Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

(RCA, 2011)

You pretty much know what you’re going to get with the Foo Fighters. That is why news of a new album by Dave Grohl and gang didn’t peak my interest. There was no excitement or anticipation to the release and the fact that it was recorded in Grohl’s garage, to me, did not mean a return to raw, stripped back rock; I’m sure Grohl’s garage is not your average cold storage space with an old refrigerator, misplaced tools, and a puddle of oil under an ’82 Cortina.

To a large degree, I was right (about the album - I am yet to see Grohl’s garage); it is more of the same from the veteran rockers. Although, in saying that, it is a fine album. Gone is Grohl’s incessant shouting of hits like Best of You, The Pretender, and Erase Replace. Instead the music is a little heavier and the return of guitarist Pat Smear, last seen on The Colour and the Shape, gives the music a punk appeal.

Before the album was released, the Foo’s had been talking it up as rocking from start-to-finish; Grohl saying something to the effect that they could play any song at any time in their set and it would go off; this is certainly true for the first half of the album. By now I’m sure you’ve heard the first single Rope; a wise choice by these old heads, its appeal lapped up by rock and pop stations alike. Bridge Burning and Dear Rosemary have the same appeal (but would probably prove too heavy for the pop stations), and together with the Rope they form a heavy-hitting start to he album.

Next is the jewel and absolute standout of the album; White Limo. It takes the speed of the opening three tracks and turns it up a notch. The aggression levels here are at an all time high for the Foo’s with Grohl’s vocals some his best work and reminiscent of Weenie Beenie off their self-titled debut. Arlandria and These Days are solid tracks too; the melodies, hooks, and catchy choruses more of the mainstream stuff the Foo Fighters have produced recently.

Back & Forth is an attempt at more of the same but this is where the album starts to wane. Grohl sings “show a little backbone, why don’t you?” and that is precisely what this song seriously lacks; it’s a throwaway pop song. The promise of rock from start-to-finish ends here with the rest of the songs being fairly timid; I Should Have Known especially so and the appearance of Krist Novoselic is seriously wasted on this track.

Walk is a nice way to end the album, but by then the momentum of the first six tracks has disappeared. So yeah, another solid album by the Foo Fighters; White Limo is outstanding, the first half oozes energy, but some uninspiring work towards the back end prevents it from being great.