In Search of the Antidote

Last updated

In Search of the Antidote
Fletcher - In Search of the Antidote.png
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 22, 2024 (2024-03-22)
Recorded
Length31:20
Label Capitol
Producer
Fletcher chronology
Girl of My Dreams
(2022)
In Search of the Antidote
(2024)
Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?
(2025)
Singles from In Search of the Antidote
  1. "Eras of Us"
    Released: December 8, 2023
  2. "Lead Me On"
    Released: January 25, 2024
  3. "Doing Better"
    Released: March 1, 2024

In Search of the Antidote is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Fletcher. It was released on March 22, 2024, through Capitol Records. [2] It explores themes of identity, ego, insecurity, and self-fulfillment, inspired by the artist's search for healing and meaning through love. Fletcher described the project as deeply personal, shaped by unfiltered introspection and her experiences with self-reflection and connection. In Search of the Antidote was preceded by several singles, including "Eras of Us", "Lead Me On", and "Doing Better". It debuted at number three on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.

Contents

In Search of the Antidote received generally favorable reviews from critics, earning a Metacritic score of 72. While some praised its production quality, emotional depth, and vocal performance, others felt the album's impact was inconsistent, though they acknowledged standout moments throughout.

Background

In Search of the Antidote explores themes of "identity, insecurity, ego, and self-fulfillment", containing "distinct production" as well as "powerful vocal delivery". [3] A "personal" record, Fletcher acts as the "creative pivot" [4] and examines the singer's "ultra-vivid storytelling and unfiltered introspection". Talking about the topic, Fletcher revealed that she had been looking for "the antidote in so many things" over the years, such as "women, the road, the stage, fans, spirituality and self-reflection". [5] Making of the album begged the question of "what would truly heal" her, ultimately realizing that "love is the antidote". [6] However, it was not until this record that she would see love "through all the different lenses and angles" and discover its "infinite manifestations", which would turn out to be her meaning of In Search of the Antidote. [7]

Release and promotion

Fletcher released the song "Eras of Us" on December 8, 2023. [8] The song was released as a digital single with an accompanying music video, and she later revealed she was inspired to make the song after attending Taylor Swift's concert tour The Eras Tour. [9] On January 24, 2024, Fletcher announced the title of the album, and it was revealed that "Eras of Us" would be included on the album. [3] In the album announcement, Fletcher also shared the song "Lead Me On" would be the next pre-release single. The singer released "Lead Me On" and the song's music video on January 25, 2024.[ citation needed ]

"Doing Better", the album's third pre-release single, was released on March 1, and Rolling Stone described the single as Fletcher "being real with herself" and "taking accountability for her ego." [10] In June 2024, "Doing Better" was included in Rolling Stone's The Best Songs of 2024 So Far. [11] In the weeks leading up to the release of In Search of the Antidote, Fletcher took part in interviews on the Zach Sang Show and with Zane Lowe for Apple Music. [12] Additionally, she made a television appearance performing "Pretending" on The Kelly Clarkson Show . [13] In Search of the Antidote debuted at number three in the US Billboard Top Album Sales charts. [14]

Critical reception

In Search of the Antidote ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 72/100 [15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic 7/10 [16]
Clash 8/10 [17]
Dork Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [18]
The Line of Best Fit 8/10 [19]

In Search of the Antidote received generally favorable reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received a weighted average score of 72, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [15]

Narzra Ahmed in Clash described the album as "heavily produced, but in the best possible way" and complimented the album's "indie feel".10 [17] Eryn Murphy with Euphoria Magazine gave In Search of the Antidote four out of five stars and called the album a "transparent pop journey". [20] In a five-star review, Neive McCarthy with Dork wrote that "Fletcher delivers her truths and lessons with some of her most electric tracks yet" on In Search of the Antidote. [18] Conversely, Ben Siegel in Riff Magazine wrote that the album's production only "occasionally succeeds" while praising Fletcher's vocals and lyrics, concluding the album contains "some fantastic moments". [21]

