It's not quite right to say that the Foo Fighters only have one sound, but why does it always feel like the group constantly mines the same sonic vein? Even on 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace -- their sixth album and first with producer Gil Norton since their second, 1997's The Colour and the Shape -- the Foos feel familiar, although the group spends some palpable energy weaving together the two sides of their personality that they went out of their way to separate on 2005's In Your Honor, where they divided the set into a disc of electric rockers and a disc of acoustic introspection. Here, the Foos gently slide from side to side, easing from delicate fingerpicked folk (including "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners," an instrumental duet between Dave Grohl and guitarist Kaki King) to the surging, muscular hard rockers that have been the group's modern rock radio signature. Echoes never lingers too long in either camp, as it's sequenced with a savvy professionalism that only veteran rockers have. That sense of craft is evident in all the songs, whether it's the subtly sly suite of the opening "The Pretender" -- after a slow build, it crashes into a crushing riff into a chorus, building to a typically insistent chorus before taking a slightly surprising bluesy boogie detour on the bridge -- or the sweet melodic folk-rock "Summer's End," a song as warm and hazy as an August evening. "Summer's End" is one of the unassailable highlights here, and all the rest of the truly memorable tunes on Echoes share its same, strong melodic bent, particularly "Statues," a wide-open, colorful anthem that feels as if it's been resurrected from a late-'70s AOR playlist. These songs place the melody at the forefront and also have a lighter feel than the rockers, which are now suffering from a dogged sobriety. For whatever reason, Dave Grohl has chosen to funnel all of his humor out of the Foo Fighters' music and into their videos or into his myriad side projects. When Grohl wants to rock for fun, he runs off and forms a metal band like Probot, or he'll tour with Queens of the Stone Age or record with Juliette Lewis. When it comes to his own band, he plays it too straight, as almost every rocker on Echoes -- with the notable exception of "Cheer Up Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)," a song that has a riff as nimble as those on the Foos' debut -- is clenched and closed-off, sounding tight and powerful but falling far short of being invigorating. They sound a little labored, especially when compared to the almost effortlessly engaging melodies of the softer songs, the cuts that feel different than the now overly familiar Foo signature sound. And since those cavernous, accomplished rockers are so towering, they wind up overshadowing everything else on Echoes, which may ultimately be the reason why each Foo Fighters album feels kind of the same: Grohl and his band have grown subtly in other areas, but they haven't pushed the sound that came to define them; they've only recycled it. Since this is a sound that's somber, not frivolous, the Foos can sometimes feel like a bit of a chore if they lean too heavily in one direction -- as they do here, where despite the conscious blend of acoustic and electric tunes, the rockers weigh down Echoes more than they should, enough to make this seem like just another Foo Fighters album instead of the consolidation of strengths that it was intended to be.
Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Lauren.Given that I just returned home from Scranton, PA recently, after the Christmas holiday, I’m just gonna get right to my picks for NFL Week 17. But first:Hear ‘COME ALIVE’, ‘Statues’, ‘Erase Replace’, ‘Summers End’, and ‘Let It Die’ by the ‘FOO FIGHTERS’ at http://sportsblognflbybubba.podomatic.comAnd now to NFL Week 17. I Will Not pick Bu
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I'm trying hard to like the new Foo Fighters album. And why shouldn't I? Dave Grohl was in Nirvana. Dude's a drummer (I was once) who plays guitar (I want to learn) and who sings (I can't). Then there's this thing about the record being a Grammy-nominated album of the year. But I just want to hear the rocking songs, the ones with those hugely massive guitar hooks the Foos are really good at. ...
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Roxy S.Foo Fighters “Echos, Silence, Patience, and Grace”8 out of 10As if I had on a pair of ruby red slippers and clicked my heels to say “there’s no place like 1997, there’s no place like 1997...”, the Foo Fighters arrive right on cue. Now they have me jones-ing for some good ol’ alt-rock radio as I sit in a Weezer shirt looking at Radiohead posters and a giant Foo Fighters one dou
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Soooooooooooooo... the new Foo's album *Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace* is out tomorrow, but somehow (*thank you M*) I got my mitts on it a little bit early & it's been on constant rotation, just what the doctor ordered after an OD on my acoustic prescription (call me _lindsay_). *_not due to you Kiddo... the mixes Rawk !!!_* Granted, there are a few slower acousticy sounding tunes, but mak...
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This weekend, I turned my apartment's heater on for the first time in four or five months. Fall's officially on in Vermont, which now means long sleeves, hats, a spectacular array of colors in the hills and leaf-peepers coming to gawk. Growing up in rural country and dirt roads, I have a special appreciation for the changing of the seasons. It's a beautiful sight. Is This the Fall? - Carbon ...
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A song on the new Foo Fighters album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, out September 25th, might finally address frontman David Grohl's feelings on his former Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain and his wife Courtney Love. The track "Let It Die" describes the relationship between "a simple man and his blushing bride/intravenous, intertwined, hearts gone cold your hands were tied." When asked about t...
