The Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2

 

By Dani Burgrabe

Headphone’s on, turn up “The Runner” by the Foals and let the rift and uplifting lyrics set the tone for their latest album, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2.

“Sunday” and “I’m Done with the World” from part one of the split album, were the cliffhangers leading into part two. Lyrics like “cities burn” from the track “Sunday” along with lyrics about fire in part one’s final song, leads into the lyrics “through the embers” from the song, “The Runner” on the second album. It gives imagery to the world burning and to the wreckage that follows. As always, the first element in music I look at is the lyrics, which is why “The Runner” really stood out for me. The edgy rock sound flows as the lyrics sing about running through the embers chasing after their purpose. To keep running, even if you might fall which I think can inspire us all to keep going after what we want, even when life’s challenges might get in the way. It’s a good metaphorical song to turn on to pump you up and rock along with if you need some motivation.

The second album had a lot of songs going with the same theme of re-learning to fly, even when it seems like their “wings are tied” and finding who they want to be out of the fire and destruction they left behind. I liked the theme of the album, the guitar riffs alongside the heavy drums, and the overall alternative rock sound of the project, but this album and I didn’t connect as much as I wanted. I thought it was better than part one of the split album, but I don’t think it was enough, and I’d say that it could have been better. It felt a little overwhelming when I first turned it on as some songs made me feel like there was too much going on. The “Red Desert” intro was also a little too slow for my liking. Songs like “Black Bull” and “Like Lighting” made up for the parts of the album that were lacking. The beats with the guitar and the drums made we want to rock along but only to a couple songs.

Before this album, I never gave much of my attention to the band from Oxford, England, but after hearing Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2, I made it an effort to give them a chance. I listened to part one and then a few of their older popular songs and I found that they grew on me slightly. I think if I had listened to their older songs before this album, I would have felt a little differently towards the band but the connection for me wasn’t there through Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2.

I haven’t completely given up on the Foals, but as far as this album goes, it was not as impressionable on me as I thought that it could be. I hope on their next album they bring something new and edgy with their sound.

Rating: 6.5/10

Favorite Tracks: “The Runner”, “Black Bull”. “Like Lightning”, “Dreaming of”