This October, English rock band Foals released a 10 track continuum to their album “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost.” Part 1 was released earlier this year and featured heavy new wave style synth and a relaxed vibe throughout the album.
As promised by the band, “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2” offers much more energy and a similar sound to their 2015 album “What Went Down.” “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2” doesn’t offer any drastically new sounds or experimentation, but the songs featured on the LP are certainly enjoyable.
The first song is “Red Desert,” the perfect introduction to the album. This instrumental features intense synth that is layered, creating a very full sound. The varying dynamics of the piece offer a glimpse into the entire album’s use of volume. At the end of the short song, there is a bit of slide guitar featured that creates a smooth transition to the next guitar-centered song.
“The Runner” features distorted guitar and a strong beat. The airy synth is layered in such a way where it adds auditory depth without being too prominent. The synth juxtaposes the guitar, making the gritty sound stand out even more. This combination also creates a balance in the song that makes it both appealing to rock fans and more alternative fans. This song is incredibly animated and makes you want to sing along to lead singer Yannis Philippakis’ emotive vocals. As with most songs by Foals, “The Runner” does not want the listener to only listen to the vocals, but to the composition as a whole. Every time I listen to it, I notice a new flourish or element. “The Runner” is probably my personal favorite song on the album for that reason.
A similar sound is carried through to “Wash off” and “Black Bull.” Both tracks feature hard and sharp hitting beats that build throughout the verses and explode during the choruses. Personally, I feel like “Wash Off” is just a more distorted and less pop rock version of their 2013 hit song “My Number,” and it can at times feel a bit boring to someone who has listened to their music for years. “Black Bull” features very wild vocals and fuzzy guitar all over smashing drums. Its intense energy and tonal qualities are reminiscent of another English rock band, Royal Blood.
“Into The Surf” departs from the harder songs on the first half of the album. Synth is highlighted in this song along with piano. It’s one of the first slow songs on the album and has much more of a melancholy mood than any previous track. Philippakis’ vocals are a bit more prominent though muffled slightly, creating a vintage quality. The overall sound is ethereal, and it definitely departs from the established atmosphere of the album. While it is refreshing to hear this variation, I think that it should have been put as the third or fourth track instead of ninth to keep the listener interested in what comes next.
The last track on the album is titled “Neptune.” It is 10 minutes long and plays with more electric sounds than before. It has a laid back and psychedelic vibe while also maintaining the voluminous sounds and intensity of the rest of the album. It is a great close to the album, somehow managing to tie together the rock heavy songs and the slower ballads of the album.
“Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2” is not my favorite album by Foals, but it does provide a number of good songs that are consistent in quality with their previous releases.
I was hoping that this album would have more experimental sounds, but Foals no doubt is trying to cater to the somewhat mainstream audience they have already established by putting out content they know won’t cause them to lose any fans.
