Foo Fighters shine with 'Wasting Light'
Album / CD art cover titled " Wasting Light " by Foo Fighters Credit: Handout
There's a moment of pure alt-rock bliss about halfway through the Foo Fighters' "White Limo" when Dave Grohl lets loose a true, throat-ripping shriek, "Yeahhhho! Limmmmmohhhhh!" over a thunderous, incessant metal-guitar assault.
That's when you know "Wasting Light" (Roswell/RCA), the Foo Fighters' seventh studio album, is for real, that Grohl and the gang have shaken off the responsibilities of being torchbearers and moneymakers and arena-fillers, and simply have found a way to rock again.
Though they get help from some important pals from the '90s -- "Nevermind" producer Butch Vig is onboard, as are Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and once-and-future Foo Pat Smear -- this is no nostalgia trip. Even "Dear Rosemary," which features Husker Du hero Bob Mould and seems influenced by everyone from Blue Oyster Cult to the Smithereens, sounds forward-looking, thanks to Vig's crisp production and the cool, clipped guitar riffs.
"Arlandria" takes the power-pop sensibilities of the Foos' early work and gives it new depth. They lighten the mood with nursery rhymes and cheesy '80s hand claps, but beneath it Grohl sings of pain and being haunted by memories. In "These Days," they bring back the loud-soft-loud dynamic with great results.
Something has clearly clicked with this lineup, which once again includes guitarist Pat Smear, and the Foos seem renewed. As tough as it is to top 1997's "The Colour and the Shape" in their catalog, "Wasting Light" might just do it.
FOO FIGHTERS
"Wasting Light"
GRADE A
BOTTOM LINE Looking back to invent new ways to rock
