foo fighters
The 8th studio album, 8 tracks, recorded in 8 cities

It’s been three and a half years since Foo Fighters graced us with an album, and a great album it was. And I glossed over it with a short but positive review. Plus it ended up placing No. 2 on my list of top albums for 2011.

Did Foo Fighters keep up their pattern of making incredible rock albums? I think they have with this 8th release.

Track Listing

  1. “Something from Nothing”
  2. “The Feast and the Famine”
  3. “Congregation”
  4. “What Did I Do? / God As My Witness”
  5. “Outside”
  6. “In the Clear”
  7. “Subterranean”
  8. “I Am a River”

Moving Foo-ward

From the first time I heard the song “Something from Nothing” when the single and lyric video was first released, it appeared that this was going to be a strong album. Then the band started releasing song after song from this album, and I really felt it was a bit different than previous albums. It’s not quite straight ahead rock and roll. There’s some experimental chords here, very much Dave Grohl and his band, without question. But given that each song was inspired, written and recorded in eight different cities, it’s going to have that area of charm and feel. The lead track is very much Chicago, with guest guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick adding his talent. “I Am A River” adds Joan Jett’s guitar work, although for a New York inspired song, it flows well, but seems a tad out of place to the city. “Outside” is very harsh, but typical Foo sounding, with it’s obvious Los Angeles sound coming through without a question.

The Virgina-laced “The Feast and The Famine” is a straight ahead Foo Fighters song, given the Dave Grohl roots of growing up in Virgina coming out in all parts of the song. New Orleans musical notes come out in “In The Clear” adding to the Foo Fighters driving guitar riffs. And the country tinged “Congregation” is pure Nashville all the way.

I admit to thinking “Wasting Light” is a bit stronger all around, as an album. I’ve tracked this album No. 8 a good 20 times so far in the last couple of weeks it’s been out and it easily grows on you. It’s best track by track from start to finish. It’s mixing pattern gives into how well it’s laid out and how each song flows into the other, like the traveling recording process that it was created with.

I give my approval for each song on this album. It’s different, but doesn’t deviate too far from the traditional Foo Fighters sound we all have grown to love and listen to over the last 19 years the band has been around. Dave Grohl is still a god of rock and roll and his place in music is untouched.