Foo Fighters - Wasting Light.

[Johnny Scumm]

Before I had seen the Foo Fighters live recently, I hadn't managed to get a chance to listen to their latest Album, "Wasting Light" from beginning to end. However, after hearing new songs I'd not heard before live, I decided that I'd sit down & take up that opportunity. People had mixed reviews on the Album, some enjoyed it & some didn't. Mostly, I quite liked it, but I had mixed reviews on certain songs.

For example; Bridge Burning, Rope, Arlandria, White Limo & Walk are all songs that have pulled me into loving this Album. They're great songs, but all for different reasons. Other songs on this Album, such as Back & Forth & I Should Have Known just don't seem to drag me in.

Overall, it's definitely not one of their best works to date. But it's still a pretty damn good album, so here's my questions;

Have you listened to the Album yet?
If so, what songs do you like & which do you dislike?
Where you rank it on a list of Foo Works?

 

[¡Roján!]

Have you listened to the Album yet?

About 450 times according to my itunes. Plus, countless times in my car. 10 of the songs are in my top 25 played playlist. I think just from this data you can tell how much I like Wasting Light. Hell, I'm listening to it right now. ''White Limo'' just came on, and I'm marking out.

If so, what songs do you like & which do you dislike?

Well, I'll go through each song, song by song:
''Bridge Burning'': Perhaps one of my favourite songs of all time and my second favourite song of all time. The riffs are off the hook and there isn't a better song to get you pumped up. It should probably be the RAW theme tune. Also, it's quite a bit different to the typical Foo Fighters song, but I suppose the Foo Fighters don't have a typical song. Which is probably why I love them so much, their ability to diversify and move with the times is astounding. Probably just under Madonna, in that sense.
''Rope'': Actually, this was one of my least favourite songs when I first heard it, but with 450 plays it grows on you. It is by no means a classic, and to be honest, I have no idea why they chose this as a single. Although, the solo is pretty awesome.
''Dear Rosemary'': This song is pretty cookie cutter, it probably took them about an hour to write, record and edit. But hey, it's fine with me. Still a decent song but I will have forgotten about it by next album.
''White Limo'': This is probably my favourite song of all time. Well, it's in my FAVE FIVE FAVE FIVE, at least. The screamo vibe they have going is so uncharacteristic of the Foo but after hearing this tune, you really ponder why they didn't do it earlier. Also, the way to three guitarists play off each other is mesmerizing. This must be AMAZING live.
''Arlandria'': This song is WAY too overrated, the fact that they are releasing it is mind-boggling to me. But hey, most of their fans think that it's one of the best songs in the album, but that's them. Me, on the other hand, well, it's a good song and I'd probably like it a lot more if everyone else didn't like it. This song is very forgettable, hell, I mistake it with ''Dear Rosemary'', all the time. Although, the lyrics here are maybe their best effort.
''These Days'': This song surprises me. I really shouldn't like it, but, I do. Perhaps it's the peachy vocals of Dave, or perhaps it's the fact that it brings some balance to the album, as a whole when you listen to it on loop. The chorus is also very easy to relate to. They maybe shouldn't have released this song. I could see a lot of pre-pubescent, twilight-loving emotional-wrecks eating it up.
''Back & Forth'': I like this tune. Basically, it's as near as commercial rock you're going to get without it sucking. Also, I like the use of metaphors about sex, very clever writing.
''A matter of time'' + ''Miss the Misery'' + ''That song I always skip'': They all sort of merge into one massive song that I always skip, but, leave on in the car. Basically, filler filler filler. But hey, the Foo can only do so much.
''Walk'': I absolutely love this song. It's very commercial but it keeps the rock roots. Sort of like ''Best of You'', it's stuff commies can gobble up whilst us metalheads can listen with enthusiasm. Lyrics: Awesome. Chorus: Awesome. Riff: Awesome. Video: Video of the year, simples. Also, the screaming ''I NEVER WANNA DIE'' part is really spiritual and sort of, relatable.

