With their fourth studio album “What Went Down,” English indie rock band Foals lose some of the unpredictability that made them interesting, but manage to find a sound that still works.
In the group’s previous albums, Foals was liable to break away from genre guidelines and become a sound unto themselves, but that isn’t the case with this album.
All 10 tracks of “What Went Down” remain pretty consistent with the sound Foals has cultivated. There aren’t any songs that truly miss the mark, but the mercuriality of what worked so well on their last album “Holy Fire” isn’t present. With “Holy Fire,” the listener never knew what was going to come out of the speaker from track to track. “What Went Down” is a lot more cohesive, which is not typically considered a negative when it comes to albums. However, Foals are known for their forward-thinking music, not cohesivity.
The album also doesn’t feature a standout, clear single like “Holy Fire” had in “My Number.”
“What Went Down” does feature a few great tracks, and despite being sonically underwhelming, the album is solid lyrically.
“Mountain At My Gates” is one of, if not the best song on the album. The track is the epitome of indie rock, utilizing nearly every instrument possible and making great use of lead singer Yannis Philippakis. His rough voice is low and haunting during the verses but rises throughout the chorus using Philippakis’ entire range.
“Lonely Hunter” could also make a case for best song on “What Went Down.” It’s more on the pop side of indie rock and is exactly the kind of indie earworm Foals perfected on “Holy Fire.” The chorus is upbeat and catchy, and features classic metaphorical Foals lyrics. “Just remember, the love is the gun in your hand,” Philippakis croons during the chorus.
Another great track is the pleasant midtempo “Birch Tree.” The song is more reminiscent of a “Holy Fire” track with its funky bassline and sparkling vocal harmonization on the chorus. It sounds like it came straight out of the 80s, both in sound and subject matter.
“What Went Down” is by no means a poor album, but it’s simply underwhelming when compared to the band’s previous work. Foals always managed to outdo themselves, however now they’ve settled into a comfortable sound. This sound is a good one, but rather typical of indie rock bands.
With the volatility of previous entries gone, consistency is the album’s only true disappointment.