New Foo Fighters

stickyfiddle · May 2023

But Here We Are is out on Friday. I'll be in Seattle, which feels appropriate.

The new tracks heard so far are really good. The Teacher is just out - I'm on a work call so haven't listened yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MF6trC529M

Creed_Clicks · May 2023

That's not bad at all. I assume Grohl recorded the drums or did Hawkins have some tracks done before his passing?
On a side note are any of the Foos from Seattle? They're an LA band no?

stickyfiddle · May 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

That's not bad at all. I assume Grohl recorded the drums or did Hawkins have some tracks done before his passing?

It's all Dave apparently. Given the context and vibe of the album I can imagine they'd want a clean slate

LPManic · May 2023

Grohl did them. Freese is an interesting choice and very much a good one. But people complaining online that he is too hard and straight. Not enough cowbell on the live version of Rope apparently ha!

dindude · May 2023

Have be only heard Rescued so far and that is stunning, looking forward to hearing some more.

Philly_Q · May 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

On a side note are any of the Foos from Seattle? They're an LA band no?

Only Nate Mendel, he's from somewhere in Washington State, if not Seattle itself. He was in Sunny Day Real Estate before Foo Fighters.

Creed_Clicks · May 2023

I'm not keen on the Tom Pettyish stuff they've done in the past, this new sounds decent though.

stickyfiddle · May 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

On a side note are any of the Foos from Seattle? They're an LA band no?

Yes that's true - Nate is from Seattle but the others aren't. But they were born out of the end of grunge, which is 100% a Seattle thing, and compared to Abu Dhabi it's far more appropriate!

darthed1981 · May 2023

It might be because I was surrounded by irritating fuckers at the time banging on about them, but I was never sold on the Foos in their supposed pink period around "Colour and the Shape".

Don't get me wrong I LIKED them, but they were never a favourite.

It's almost like their last few albums they have released themselves a bit creatively, and I like them more.

stickyfiddle · May 2023

darthed1981 said:

It might be because I was surrounded by irritating fuckers at the time banging on about them, but I was never sold on the Foos in their supposed pink period around "Colour and the Shape".

Don't get me wrong I LIKED them, but they were never a favourite.

It's almost like their last few albums they have released themselves a bit creatively, and I like them more.

I was a huge fan of the first 3.5 records, then In Your Honour & Echoes Silence etc got a bit MOR for me. But theyve been less afraid to try new stuff in recent years.

Wasting Light hasn't been beaten since its release imo. One of the best rock records of the decade

Sonic Highways has some good stuff - Congregation is among my favourites from their whole catalogue.

Concrete & Gold - a bit poppier/shinier sounding but good fun

Medicine at Midnight - trying much harder to do things that don't just sound like another Foo Fighters record. With some success.

Then some of them did a Bee Gees cover record and a proper metal album. Followed by the new one which so far sounds closest to There Is Nothing Left To Lose so far, which is ace.

borntohang · May 2023

LPManic said:

Grohl did them. Freese is an interesting choice and very much a good one. But people complaining online that he is too hard and straight. Not enough cowbell on the live version of Rope apparently ha!

I once got to watch Freese soundcheck with Sting from right behind his kit podium. If he's playing rock drummer it's only because Grohl wants him to do it... There's always going to be something but I think he's a great choice and hopeful he'll influence the writing a bit going forward.

earwighoney · May 2023

Philly_Q said:

Creed_Clicks said:

On a side note are any of the Foos from Seattle? They're an LA band no?

Only Nate Mendel, he's from somewhere in Washington State, if not Seattle itself. He was in Sunny Day Real Estate before Foo Fighters.

Sunny Day Real Estate were a superb band!

Deijavoo · May 2023

I saw FF at T in the Park middle of the afternoon when they were a Nirvana/Sunny Day Real Estate superband.

Was quite surprised how it all went with William Goldsmith.

Philly_Q · May 2023

stickyfiddle said:

darthed1981 said:

It might be because I was surrounded by irritating fuckers at the time banging on about them, but I was never sold on the Foos in their supposed pink period around "Colour and the Shape".

Don't get me wrong I LIKED them, but they were never a favourite.

It's almost like their last few albums they have released themselves a bit creatively, and I like them more.

I was a huge fan of the first 3.5 records, then In Your Honour & Echoes Silence etc got a bit MOR for me. But theyve been less afraid to try new stuff in recent years.

Interesting. I bought the first four (or maybe five) albums, then lost interest because I thought they were getting very samey, writing endless versions of the same two or three songs. And my impression, based on the few songs I've heard subsequently, was that they'd remained samey. Maybe I should give them another go.

stickyfiddle · June 2023

Philly_Q said:

stickyfiddle said:

darthed1981 said:

It might be because I was surrounded by irritating fuckers at the time banging on about them, but I was never sold on the Foos in their supposed pink period around "Colour and the Shape".

Don't get me wrong I LIKED them, but they were never a favourite.

It's almost like their last few albums they have released themselves a bit creatively, and I like them more.

I was a huge fan of the first 3.5 records, then In Your Honour & Echoes Silence etc got a bit MOR for me. But theyve been less afraid to try new stuff in recent years.

Interesting. I bought the first four (or maybe five) albums, then lost interest because I thought they were getting very samey, writing endless versions of the same two or three songs. And my impression, based on the few songs I've heard subsequently, was that they'd remained samey. Maybe I should give them another go.

