.
http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/foals-holy-fire-digitalpackshot-800-1361570243.jpg Holy Fire

Foals

Holy Fire

Warner Bros.
Rolling Stone: star rating
Community: star rating
5 3 0
February 25, 2013

On their 2008 debut, this Oxford, England, quintet recorded with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek and came up with an album of frenetic, glitched-out Brit pop. Two records later they're still expanding and ironing out that sound. Yannis Philippakis sounds like the Anglo-cized version of My Morning Jacket's Jim James as he sets his echo-laden yelp over burbling Talking Heads grooves and plasticine art-rock textures. "I can't get enough space," Philippakis sings over the lupine guitar howl of "Inhaler." But space isn't the problem; it's finding other songs as good as the tight-twisted kiss-off "My Number." Otherwise Holy Fire is a collection of well-manicured tracks zoning out to a dazzling middle distance.

prev
Album Review Main Next

ADD A COMMENT

Community Guidelines »
loading comments

loading comments...

COMMENTS

Sort by:
    Read More

    Music Reviews

    more Reviews »
    Daily Newsletter

    Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

    Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
    marketing partners.

    X

    We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

    Song Stories

    “More Than a Feeling”

    Boston | 1976

    Boston mastermind Tom Scholz was as surprised by anyone when he sent his unsolicited demo to record labels and got back a positive response. Scholz said, “I couldn’t believe it. Nobody knew who we were, so I wouldn’t even say we were struggling. It was groveling.” Part of the credit for the interest must go to the anthemic rock number "More Than a Feeling." Inspired by the Left Banke's 1966 hit "Walk Away Renee," Scholz worked on the song for five years in his basement studio before it was released on this album.

    More Song Stories entries »