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by DAN SOUTHALL
FOO Fighters have a long and storied history in modern rock, too long to bother going through here.
By now we should all be are aware of just how hit and miss Dave Grohl and his mates have become. When they are on, they are one of the best at presenting American pop-rock with a feisty element and when they off, it is some of the most merciless drivel to infect speakers and airwaves. Possibly a little harsh, but you are here for an opinion, not a sandwich. Perhaps recognising just how shaky the Fooey’s reputation has become, Grohl and the band decided it was time to reflect and redirect to simpler times.
As opener “Caught in the Echo” springs into life, the first thing you notice is a very dry production adding heft to the punk rock chaos that Foo Fighters are trying to achieve here. It works to great effect as you can practically hear the spittle hitting the microphone.
“Of All The People” ably and quickly follows up, taking the foot off just enough to remind the listener of the kind of power and appeal that originally stemmed from this band.
For the next few tracks the band relax into this powerful musical aesthetic that continues to be a reminder of just how good they can be.
The title track in particular, with its short slide guitar solo and rollicking groove, harks back to a time when rock avoided too much syrupy drivel and didn’t focus on selling more streams.
Things do start to take a nose dive after “Spit Shine”, which itself is another focused punk-like attack. After this the band settles into a comfortable formula of half-paced ballad-like tracks that detract from the hard rock that opened the first half, choosing to focus on what older fans have disliked for some time.
All is lost, as closer “Asking For a Friend” finds some healthy middle ground, finishing the album with a little taste of everything that preceded it.
Without a doubt this is the most relaxed and rocking the band has sounded in a very long time, possibly even their seminal release The Colour and the Shape.
