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

No bands have the same style or sound as Foals, and their new effort only affirms that their throne in indie rock will not be contested. Foals explores electronica and fuses it with their homegrown indie sound in their eclectic new record Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1.

It’s apparent right from the start that Foals are at the top of their game. ‘Moonlight‘ enchantingly opens Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 with a hypnotizing atmosphere and enchanting sound, capturing your attention from the very first seconds. Foals do not let go of this engagement, keeping listeners both energized and captured in atmosphere: with tracks like ‘Exits‘ bringing big energy and punchy groove with crystalline synths bringing the record drive, songs like the growing ‘Sunday‘ aim to build an atmosphere that captures the listener, done so through the track’s indie beginnings morphing into an electronic end. The dreamy ‘I’m Down With The World (& It’s Done With Me)‘ ends the record as enchantingly as it began, as if the record’s story is fading out into finality (despite a follow-up record expected to come this autumn).

There’s more to Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost than just invigorating atmospheres. There are plenty of jams to go around on the record, and Foals know how to keep pushing ahead with tracks like these. The quick but bright ‘White Onions‘ adds a nice warmth to the record early on, before the funky, cool build of ‘In Degrees‘ spices up the middle of the record. The demanding bassline of ‘Syrups‘ promises an explosive end, before the punchy forward drive of ‘On The Luna‘ keeps the record moving forward. Even some of the more experimental tracks, like ‘Cafe D’Athens‘ offer a cool groove even when Foals are dealing with more scathing sounds.

Foals proves their place in indie rock with their eclectic new record Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part I, wholly tying electronica into their signature indie atmosphere. Foals continue to evolve and flourish with every new record, and this one is only the next successful chapter in the series. A sequel to the album is expected in the fall, and with how big this record is, there’s a lot of pressure on Foals’ plate. Knowing them, however, there shouldn’t have to be any worry.

Favorite Tracks: Syrups, Sunday, In Degrees

Least Favorite Track: Surf, Pt. 1

Rating: 77 / 100

Stream or buy Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 on Apple Music, and follow our 2019 Playlist on Spotify: