Concrete and Gold [CD]

Concrete and Gold – Foo Fighters. A very good collection that I felt no one song was “The big Hit” although “RUN” most likely candidate here. The Foo Fighters have often been referred to on L.A. radio stations as one of the last great rock ‘n’ roll bands and being so musically tight, very good songwriters, powerful performers all make it difficult to disagree! As a fan, two other bands you may also like that could also be included in that group are Collective Soul (a great new LIVE CD) and 3 Doors Down. The Foo Fighters may play with more bombast, but these three all rock. As the promotional sticker on “Concrete and Gold” declares, “Testing the limits of speakers everywhere” which this band always does!

To me, any FF album is cause to celebrate but this album did not strike a nerve with me as much as their past albums have. Highlights for me are Run, The Sky is a Neighborhood, Sunday Rain (nice vocals by Taylor), Happy Ever After, and The Line. Much ado has been made of all the special guests, and frankly having McCartney plays drums on a track is cool, but like Sonic Highways the guests are buried in the mix and really bring nothing new to the songs; it still sounds just like the Foo's. Overall, a good album with a few songs I am still trying to warm up to and some that I just skip altogether - IMHO, not up to par compared to their last 3 albums

Whether you are a Foo Fighter fan or not, this is a great album with many diverse songs from the mellow "Dirty Water" to the roll your windows down while driving 90 mph scream-along "Run". (BTW - if you haven't caught the video for "Run", look it up on YouTube. It's hilarious -with a Michael Jackson/Bollywood ending.) Definitely worth picking this album up if you haven't done so already.

I've loved the Foos for such a long time and been to a few of their shows. I can't wait to get my hands any new Foo music so of course I bought this without sampling it. I wish I could return it. It is that bad. I've tried to listen to it a few times and to like it. But it is just a mish mash of screaming and mostly unlistenable music. Oh Dave, please bring back rock with some melody to it and not just screaming and hard driving rock trying to be hip and/or cool. I just don't get it.

I love these guys so it pains me to say this, but I do not like much on this album. There are a couple of songs that are decent and would probably be great if they'd been recorded in Dave's garage. But overall this album is overproduced and the vocals are weird. I literally checked the liner notes to see who the lead singer was for some of the songs because it didn't sound like Dave. I understand their wanting to try new things but it's really not for me.

I was looking forward to the new Foo Fighters project and it did not fail to deliver. The added bonus of Taylor Hawkins on lead vocals on one number was also a pleasant surprise. The only complaint I have was there was no need for the obscenity uttered at the end of the last track. It served no real purpose. However, based on the whole project, I would recommend it to anyone to check out.

The Foo's give a little too much control to pop producer Greg Kurstin and some of the poppier songs sound forced, like they are trying to sound like someone else(The Beatles among others) rather than making the songs their own. There are still some strong songs here, but not as strong overall as Wasting Light. But definitely see the tour if you have the chance!

The Foo Fighters are my favorite band, but this is far from their best work. I think it has mostly to do with the producer of the album. The producer has worked with successful pop artists, but may not have the knack to produce a rock record. The more I listen to it the more I like it. I will see FF for the 7th time in April!