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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Musical and lyrical contradictions are all over ‘Almost Free’, but it gains its power from dancing through the hard times with a massive grin on your face.
80
'Almost Free' is a mixed bag, but when FIDLAR are good, they are still very good indeed.
80
Stuffed with fizzing hooks and brilliantly frank lyrics, ‘Almost Free’ could be FIDLAR’s best record yet. A blistering collection of eclectic tunes threaded together by punks’ fearless riffs and unguarded admissions, which add even more weight to their sound, it’s a reminder of how much we’ve missed them.
75
While we didn’t get the batch of guitar-fueled thrashers that their past two records provided, Almost Free contains an experimental element that’s exciting to see FIDLAR lean into.
75
Almost Free is a FIDLAR album - brash, unhinged, wild, a tad nonsensical, but most of all, a testament to their nature.
71
While FIDLAR benefit from cleaned-up production, the hit-or-miss, albeit courageous, tracklist is indicative of a band that’s still workshopping their sound.
65
FIDLAR may have tagged their third LP as ‘Almost Free’ but based on the hit and miss sonics and lyrics, I’d say ‘Not Quite There’ would be more apt.
65
FIDLAR trade in some of the gaudiest radio sounds of the last three decades, but they present them with the enthusiasm of a puppy that’s dug a greasy hambone out of the trash, too gleeful to admonish. Almost Free may be obnoxious, but it’s never cynical.
50
It’s not clear what Fidlar are trying to achieve here, and I’m confused.
50
To their credit, FIDLAR have made legitimate attempts to get out of their creative comfort zone and go somewhere new. That said, Almost Free is somewhat of a mess.
50
More power to FIDLAR if they’d rather go the Top 40 route here, but sounding like “Howlin’ for You”-era Black Keys or Cage the Elephant feels regressive for a once-fresh band.
30
This bland, wishy-washy concoction of pop-rock FIDLAR half-assedly barfs up reflects the quartet of 30-something's own addictive tendencies; each watered-down attempt at a "genre-revival"-punk, in this case—falls victim to insipid rip-offs of their "punk" influences.
10
Creatively, ‘Almost Free’ is basically an algorithmic word generator of one night stands and substance abuse.
I love that FIDLAR are experimenting with new things, some a better sensation more than others. Biggest issue is that it lacks a core identity, almost like a compilation album of different artists.
Well I hadn't heard a full album by FIDLAR and now I kind of get why a lot of people hate them... They don't really have a distinct sound, they borrow a lot of other bands like Green Day, Garbage, The Clash, etc. It doesn't feel authentic when it comes to their production and overall vibe. I kinda liked the lyrics and the overall topics that were pinned, however it also made for a very inconsistent record where they tried to be politic but then sarcastically romantic and then just give zero ... read more
Track List
- Get Off My Rock
- Can’t You See
- By Myself
- Flake
- Alcohol
- Almost Free
- Scam Likely
- Called You Twice (feat. K.Flay)
- Nuke
- Too Real
- Kick
- Thought. Mouth.
- Good Times Are Over
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In Library (19)
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Listen: FIDLAR - "Can't You See" 
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New Track: FIDLAR - "Are You High?" 
Added on: October 12, 2018
