ALBUM REVIEW: Surviving The Dream – Fidlar
Surf-punks FIDLAR are back with their long-awaited fourth record Surviving The Dream. The trio had gone on a planned mini-hiatus in 2019 which ended up going on for much longer thanks to the events of 2020, leaving them in a state of existentialism. During this time, they had a chance to grow and reflect on their identity being tethered to the notion of “getting fucked up”, causing their attitude to change. Yet this record still represents who they are as fun-loving individuals that’s both reminiscent of their beginnings and a testament to who they are now.
Whilst they’ve claimed to have grown, the band still subject the listener to moments of immaturity as demonstrated on opening track Fix Me. Whilst it’s meant to be deliberately unhinged and ridiculous, you can still feel rather put off by the vocals that come across as whiny. Granted, this might be due to them not suiting the alternative rock style the track opens with as when the band kick into fast punk the vocals flow better.
Things improve as the album moves into Low that appears to be more garage rock inspired with distorted vocals which genuinely sound very similar to YUNGBLUD. Whether that appeals to you or not, it remains a solid song with a good composition, and, regardless of how you look at it, is an improvement on the first track.
Things go one of two ways on Surviving The Dream; either it’s pure energy and bouncy fun that you can easily enjoy, or it feels immature and irritating. More than anything it’s difficult to tell whether we are meant to take the record seriously or to just go along with it and have fun. It’s a confusing synopsis that that you’ll probably agree with when you get to third track Sad Kids that is the epitome of a ‘sad song to dance and cry along to’, due to the upbeat ukelele and self-deprecating lyrics.
It’s very split due to how, on the one hand, there are solid songs like Orange County and Hurt with stunning compositions and lyrics, but on the other there’s songs that are pure chaotic fun like in Get Off My Wave and Down N Out. And then there are songs that you get legitimately angry at with how annoying they sound – we’re looking at you I Don’t Want To Do This.
Ultimately Surviving The Dream is record that could split opinion. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe you won’t, it will probably all just come down to whether you get it or not.
Rating: 6/10
Surviving The Dream is out now via self-release.
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