I'm Not Well

I'm Not Well is the first full-length studio album by English indie rock band Black Foxxes. It was released on 19 August 2016 through Spinefarm Records/Search And Destroy Records and it was produced by Adrian Bushby. The artwork was created by Daniel P. Carter, and it received a nomination at Heavy Music Awards in 2017 for Best Album Artwork.[1]

I'm Not Well
Studio album by
Black Foxxes
Released19 August 2016
LabelSpinefarm Records/Search And Destroy Records
ProducerAdrian Bushby
Black Foxxes chronology
Pines
(2014)		 I'm Not Well
(2016)		 Reiði
(2018)
Singles from I'm Not Well
  1. "Husk"
    Released: 23 March 2016
  2. "I'm Not Well"
    Released: 17 May 2016
  3. "Whatever Lets You Cope"
    Released: 2 August 2016
  4. "How We Rust"
    Released: 28 October 2016

Background and recording

I'm Not Well was recorded between Assault & Battery studios in London and Devon’s Middle Farm.[2]

Musical style and lyrics

The record has been described as raw, dark and brutally honest, with echoes of Biffy Clyro[3] and Placebo. I'm Not Well includes the tracks previously released in the EP Pines.

The album lyrics - particularly, the title track - reflect Mark Holley's personal experiences and feelings, and the struggles of living with Crohn's disease and anxiety. He declared: "I wanted to focus on all the issues I was going through on the lead up to that album. I had only recently been diagnosed with having extreme anxiety and I was struggling massively to cope day to day. Opening up and talking about it and seeing others were going through the same things was the differential I needed to be able to get through it all."[4]

"Bronte" is about the first time Holley went into treatment for Crohn's disease, while "Whatever Lets You Cope" is about drug addiction, as he explained. "I was on holiday with my girlfriend in a beautiful, tranquil part of the world, in Wales. And as I went out for a peaceful coastal walk, I saw this lady collapsing on a bench. As I walked past, I discovered a used needle, bottle of vodka and a belt tied round her arm (...) Drug addiction is such a cruel affliction, and to see this lady slumped over, needle having just been used with the backdrop of sheer nirvana it makes you realize sometimes people just need that release. I’ll never forget that moment."[5]

Release and promotion

On 23 March 2016, Black Foxxes released a first single, 'Husk", and a corresponding video directed by Daniel Broadley.[6]

On 17 May 2016, the single "I'm Not Well" was released, along with a music video.[7]

On 2 August 2016, they revealed a third single, "Whatever Lets You Cope", and a video as well.[8]

On 28 October 2016, a fourth single was announced, "How We Rust".[9]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
Dead Press![11]
Drowned In Sound10/10[12]
Louder Sound [13]
Rocksound6/10 [14]

The album received generally positive reviews: the critics admired the maturity and honesty of the contents, and the release has been defined "an intimate and introspective release (...) an outpour of palpable emotion that listeners can relate to and feel all the better for finding."[15] It was appreciated also how Black Foxxes managed to distinguish themselves from the mainstream alternative music scene, with "searing vocals, delicate and cracking with emotion one minute and screaming the next. Dynamic and layered guitar parts and a strong rhythm section."[16]

At the same time, it has been largely noted how the lyrics and dark sound contributed to create "a mud-ride of delicate depression-pop"[17] reminiscent of emo and grunge. The band liked this definition and ended up describing their music as depression-pop.[5]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Not Well"3:51
2."Husk"2:38
3."Whatever Lets You Cope"3:56
4."How We Rust"4:04
5."River"5:12
6."Maple Summer"4:38
7."Bronte"4:05
8."Waking Up"3:18
9."Home"2:43
10."Slow Jams Forever"4:07
11."Pines"5:04
Total length:43:00

Personnel
  • Mark Holley - vocals, guitar
  • Tristan Jane - bass guitar
  • Anthony (Ant) Thornton - drums

References
  1. "Heavy Music Awards 2017 Finalists Announced – Heavy Music Awards". Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  2. "On the Radar: Black Foxxes". charts.musicweek.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. Ewart, Alan (23 October 2016). "Black Foxxes: Power Rock Played Loud!". Louder Than War. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. "Interview: Black Foxxes | Interviews". Music Crowns. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  5. "Riot Fest Featured Artist: Black Foxxes". Best New Bands. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  6. Black Foxxes - HUSK, retrieved 4 September 2019
  7. Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well, retrieved 4 September 2019
  8. Black Foxxes - Whatever Lets You Cope, retrieved 4 September 2019
  9. Black Foxxes - How We Rust, retrieved 4 September 2019
  10. "I'm Not Well". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  11. "ALBUM: Black Foxxes – I'm Not Well". Dead Press!. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  12. "Black Foxxes – I'm Not Well". Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  13. "Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well album review/". Louder Sound. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  14. "Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well". Rocksound. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  15. "Black Foxxes – I'm Not Well | Album Review | Mosh". 8 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  16. "Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well". Echoes And Dust. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  17. Rock, Sleazegrinder 2016-08-03T13:17:00 215Z Classic (3 August 2016). "Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well album review". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
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