Foo Fighters – But Here We Are

 

 

Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
Roswell/Sony Music – 2023
Rock
Rated: ****

I don’t know about you, but I definitely did not expect Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters formation to drop another album this soon. This soon after the loss of drummer Taylor Hawkins and his own mother. But Here We Are... There was a lot of pain and grief that needed to be released and Mr. Grohl does that best by writing songs. And well, But Here We Are definitely belongs to the best Mr. Grohl has ever released with his Foo Fighters. Unlike many other fans, I’ve always been a fan of his rougher voice, especially whenever I saw them live. But on record, as we received them over the years, they’ve not always managed to grab me, and often felt a bit like a mannerism. This time however, it does feel straight from his heart and needed to express the pain and emotion running rampant in his blood. But perhaps, even now, you can feel even more whenever Mr. Grohl goes for the cleaner and fragile approach. He also took up the sticks and does all the drumming on the album, even though Josh Freese will be taking over on tour. This all combined, results in one of the most varied albums the Foo’s released, showing off colors and shapes that will surely have to be pointing in the direction of bands and music that he listened to while going through all the pain and strife of losing loved ones. It also points back towards the album that he released the other time he went through this huge loss. For memories about that 1995 debut album will surely pop up from time to time. And yes, that duet Show Me How, with his daughter Violet, is a wonderful as it is healing, and comforting. But the ninth track The Teacher will surely have to be seen as the seminal But Here We Are track, with that heartbreaking and desperate ‘Goodbye’ from Mr. Grohl. Epic in proportion, prog in execution and moving in every direction, guided by subtle yet intense cello, this is now probably the best song the Foo’s ever released and perhaps even the best song Mr. Grohl has been a part of. So, he can rest easy now…

(Written by JK)

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