Foo Fighter’s release latest album “But Here We Are”
Following the devastating loss of their longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022, the Foo Fighters faced a challenging time. Hawkins, who had been an integral part of the band for 25 years and featured on every album from 1999's "There is Nothing Left to Lose" onward, tragically passed away at the age of 50 while they were on tour in South America. The band was also set to headline a music festival in Colombia on the same day.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of the band, the Foo Fighters showed remarkable resilience and determination. Their new album, released after the loss, stands as a testament to their enduring spirit and serves as a cathartic expression of their grief. Many critics and fans consider this latest album to be the band's most powerful and best release in over a decade. It not only showcases their musical prowess but also serves as a touching tribute to their late drummer and friend, Taylor Hawkins.
The band's latest addition to the lineup is Josh Freese, a seasoned musician with deep connections to Minnesota. With an impressive repertoire as a versatile percussionist, Freese has previously lent his drumming talents to some of the biggest rock bands in the world, including Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses.
Led by Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters initially started as Grohl's solo project, which emerged from the tragedy of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's passing. During Nirvana's meteoric rise to superstardom and mainstream success, Grohl played drums for the band. Their fame reached heights comparable to legendary acts like The Beatles or even Michael Jackson. Now, eleven albums into their nearly three-decade-long career as a group, the latest release, titled "But Here We Are," showcases a level of urgency and powerful emotion rarely heard in any of Foo Fighters' previous works.
The first track and lead single of the album, titled "Rescued," delivers a powerful message through its lyrics and musicality. The poignant words of the song strongly allude to the unexpected loss of a person named Hawkins. The emotional impact of the track sets the tone for the rest of the album, leaving listeners captivated by its heartfelt expression.
Right from the start, it becomes evident that Foo Fighters confront their collective grief directly, finding solace in crafting and recording fresh material. This cathartic process reaches its pinnacle towards the track's conclusion, as a resounding wall-of-sound build, accompanied by Freese's exhilarating drumbeat, takes center stage, eventually fading out with approximately 20 seconds of electric guitar feedback. The track's musical dynamics stand as a highlight of the entire album, commencing with gentle guitar chords and then cascading into a therapeutic hard rock anthem.
Moving on to the album's second piece, titled "Under You," listeners are reminded of the band's 1999 hit "Learn to Fly," as it employs catchy electric guitar elements and Grohl's clean, melodic vocals. This song delves even deeper into the impact of Hawkins' passing, addressing it not only as the departure of a long-standing band member but also as the loss of a dear friend.
The album's most compelling song holds the same name as the album itself and appears as the fourth track. In this eponymous piece, Grohl delivers one of his most exceptional vocal performances to date, passionately howling into the microphone with the same energy and fervor as he does in the band's electrifying live shows.
One of the album's highlights emerges in the second half with "Show Me How" –– a remarkable vocal duet featuring Grohl and his 17-year-old daughter, Violet. Violet's voice glides gracefully over the instrumentation, showcasing a breathy vocal style clearly influenced by Billie Eilish (an artist the father-daughter duo has covered live before). The track, occupying the seventh position on the album, generously gives both vocalists equal space in the mix, demonstrating Foo Fighters' willingness to explore new musical avenues while offering a glimpse of the potential future music career of Violet Grohl.
While tracks like "Hearing Voices," "The Glass," and "Nothing at All" are commendable, they don't venture far from the familiar sound of previous Foo Fighters' albums. Although these songs are good in their own right, it's tracks like "Rescued" and "Show Me How" that truly elevate the album to greatness.
The penultimate song, "The Teacher," stands out on the album with its remarkable 10-minute runtime, making it the longest track the band has ever released on a studio album. The extended duration is fully justified musically, as the song explores dynamic and progressive elements that go beyond the band's typical style. This track exemplifies another instance of "But Here We Are" pushing musical boundaries, and the experimentation proves successful. The song builds up with a super noisy and distorted outro, which then abruptly transitions into the slow-paced (yet still noisy) closing track, "Rest." "The Teacher" serves as an incredible climax, adding depth and intensity to the album.
Through the evolution of their alternative rock sound and their sincere expression of grief through both music and lyrics, Foo Fighters have managed to channel their energy into creating an incredible and dynamic rock record. The album showcases their willingness to explore new territories while remaining true to their essence as a band.
I would give this four out of four stars.