The Foo Fighters remind me of college; for me, they symbolize everything that once was without being has-beens. Dave Grohl doesn’t try to recreate the Foo Fighters or mold them into something they aren’t, he instead manages to wash off the dirt and make them clean once again. So I decided to listen to this record the same way I enjoyed their previous releases, driving my car with nothing but the Foo Fighters navigating.
“Stacked Actors” didn’t appeal to my ear at first, but I listened a few more times and ended up falling for it. The dreamy vocals made me an addict. With my stereo blasting, I hit the strip and let the phaser-driven “Breakout” blast. I shamelessly bopped my head like a dumb-ass. Grohl’s choruses are a music junkie’s fantasy. I must have cruised that same piece of road for an hour with this song on repeat. “Learn To Fly” reminds me of all that is great about the Foo Fighters. Their dreaminess might seem easily accomplished, but nothing could be further from the truth. Many bands have tried to work the same magic and most have failed. “Gimme Stitches” rang my bell. I hoped the momentum would continue building to a seismic level, but, unfortunately, the rest of the album can’t hold up its end.
I’m not saying that the rest of this album isn’t entertaining. Not at all. However, the best comes so early and so fast that it is easy to get overwhelmed and miss everything that comes after. The swimming vision called “Aurora” magnifies this point. It’s a great track, but pales in comparison to the first four. “Next Year” did get my attention back. The melody began enticing me from the verse straight through the chorus. It’s my sentimental favorite. And I certainly cannot forget the guilty pleasure, “Ain’t It The Life”.
Finally, Dave Grohl makes going “M.I.A.” seem sort of, well, okay. Most of the album is good and at times even great. Classic? No. Will I recommend it to friends? Definitely.
+ charlie craine
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