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The Foo Fighters recently announced the first wave of confirmed US tour dates in support of their sixth studio album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. Today the band released additions to the tour schedule that include their first ever performance at NYC's Madison Square Garden. According to a press release:This will be the band's biggest American tour to date and includes the Foos' first e...
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With the Writers Guild Of America strike still looming, the 50th Grammy Awards faced possible cancellation, or a scaled back version of the telecast similar to that of the recent Golden Globes. However, the striking WGA writers who planned on picketing the annual awards show, announced yesterday that they WILL NOT protest. What does his mean for us, the fans and viewers? Performances by the Foo...
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The Foo Fighters released a new video for "Long Road To Ruin," the first single off the group's sixth studio album, ??Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace??.It is the only music video by the Foo Fighters that the band performs in but Dave Grohl does not play guitar.??Echoes, Silience, Patience & Grace?? was realesed September 25 via RCA.
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Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Lauren.Given that I just returned home from Scranton, PA recently, after the Christmas holiday, I’m just gonna get right to my picks for NFL Week 17. But first:Hear ‘COME ALIVE’, ‘Statues’, ‘Erase Replace’, ‘Summers End’, and ‘Let It Die’ by the ‘FOO FIGHTERS’ at http://sportsblognflbybubba.podomatic.comAnd now to NFL Week 17. I Will Not pick Bu
More >
Soooooooooooooo... the new Foo's album *Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace* is out tomorrow, but somehow (*thank you M*) I got my mitts on it a little bit early & it's been on constant rotation, just what the doctor ordered after an OD on my acoustic prescription (call me _lindsay_). *_not due to you Kiddo... the mixes Rawk !!!_* Granted, there are a few slower acousticy sounding tunes, but mak...
More >
Friday morning there was one group on my list of bands I would never let pass through town without me being in the front row at their show. That was The Roots.Now, there's two.1) After 6 (?) albums, it's nothing for these guys to fill 2 1/2 hours with nothing but bangers...and still leave out a couple favorites.2) Dave Grohl is a showman, and just in general a likeable dude.They day I bought m...
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sometimes i stumble upon a song that has been sitting, un-played, in my music player and i'm just thrown. this is one of the simplest and truest of love songs i've heard in a long time. it reminds me a bit of seventies love songs (or what do they like to call them on the informercials? the soft sounds of the seventies). perhaps it is the piano, which i have a weakness for, or just the feel to t...
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Roxy S.Foo Fighters “Echos, Silence, Patience, and Grace”8 out of 10As if I had on a pair of ruby red slippers and clicked my heels to say “there’s no place like 1997, there’s no place like 1997...”, the Foo Fighters arrive right on cue. Now they have me jones-ing for some good ol’ alt-rock radio as I sit in a Weezer shirt looking at Radiohead posters and a giant Foo Fighters one dou
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I usually won't post stories about bands looking for fans for their next video shoot, but this is different because you get to go to the Grammys...sort of.According to the band's newsletter, "The Foo Fighters are offering their fans a chance to be in the audience for an exclusive outdoor performance to be broadcast live at this year's Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 10th on CBS." That actuall...
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The music video for the Foo Fighters song "The Pretender" is now out. MTV2 has taken it down but ifilm still has it. I can't embed the video but you can see the OK quality video "here.":http://www.ifilm.com/video/2887675 May I be the first to say that Dave Grohl rocks like no other!
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So I sell TV's for a living, that and anything and everything else that Sony makes. I've worked in retail electronics for over 5 years now tuning out blasting televisions or anything loud and obnoxious should pretty much be one of my top qualifications. We run a combo of HDNet and DiscoveryHD 24/7 and while many subject matters that cross the TV are both interesting and intriguing few actually ...
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I'm trying hard to like the new Foo Fighters album. And why shouldn't I? Dave Grohl was in Nirvana. Dude's a drummer (I was once) who plays guitar (I want to learn) and who sings (I can't). Then there's this thing about the record being a Grammy-nominated album of the year. But I just want to hear the rocking songs, the ones with those hugely massive guitar hooks the Foos are really good at. ...
More >
The Foo Fighters have released a preview for "The Pretender," their first single off Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. The video debuts next week and the album will be released September 25th. The Foo Fighters are also set to perform at this year's MTV Video Music Awards taking place Sunday, September 9th in Las Vegas. "The Pretender" video sneak peek:
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 The Pretender |
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| 2 Let It Die |
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| 3 Erase/Replace |
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| 4 Long Road to Ruin |
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| 5 Come Alive |
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| 6 Stranger Things Have Happened |
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| 7 Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running) |
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| 8 Summer's End |
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| 9 Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners |
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| 10 Statues |
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| 11 But, Honestly |
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| 12 Home |
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Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace")