Track listing

In Search of the Antidote track listing [1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Maybe I Am"2:44
2."Doing Better"
2:33
3."Ego Talking"
2:23
4."Lead Me On"
  • Fletcher
  • J. Johnson
  • S. Johnson
  • Jon Bellion
  • Nappi
  • Pollack
  • Hein
  • Jason Cornet
  • The Monsters & Strangerz
  • Bellion
  • Nappi [p]
2:53
5."Two Things Can Be True"
  • Fletcher
  • Decilveo
  • Michaels
Decilveo [p] 2:45
6."Eras of Us"
  • Fletcher
  • Decilveo
  • Sommers
  • Dussolliet
2:48
7."Attached to You"
  • Fletcher
  • Decilveo
  • Michaels
Decilveo [p] 2:36
8."Crush"
  • Fletcher
  • Decilveo
  • Sommers
  • Weitz
2:24
9."Pretending"
  • Fletcher
  • Bellion
  • Nappi
  • Hein
  • Bellion
  • Nappi [p]
3:02
10."Joyride"
  • Fletcher
  • Decilveo
  • Sommers
  • Dussolliet
3:04
11."Antidote"
  • Fletcher
  • Bellion
  • Nappi
  • Hein
  • Cornet
  • Bellion
  • Nappi [p]
4:08
Total length:31:20

Notes

Personnel

Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes. [1]

Musicians

Technical

Visuals

Charts

Chart performance for In Search of the Antidote
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [22] 66
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [23] 74
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [24] 14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [25] 55
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [26] 34
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [27] 28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [28] 23
Scottish Albums (OCC) [29] 5
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [30] 85
UK Albums (OCC) [31] 26
US Billboard 200 [32] 36

References

  1. 1 2 3 In Search of the Antidote (Media notes). Fletcher. Capitol Records. March 22, 2024.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. Aramesh, Waiss (March 16, 2024). "Fletcher Worried She Might Have to Quit Music. Now, She's Healing in More Ways Than One". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 24, 2024). "Fletcher Announces New Album In Search of the Antidote, Sets Debut of New Single & Video for "Lead Me On"". Glaad . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  4. Murray, Robin (January 25, 2024). "Fletcher Announces New Album In Search of the Antidote". Clash . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  5. Ordonez, Eli (January 30, 2024). "Fletches shares driving new single "Lead Me On", announces new album". NME . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  6. Ackroyd, Stephen (January 25, 2024). "Fletcher has announced her second album In Search of the Antidote". Dork . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  7. Carter, Daisy (January 25, 2024). "Fletcher announces new album In Search of the Antidote". DIY . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  8. Raza-Sheikh, Zoya (December 8, 2023). "Fletcher returns with brand new single Eras Of Us". GAY TIMES. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  9. Raza-Sheikh, Zoya (December 8, 2023). "Fletcher returns with brand new single Eras Of Us". Gay Times. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  10. Mier, Tomás (March 1, 2024). "Fletcher Calls Herself (and Her Ego) Out on Single 'Doing Better'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  11. "The Best Songs of 2024 So Far". Rolling Stone. June 12, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  12. FLETCHER: 'In Search of the Antidote', Songwriting & Saturn Return | Apple Music . Retrieved March 29, 2024 via YouTube.
  13. Watch The Kelly Clarkson Show - Official Website Clip: FLETCHER Performs 'Pretending' On The Kelly Clarkson Show - NBC.com . Retrieved July 7, 2024 via NBC.
  14. Caulfield, Keith (April 3, 2024). "Fletcher's 'In Search of the Antidote' Debuts at No. 3 on Top Album Sales Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "In Search of the Antidote by Fletcher". Metacritic . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  16. Donelson, Marcy (March 22, 2024). "Fletcher – In Search of the Antidote | Reviews". AllMusic . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Garner, Narza (March 21, 2024). "Fletcher – In Search of the Antidote | Reviews". Clash . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Young, Martyn (September 15, 2022). "Fletcher – In Search of the Antidote". Dork . Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  19. Savage, Emily (March 22, 2024). "Fletcher embraces the chaos of catharsis on In Search of the Antidote". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  20. Murphy, Eryn (March 25, 2024). "Fletcher - In Search of the Antidote" . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  21. Siegel, Ben (March 18, 2024). "Album Review: Fletcher almost soars while In Search of the Antidote". Riff Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  22. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 April 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1778. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 1, 2024. p. 6.
  23. "Austriancharts.at – Fletcher %5BUS%5D – In Search of the Antidote" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Fletcher %5BUS%5D – In Search of the Antidote" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  25. "Ultratop.be – Fletcher %5BUS%5D – In Search of the Antidote" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Fletcher %5BUS%5D – In Search of the Antidote" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Fletcher – In Search of the Antidote" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  28. "Charts.nz – Fletcher %5BUS%5D – In Search of the Antidote". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  29. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  30. "Swisscharts.com – Fletcher %5BUS%5D – In Search of the Antidote". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  31. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  32. "Fletcher Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2024.