The Foo Fighters is perhaps the only band to have survived the alt−rock revolution and come out more popular and creative than before. Having released seven studio albums, one live album and one greatest−hits album, and with countless stadium gigs and under their belt, the Foo Fighters is without a doubt a band to acknowledge.
Lead singer Dave Grohl is more well−known as the drummer from influential punk rock band Nirvana. However, in the 17 years since Kurt Cobain's suicide, Grohl has managed to make a name for himself as the front man for one of the most successful rock bands in recent history. Although members of the band have taken breaks to form side projects — most notably Grohl's band Them Crooked Vultures, formed in 2009 with Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones — the group is back together now with their first new album in four years.
The album, "Wasting Light," is a step back to the group's older sound, full of Grohl's distinctive growl and the heavy melodic sounds that were missing from "In Your Honor" (2005) and "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (2007). While it appears to be a common opinion that the Foo Fighters peaked on its album "One By One" (2002), "Wasting Light" is a worthwhile listen full of satisfying rock tunes.
The opening track, "Bridge Burning," is a high−energy start to an album with some commendable high points and songs that demonstrate Grohl's creative genius. With lyrics bordering on the vengeful side of the emotional spectrum — "Your bridges are burning down/ It's all coming round/ They're all coming down" — superimposed over loud and downright enjoyable guitar riffs, this is a promising start to a highly anticipated album.
The first single from the album, "Rope," is a melodic change of tune and cements the transformation the Foo Fighters has made since its earlier albums, which were heavier, with rumbling guitar riffs and percussive beats, and were less focused on being so enjoyably harmonious.
The band recorded the entire album in Grohl's garage on analog tapes — a difficult process alone, even without Grohl threatening to fire anyone who brought a computer into his house, especially after the tapes fell apart after being wound back for the first time.
In an interview with MTV, Grohl said, "I like that we're a band that, when we play live, we don't have, like, computers and stuff behind us making half of what you're hearing. And you know what? Sometimes we suck. Sometimes it sounds like, ‘Oh, wow, that guy's not singing in key,' or, ‘Whoa, that guitar's out of tune.' And I like that, because to me, that's rock and roll." This is part of what makes the Foo Fighters so unique: They're a band that commands stadiums with their rock anthems and then casually records a new album in their pajamas in Dave Grohl's garage.
For fans of the formative sound of the Foo Fighters, "White Limo" might be the highlight of the album. The song is accompanied by a music video featuring Lemmy of Motörhead, joyously mocking the stereotype of superstar partying with the band generally appearing to have the time of their lives in the back of a limo. Coupled with Grohl's screaming vocals, this song is a throwback to the more eclectic sounds of "Foo Fighters" (1995).
The album is a patchwork of moods, ending in the melancholy "I Should Have Known," a skillfully despondent rock ballad, and the optimistically nostalgic "Walk," with Grohl crooning, "Learning to walk again/ Can't you see I've waited long enough."
"Wasting Light" starts and ends with strong numbers with only one or two weak spots along the way— more generic−sounding songs like "Back & Forth" and "A Matter of Time". It is definitely more enjoyable than their previous two albums, and here's hoping the Foo Fighters continue to get better from here on out.
