
FIDLAR
Almost Free
Mom + Pop
Jan 22, 2019
Web Exclusive
Almost Free finds FIDLAR, the SoCal corporate-punks that at one point made endearing and charming pop-punk, ripping off Beastie Boys’ worst tendencies and creative scapegoats. The opening track, “Get Off My Rock,” and every single song on Almost Free, for that matter, reflects this crunchy, ferocious approach to rap-rock—and they attempt to get political in the process. But why on earth would we want to hear a band that has made its name for itself singing—and more often than not screaming—about shooting up smack and getting blacked-out with “the homies” talk politics? Every move FIDLAR has made following their full-length debut, FIDLAR, sounds calculated, as if it was drafted up in a dingy, strip mall marketing office by a pair of washed-out hacks who no longer understand what is relevant. 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. (www.fidlarmusic.com)
Author rating: 3/10
Average reader rating: 7/10
Current Issue

Issue #70
Nov 18, 2022 Issue #70 - My Favorite Movie (Sharon Van Etten and Ezra Furman)
Most Recent
- 10 Best Songs of the Week: Clark, Samia, Heather Woods Broderick, Bodywash, and More (News) — Songs of the Week, Clark, Samia, Heather Woods Broderick, Bodywash, Pearla, Gruff Rhys, koleżanka, Steve Mason, Patrick Wolf, Gorillaz, Adeleye Omotayo
- Premiere: Smaller Hearts Shares New Single “Sleeper Agent” (News) — Smaller Hearts
- Ben Gibbard and Tom Howe Share New Song “Frightening Fishes” from the Apple TV+ Show “Shrinking” (News) — Ben Gibbard, Benjamin Gibbard, Tom Howe, Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Death Cab for Cutie
- Shayda (Review) —
- Susy Sun Shares New Album ‘On Ivar Hill’ - Stream It Below (News) —
Comments
Submit your comment
January 22nd 2019
2:20pm
the more people hate on this band the better. their shows are already too packed, y’all can stay home and leave a little more room for the rest of us.
January 25th 2019
2:01am
From this up here, the “Review”:
...every single song…Every move…each…”
Rating’s a 3/10 still!!
You sure wiped the album on something smelly, Timothy…