Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: FIDLAR - "Too"

 

As brash, playful and thrilling as their debut single Cheap Beer was, I personally found FIDLAR's first record to be a bit of a chore to get through; once the shtick started wearing thin and the songs kept exploring the same territory ad nauseum, the album became less humourous and more annoying.

Naturally, with a couple of years to grow as a band and hone their chops, their second record is a vast improvement; this much is apparent from lead track (and first single) 40 Oz. On Repeat, which refines their young and reckless sound and uncovers one of the year's most infectious songs while maintaining much of the brashness that made some of the previous record so endearing. There's more muscle on display too, perhaps most notably on Punks. A cynic would degrade it for tinkering with the same bluesy hard rock style that other current bands like Royal Blood have conquered the world with, but damn if Punks isn't one of the most fun and furious takes on that particular subgenre,

They follow that up with the sunny singalong West Coast, then later channel Blink-182 with the disjointed raging surf-punk of Sober, then put on their best Pixies face on Leave Me Alone, then explore the dark depths of drug abuse via Modest Mouse and The Black Keys on Overdose, then take the piss out of power ballads on Stupid Decision (right before a punked-up rocker called Bad Medicine, no less).

If you're thinking, "wow, that's a lot of sonic ground to cover, I hope they pull it all off", I'm pleased to report that it all more or less checks out. There are still plenty of growing pains, as these guys are still really young (and a few of the between-song segués are a little cringe-inducing), but there are also more hooks and fully fleshed out song ideas. More importantly, they're setting themselves up for a host of possibilities for future records which, if you get your thrills from the uncertainty of where a band is going next, makes Too required listening.

September 4, 2015 • Mom + Pop/Dine Alone
Highlights 40 Oz. On Repeat • Punks • Overdose

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2014: And the Winners Are...

It's been a long year, and another great one for rock n' roll. While the pop charts were overrun with barely legals obsessed with their asses, rock soldiered on undeterred even as pundits (hell, in some cases even rockers themselves) mourned the genre. Sure, rock didn't dominate the money game in 2014, but that shouldn't evoke sad nostalgia and eulogies. Even for as little perceived impact rock music made, a hell of a lot happened if people had only paid attention. From grizzled vets adding jewels to their crown (Springsteen, Petty) to new beginnings (Against Me!, Antemasque) to happy returns (Faith No More, The Tea Party) and all points in between, rock continued to thrive, evolve and thrill in 2014. Enough talk. It's winning time. Your Year in Rock winners for 2014 are...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!  What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...
Post a Comment
Read more