ALBUM REVIEW | FLETCHER – In Search Of The Antidote

Through her new album, In Search Of The Antidote, FLETCHER journals the hardships of her healing journey.

World, meet Cari Fletcher.

You’ve most certainly been introduced to sassy and confident FLETCHER before, whether it was through one of her hits, or through her most recent Tiktok drama, involving her ex and her ex’s ex.

In her new effort though, the singer-songwriter bares her soul, and forces you to come face to face with Cari, a 30-year-old who doesn’t quite have it all figured out, but is definitely trying her best.

FLETCHER – IN SEARCH OF THE ANTIDOTE TRACK BY TRACK 

It doesn’t take long for Cari Fletcher to own her past mistakes. Barely ten seconds into the album and into its first track “Maybe I Am”, the queer artist sings “Here I f*king go again / Holding up a match to everything I love.” From the first line on, you can tell Fletcher has spiraled since her latest effort, Girl Of My Dreams, came out in September 2022, leading her to do some self-reflection and some thinking. The singer confesses she’s not perfect from the get-go, biting back at all the criticism she’s faced over the last few years, singing, ​​”You say I’m ruining my life on purposе / Just because I can / Maybe I, maybе I am.”

Now, it takes some courage to admit your flaws and questionable decisions, but it takes some more to commit to doing better, and that’s the message the singer conveys in Track 2. As the latest of the three previously-released singles, “Doing Better” highlights the complexity of healing from a relationship, explaining that moving on may be the better option, but that sometimes, “better feels worse.”

The following track, “Ego Talking” takes you by surprise production-wise. The song starts slow, with Fletcher admitting that her ego and jealousy get the best of her sometimes over the light strumming of an acoustic guitar. But as the chorus kicks in, the guitar is replaced by a pulsating beat. Fletcher matches the rhythm vocally, dipping into her lower and softer range during the verses and showcasing powerful vocal runs during the chorus. This track alone does a brilliant job at showcasing the singer’s vocal prowess and perfected technique, and it just gets better and better as the album progresses.

The next two tracks may be similar in the themes they grapple with, but they couldn’t be more different sonically. In “Lead Me On”, FLETCHER begs for some recognition from an unrequited lover, singing “So why don’t you just lead me on? / ‘Cause something is better than nothing at all.” The strong pop beat and pounding drums are paired with the singer’s impressive vocals, and the combination of the two made the track a perfect choice to push as a single ahead of the album release in January 2024. 

However, the 30-year-old slows everything down in “Two Things Can Be True.” Lyrically, it’s like we’re reading straight into the singer’s diary as she embraces her tumultuous emotions over a friendship she romanticized. She’s asking questions that she seems to already have the answers to, “Did we take it too far? Maybe. / Did I regret it then? No. / Do I regret it now that we don’t talk? Yes.” As the singer continues analyzing what went wrong over a simple piano sequence, the electric guitar and drums slowly kick in, giving the song a chaotic yet addictive lo-fi vibe near the end that makes the song stand out in the album.

The bittersweet “Eras Of Us” was the first sneak peek into the album, as the single was released back in December 2023. Written about that one time she bumped into her ex, photographer and Youtuber Shannon Beveridge, at Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour back in May 2023, the track is also heavy on guitar and drums. The singer’s lower register shines throughout the song, whether it’s during the slower intro and outro, or in the scratchy upbeat chorus. 

Lyrically, “Attached to You” is definitely a fan-favorite for it is one where the singer clearly calls herself out on her attachment issues. As FLETCHER starts singing about keeping her parents and friends are a “bird’s-eye view” from a new potential lover so they don’t get attached, she quickly catches herself, claiming instead: “There I go again / Makin’ up a bad excuse / So I don’t get attached to you.” The song has one of the best outros of the record and a strong drum beat which comes in alignment with the pop-rock vibe found throughout the album. There’s no doubt that the singer’s tour drummer and longtime friend Cameron Lockwood will have plenty of fun if this track makes it onto the upcoming tour setlist. 

“Crush” dips straight into Fletcher’s vulnerability, making it one of the more introspective moments of the album. The singer’s lower range is highlighted once more as she sings, “I want your kisses to cut me / Come on, I dare you to love me.” The melody accompanies the singer’s musings, starting slow with just an acoustic guitar, before picking up in the second verse, and then completely exploding during the bridge as FLETCHER shares “Part of me wants forever / You’re hard-wired in my brain / Part of me knows better / Maybe I’ll listen someday.”

Now if you look up FLETCHER’s fans’ Top 3 on X (formerly Twitter) or any other platform, you can be sure you’ll find “Pretending.” The song indeed quickly rose to the top with its pop-rock synths and relatable songwriting, making it the perfect song for anyone to scream along to while it’s playing loudly in their car. A real album highlight, “Pretending” is the song Fletcher has already shared to be the most excited to play on tour.

The last two little gems of the 11-track record are hidden at the very end of the tracklist. As “Joyride” literally takes listeners on an actual melodic ride, the title track “Antidote” provides a calmer offering on love and healing. “You’re my dopamine state / You’re my sanity dose […] You’re the medication I wanna take / You are my antidote”. The closing track, which is the longest of the record with over 4 minutes of dreamy melodies, is filled with sunny harmonies and features gorgeous vocals from FLETCHER as well as a beautiful mid-song guitar solo.

IN SEARCH OF THE ANTIDOTE – PRODUCTION

In Search Of The Antidote was almost entirely produced by Jennifer Decilveo, whom FLETCHER had already worked with on “All Love,” “Serial Heartbreaker,” and more. Decilveo is also credited as one of the main co-writers of the record. Also credited on the producing side are Jon Bellion, German, The Monsters & Strangers, One Love, Pete Nappi and Colin Brittain.

Overall, the record provides simpler and more natural production, with the use of more live instruments than on FLETCHER’s debut, Girl Of My Dreams. In Search Of The Antidote is a bit more guitar-heavy than previous offerings but still provides the synth-pop sound that the artist has been known for for a couple of years now.

IN SEARCH OF THE ANTIDOTE – OVERALL REVIEW

In Search Of The Antidote serves as Cari Fletcher’s catharsis, a way for her to release and provide herself some relief from the strong and repressed emotions she’s been dealing with on her healing journey. The 30-year-old singer-songwriter shows once again that healing is not linear, and that one will inevitably stumble and make mistakes along the way. FLETCHER’s unbridled vocals truly shine on this new effort, as she dips into her lower range while still showcasing powerful vocal runs. 

The singer basks in unapologetic candidness, vulnerability, and honesty in this new album, and it’s exhilarating. In Search Of The Antidote is a healing journey in itself, with all the self-discovery, accountability, and closure that it entails. FLETCHER confesses and journals the messy, and sometimes ugly, trials and tribulations brought by life and love and she delivers beautifully.

IN SEARCH OF THE ANTIDOTE – STAFF PICKS

Lex –
“Two Things Can Be True”
“Attached To You”
“Joyride”

Silvia –
“Pretending”
“Antidote”
“Eras Of Us”