Total Life Forever

Foals
Total Life Forever
Rating: Grrrr

Foals' first album Antidotes was touted so highly in the British press you would have thought it was the second coming of Jesus. Lesser bands would have been crushed under the weight of all the pressure. I, for one, was not really impressed by the album. All the elements were there, great hooks, solid songwriting, interesting approach, however, it all felt too calculated and exhausting. The density of the songs was overwhelming, plus the singer practically barked his vocals, which was headache inducing. I didn't expect to hear much from them afterwards.

My friend Joey was a huge fan of theirs and kept pushing me to try the new album. Of course, being stubborn, I held off for the longest time. Finally I gave in after seeing the wonderful video for "Spanish Sahara"



What one immediately notices is that singer Yannis Philippakis is not barking anymore, but is actually singing! And unlike the songs on Antidotes, the song is not crammed with too many ideas, it is allowed to unfold and given space to breathe. I was completely taken aback.

I was even more taken aback when I heard the whole cd and how it is a mighty step forward for the band. "Spanish Sahara" was not a fluke, the rest of the album is measured, intelligent, and gorgeous. Yannis Philippakis' voice is beautiful and full of emotion throughout.

First track "Blue Blood" has a wonderful pace, starting slow and dramatic and building to a frenzy of interlocking, chiming guitars.



One of the best things about Total Life Forever, is that every day a new song becomes my favorite. I love it when a cd has that much depth to uncover new pleasures each day.

At first I loved "Black Gold," with its delicate, chiming guitars, that transforms into a swirling juggernaut of a song.



Then I moved on to "After Glow," with its increasingly desperate vocal, and haunting lyrics:

"Get out, and go and find everyone who cared for you
They, won't be there to see you tomorrow
Get out, don't forget everything you cared for
For it, won't be nothing more tomorrow"



And now "2 Trees," pittering drumbeats, sparkling guitar work, and delicate vocals, the lyrics admonishing the character "don't let go/just breathe slow/so hold on it will pass/don't give up/don't let go/grey clouds they all break up."



Foals even show their range by getting a bit funky on "Miami," with its strong back beat and hysterical video featuring a smackdown fight between some trannies and bodybuilders.



Not everything works on Total Life Forever. There are a few songs that meander a bit ("This Orient") or are just pretty to the point of blandness ("Alabaster"), however, the disappointments are few and far between.

I will go out on a limb here and say that Total Life Forever is Foals' The Bends. The next album will determine if this is just a one off success. Based on this striking leap forward, I expect great things to come.



Rating System

Chillfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not good; could have either been trimmed or spent more time on.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.