When I grow up, I wanna be Dave Grohl. Than I can be a huge rock star and still have mega-credibility, and pal around with Lemmy. And release great albums.
Short review- This album effing rocks. And rocks hard.
Longer review:
Yeah, after 3 or 4 years here’s another Foo Fighters album; Wasting Light. Get the list out: Scratchy guitars? Check. Soft hard soft (aka quiet loud quiet) structure? Check? Grohl howling (Grohling?) Check. Start and stop guitar phrasing? Check. Royalty checks coming to The Pixies and Husker Du? Check. Actually Bob Mould is featured on “Dear Rosemary”, so there’s some tribute $$$ I’m sure. Hey, Grohl has already got Pat Smear from The Germs on the payroll, it’s awesome he pays more than lip service to his Punk Rock forefathers!
My favorite song is “Walk”. Yeah, it’s pretty much like every other Foo song (instead of “Learning To Fly”, they’re “Learning To Walk”;). So what? They got a formula and it works! Is “Miss The Misery” about his time in his old band? What the heck is he talking about in “White Limo”? Who cares? It’s never really been about the lyrics with Foo Fighters, it’s the SOUND AND THE FEEL (maybe because Grohl started out as a drummer?)
Sure, “Rope” is a little math-rocky in the verses and then actual goes crunchy metal. And “Dear Rosemary” is a little Husker Du-ey (whaddya expect with Bob Mould). Yeah, the elpee was recorded in Grohl’s basement or garage or yacht or whatever rekkid company hyperbole. And it was recorded analog (big deal, we’re all listenin’ digital). “White Limo” is Megadeath junior. It is more than sufficient.
Yeah, I know, we’ll all sing along with “Everlong” and “Times Like These” but if the lyrics were in Esperanto, we’d still be singing along! Singing along with the Foo Fighters has the level of accuracy and (more important) the same uber-fun as playing air guitar or air drums to the Foo Fighters. It’s not like yer really hitting the notes, but it’s still a visceral part of the experience.
Bottom line: the best thing that ever happen to old Davey was Cousin Kurt doing the shotgun kiss. Imagine if the other Beatles woulda died and Ringo woulda went solo after Revolver? And become the hugest rock star in the world. And still have been cool?
I’m jealous.
