Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
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If there's one thing you can count on with the Foo Fighters it's that they're consistent. Since Dave Grohl stepped out from behind the drums in Nirvana he has never looked back and delivered countless rock tunes that are of the highest quality.
The 1995 self-titled debut was a very rough affair, featuring some fine grunge anthems. It was dirty, stripped down and frankly great. Since then the sound of the band has evolved, become more polished and more accessible to all. So the announcement that the latest album would be a double affair was met with great excitement. Would the Foo Fighters be able to pull off a rock album to rival something like The Smashing Pumpkins 'Melon Collie & The Infinite Sadness'?
'In Your Honour' is really two albums in one. The first disc is a rockier affair while the second disc follows an acoustic path. The results are pretty good but not perfect.
So let's address the 'rock album' to start off with.
Things kick off with the title track from the album. A slow build on the intro soon gives way to Grohl's rasping vocals. It set's up the record with its heavy riffs and generally rocks although lyrically there isn't that much to it.
Things get a bit more up-tempo with 'No Way Back'. A bouncing guitar riff starts and thunders throughout the whole song. However I do have to admit this isn't one of the Foo's best songs. Things greatly improve with the single
'Best of You'. I have to admit that on first listen the song didn't do a lot for me but it soon grew on the ears. I'm not afraid to admit that the lyrics "Is someone getting the best of you?" actually inspire me.
DOA is the forthcoming single and it's one of the best tracks on the album. Look out for the gravity defying video coming to a screen near you soon! It's classic Foo Fighters. It's got a great chorus, is wonderfully arranged and just creates great rock music within the space of four minutes.
The way the cd is mixed means that the record never actually gives to a breather as DOA seamlessy blends into 'Hell'. This is another one of the raging Grohl vocal performances. The song blisters along at a real pace with only a change in tempo for the chorus. It's a grower but not one of the strongest tracks. ' The Last Song' is another instantly recognisable Foo Fighters tune. A drums and guitar intro soon ramp up into a great rock tune.
'Free Me' is a song in a similar vein. There's a mosh style guitar riff followed by a mellower verse-chorus verse arrangement. For me it's one of the best songs on this part of the record.
'Resolve' is a slower affair, it still rocks but at a more laid back pace. This is Grohl & Company in a more harmonious mood. It's what the album needs just to slow things down.
'The Deepest Blues Are Black' is one of the best songs on the album. It starts off with just Grohl and a bit of guitar. The vocals are great throughout the song. It harks back to some of the stuff on Colour & The Shape. Of course there's still time for a great chorus which makes sure it kranks up the sound.
'End Over End' concludes the album. It's one of those tracks you use to close an album; it's got the final encore moments with the "repetitive but in a good way" chorus.
If you like your music more mellow then the second cd is for you, personally it's got some of the better songs on it.
The cd starts off with 'Still', a haunting song with lyrics such as "promise me I'll be forever yours". I really like the mood of the song, Grohl's vocals are great and it's just got an unnerving quality.
'What If I Do?' wouldn't be out of place on a Norah Jones album if you go by the intro. It's a nicely arranged acoustic number with trademark heartful vocals.
'Miracle' is in a similar vein. There's some great mellow piano during intervals and again Grohl's vocals are great. This track is followed by 'Another Round', it's difficult to keep describing the tracks as again this is acoustic. There's a nice beat with this song and it's nicely arranged. The band even makes use of tambourines, something you wouldn't normally associate with the Foo Fighters!
'Friend of a Friend' is one of the stand-out acoustic tracks on the album. It wouldn't be amiss to say that this song is probably about Kurt Cobain. The lyrics are pretty poignant - "When he tells his tow best friends 'I think I drink too much', no one speaks". As a Nirvana fan, I really dug the mood of the song. Even if it's not about Cobain it pretty much sums up a mood of loneliness.
'Over and Out' follows and it's another haunting song. Although it's not on the same sombre level as the previous track its still hits the spots. The guitar work here is pretty good and the drums enhance the song.
'On The Mend' lightens the mood with a brighter guitar riff. Grohl's vocals are dreamy on this track and all round it's great stuff.
Back in 95 if you listened to the debut album then you'd never expect the next track. 'Virginia Moon' features Norah Jones and it's a beautifully mellow laid back affair. The Jones influence is clear but it's great stuff.
'Cold Day In The Sun' is one of the best tracks on the album. This is because it features the vocals of drummer Taylor Hawkins. It's got a very seventies rock sound and there's some of Grohl's stint with QOTSA in there as well. Overall a fantastic track.
The cd is wrapped up by 'Razor' I saw Grohl perform this on Jools Holland and it was fantastic. It's simply Grohl and an acoustic guitar. The vocals are excellent, the guitar riff likewise. It's got some dark tones but somehow Grohl's voice stops it from sounding suicidal.
Overall this is another excellent album by the Foo Fighters. Perhaps the challenge of making a double album spread the material a little more thin than usual. Certainly the rock album is released on it's own would be seen as the weakest Foo's album. But as one package its solid rock music. I have to say the acoustic stuff is outstanding and really shows some progression. If you're a fan then this album deserves a place in your collection. If in the past you've dismissed rock music the maybe this album will turn you around.
If you're lucky there was a limited release of the album which featured a bonus DVD. This disc has a 20-minute documentary on the making of the album. It's pretty decent but the bigger bonus is getting the acoustic album again. Only this time it's is Dolby 5.1 surround. This makes the sound experience so much richer and I'm glad I own a copy of it. I believe there were only 5000 copies available in the UK so you may be hard pressed to find one. It's worth it if you do.
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Inspired by the American public that Dave Grohl met on the trail while campaigning for ... more
John Kerry during the 2004 US Election campaign, In Your Honour could easily have fallen flat, a casualty of George W Bushs triumphant return to the Whitehouse. That...
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Disc 1 In Your Honor No Way Back Best Of You DOA Hell The Last Song Free Me Resolve The ... more
Deepest Blues Are Back End Over End Disc 2 Still What If I Do Miracle Another Round Friend Of A Friend Over 'N' Out On The Mend Virginia Moon Cold Day In The Sun Ra...
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Inspired by the American public that Dave Grohl met on the trail while campaigning for ... more
John Kerry during the 2004 US Election campaign,In Your Honourcould easily have fallen flat, a casualty of George W Bushs triumphant return to the Whitehouse. That i...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Quite catchy tracks, something for everyone some good guitar riffs etc. Disadvantages: Some tracks not memorable, the mix of track types may make it seem like they lack real direction
IzzyS 14.04.2009 (14.04.2009)
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