Foo Fighters Begin Their Second Act With A Bang

“I look at [Foo Fighters, and their Greatest Hits album] now like it’s the end of chapter one, this is the first 15 years…”

-Dave Grohl to Time, 2009

If the prematurely released Foo Fighters Greatest Hits album marked the end of the band’s first chapter, then it would follow that Wasting Light, the band’s seventh studio album, starts chapter two. With that in mind, Foo Fighters’ second chapter begins in much the same way the first did: with a collection of fast-paced, loud as hell rock songs that rise above what most of their peers are up to.

The CliffNotes version of Wasting Light’s backstory, for those who haven’t heard; recorded in Dave Grohl’s garage on analog tape, produced by Butch Vig (who last worked with Dave Grohl on Nirvana’s Nevermind), and the first appearance by Pat Smear on a Foo album since The Colour and the Shape. And for all 48 minutes of the new album, Foo Fighters sound like they’ve gone back to basics. The only difference is now they have 15 years of experience guiding the way. Album standout “Arlandria” contains echoes of Grohl’s time spent hanging out with Josh Homme in Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures, while the equally tremendous “Dear Rosemary” features Husker Dü frontman Bob Mould, whom Grohl cites as an influence on Foo Fighters. And “I Should Have Known” marks the first time all three surviving members of Nirvana appear on the same song since 1994, as Krist Novoselic plays bass on the haunting, bitter track (speculated to be about Kurt Cobain).

But Wasting Light isn’t all about looking back to move forward. First single “Rope” is a huge leap forward, with Chris Shiflett unleashing one of his best solos ever and Taylor Hawkins growing dramatically as a backup vocalist. Those who suggest modern rock is nothing but loud and dumb are wrong on the latter count, proven so by this track. “Back & Forth”, meanwhile, despite it’s cheesy lyrics, is power pop bliss with a chorus worthy of a third sold-out Wembley show. And album closer “Walk” is the finest such track on any Foo Fighters album, a soaring, melodic anthem that speaks volumes to the fact that even after 16 years, Foo Fighters indeed might just be getting warmed up.

With endless layers of guitars, a tight rhythm section, and Dave Grohl’s best songwriting to date, Wasting Light could well be the quintessential Foo Fighters record. In a stretch of time when modern rock bands are doing their best to avoid looking like they’re having any fun, Wasting Light is a blast; even in its darkest moments (“I Should Have Known”, the biting “These Days”) it’s big and bouncy without sacrificing any intensity. Aspiring rockers, take note of Foo Fighters’ second chapter. There’ll be a quiz in another 15 years.

Foo Fighters – Arlandria [iTunes]

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