While I appreciate the serious rhythmic pieces on display on ANTIDOTES and the lightning in a bottle guitar work, for me their later work is more substantial and more satisfying. Expand
  7. DaveH.
    Apr 15, 2008
    3
    If the rest of the album is anything like Cassius it's awful. When will people learn that English indie bands are absolute rubbish- If the rest of the album is anything like Cassius it's awful. When will people learn that English indie bands are absolute rubbish- theres a new one every week producing the same rubbish! Expand

See all 13 User Reviews