Obviously YMMV - they haven’t turned to to Sigor Ros or Kraftwerk at any point. But worth a listen if you haven’t at all

and the Sonic Highways & Sound City docs are well worth watching either way, just as a music fan

PotentialDonkey · June 2023

I feel like I am the only one who's not digging this new stuff. I don't get it. I really liked Medicine at Midnight and I can pick at least a couple of tracks off most of their albums but I just don't get these

Pjon · June 2023

I've had a few listens to the couple of tracks that have been released so far, and they are fine but not outstanding imo, but as my wife* said, 'They sound like a mix-tape of every recent FF song.' That's not a bad thing, obviously, but if these are the best tracks to tease a new album then I'm not expecting too much. I'm glad that they have continued though, I've always enjoyed them.

* our first date was to see either the Foos or the Manics in Cardiff, years ago. They were a week or two apart and I can't remember which one was first. The Manics were excellent, the Foos less so. Their sound quality was dreadful. I've seen them since and they were much better.

LPManic · June 2023

It's typical MOR Dave rock. Which is fine. It's hard though making a 3 guitar band sound good. Too much going on. QOTSA also have this issue.

Creed_Clicks · June 2023

Radiohead did alright with 3 guitars at times, same with Mogwai. Iron Maiden are doing ok with it too!

Philly_Q · June 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

Radiohead did alright with 3 guitars at times, same with Mogwai. Iron Maiden are doing ok with it too!

Although there are many, many fans who wouldn't lose any sleep if Janick Gers missed the tour bus one day...

Presumably it's all about how the three guitars are used. I'd guess there are rarely three guitars all playing at once, and (in Radiohead and Mogwai, at least) one or more is providing "texture" rather than "a guitar part".

In Foo Fighters, the three guitars are always bashing away on stage but I'd imagine it's different in the studio. I'd guess Grohl does a lot of the guitars - and everything else - himself, but maybe I'm overestimating his control-freakery.

timmypix · June 2023

Listening to the new album and having a quick browse about it as well. Lyrically, I don't know how Dave does it - honest and straightforward, and having very recently lost my father-in-law, I don't think I'll be playing it around my partner any time soon! According to Wikipedia, not only is the grief in the lyrics around Taylor Hawkins' death, but Dave's mother died last year too. Talk about rough.

Musically, sure, there's nothing new here. But that doesn't stop them being well-written, arranged and produced songs with a heartfelt theme. I'm impressed!

And when I say well arranged, that's about the songs themselves; whether it's the best use of 3 guitars at all times is another debate!

Creed_Clicks · June 2023

I am still wondering what the keyboard player does live!

Philly_Q · June 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

I am still wondering what the keyboard player does live!

Additional guitar?

stickyfiddle · June 2023

Ok, a couple of listens on my flight just now. It’s not their best (FF, TC&TS, TSNLTL, WL) but I think it’s their best for a long time.

Rest is stunning. I have no idea how Dave will get through that live, if they choose to try it

digitalkettle · June 2023

Slightly harrowing listen...really enjoyed 'Show Me How' (I hadn't heard any previews).

stickyfiddle · June 2023

Yeah, it’s not easy listening just because the context is unavoidable and so intrinsically connected to the songs.

Rescued, Under You and Nothing At All are my favourites so far, as well as Rest

digitalkettle · June 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, it’s not easy listening just because the context is unavoidable and so intrinsically connected to the songs.

Rescued, Under You and Nothing At All are my favourites so far, as well as Rest

I made the mistake of doing some Google-mining about Taylor at the time ;-/

'Show Me How' was like a bit of respite and reminded me of some 90s indie (Lush, Sundays, MBV?)

stickyfiddle · June 2023

digitalkettle said:

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, it’s not easy listening just because the context is unavoidable and so intrinsically connected to the songs.

Rescued, Under You and Nothing At All are my favourites so far, as well as Rest

I made the mistake of doing some Google-mining about Taylor at the time ;-/

'Show Me How' was like a bit of respite and reminded me of some 90s indie (Lush, Sundays, MBV?)

Yeah it nails that vibe - it’s Violet Grohl on BVs apparently. Reminds me of the “doo doo doo” bits in Everlong, which is no bad thing

Deadman · June 2023

‘The Glass’ reminds me of The Lemonheads. A good thing? Yeah. I’d say so.

monquixote · June 2023

I had a listen but I found it pretty mediocre. There aren't any riffs or hooks in anything. It's very competent, but it's all just stuff where you'd take the opportunity to go for a wee during at a gig.

Wasting Light was the last one I really enjoyed.

PotentialDonkey · June 2023

monquixote said:

I had a listen but I found it pretty mediocre. There aren't any riffs or hooks in anything. It's very competent, but it's all just stuff where you'd take the opportunity to go for a wee during at a gig.

Wasting Light was the last one I really enjoyed.

Some of what I’ve heard sort of reminds me a lot of the second disc of In Your Honour. I never play that disc for a reason. It’s very depressing I feel. Devoid of riffs and strong hooks like you say.

Wasting Light is one of my faves.

I also really like Sonic Highways. Saw them on that tour. I wasn’t as much into Concrete & Gold, but I loved Medicine... So this album feels like a bit of a nosedive for me.

Understandable, I should say, but when I’m in a dark place myself I don’t want to listen to someone else lamenting on theirs so I’m going to pass up buying this album.

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