Where you rank it on a list of Foo Works?
Damn it, J4L. This is like Sophie's choice but worse. As you can probably tell, I'm a giant Foo Fighters band. They're my favourite CURRENT band. This is probably one of my favourite albums they've made. It's probably joint second with ''There is Nothing left to Lose'', with ''The Colour and the Shape'' pipping first spot.

[/ramblings]

 

[INDYjon22]

It's actually an extremely good album. One of the better to come out this year. And, it is definitely a great step up from their last album, Echo, Silence, Patience, and Grace. Neither album is bad, but Wasting Light is far superior which is great to see. Sure the new album doesn't compare to their work from the 90's but the new album just shows a new side from them and shows how much they have evolved as a group. They aren't the post grunge, alt rock band they were in the 90's anymore. They are more of a true rock n' roll band which is refreshing to see in an industry that is filled with sub genres.

 

[Alex]

Its certainly more consistent than the past three albums. Don't get me wrong Echos, Silence, Patience & Grace, In Your Honour and even One By One (up to a point) were good albums but I don't feel inclined to listen to them all the way through a lot of the time like I do Wasting Light.

They have different styles of songs (fast and hard, slow and mellow) which I think breaks the album up which makes it easier to listen to and I think its the slow songs which shine through the most (These Days and I Should Have Known) Because overall its a rocking album and the inclusion of these mellow songs just make them more special.

The other tunes are all great and making Bridge Burning the intro song was impressive because it gets you amped up for the rest of it, Rope's cool especially with all three guitars being prominent, White Limo is excellent because its heavy yet still accessable to most people. Dear Rosemary great because while its not a slow song it could very well be.

 

[El Rev sXe]

Are you fucking kidding me? I am probably the biggest fan the Foos have (at least in Bolivia) and I can honestly say it's probably their best record. I didn't have "mixed reviews" in fact it was critically acclaimed by Allmusic (4.5 stars out of 5), Rolling Stone (4 stars out of 5 and these guys doesn't put many 4 or 5 stars), The New York post (3 out of 4 stars) among other.

"Bridge burning": It's my favorite song from the new album, I think they should open every single show with this one. It has so much energy and it's quiet simple actually.

"Rope": A very atipical introduction for a Foo song. However it has this very catchy chorus and the rythm section before the solo it's incredible. While it's not their best work you can see perfectly about song strucutre and progression.

"Dear Rosemary": Another song that you don't expect at all from DAve and company yet it's a perfect radio friendly song in a great way. It wouldn't surprised if this stays on the setlist for amazing live shows.

"White Limo": The perfect combination between hard rock, blues rock and good ol fast Foo. It's a great song and we all know it.

"Arlandria": Some dude said it was overrated but there is a reason why it's a single and there's a reason why it's so popular with fans. Once again, they show perfectly about a song structure and it's the kind of song that was written in order to be played in a stadium.

"These Days": Normally the only critic i have is about the lyrics, but here Dave wrote on of their greatest songs. Like Butch Vig said on the DVD, this song simply has alot of emotions and when it gets to the chorus it's a catalyst.

"Back & Forth": Probably their weakest song, it's a typical Foo song of a B-side. I don't have much more to add.

"Matter of time": The other weak song but it's better than the "back & forth" with an interesting lyric, not great but interesting. It has this punk-rock feeling all over it.

"Miss the misery" is a classic rock song. Listen to the main riff, the drum beat, the bass, the bridges and the musical/rhythm sections. It's all an amzaing deja vu with modern touches. It's a song that a greta rock band could done.

"I should have known" is the darkest song the Foos have and it has alot of emotions. I don't understand why some people doesn't like it.

"Walk": A great way to end this record. It has TONS of energy, to some way it's like an attempt to make a song like "Best of you". Obviously they didn't achieve it but is a great song with an amazing video.

Overall yeah, it's an amazing record and there is a reson why it has been critically acclaimed. Amazing album, listen to musical critics, they know about music.