The Foo Fighters

[kenshinbebop]

Well, I thought I'd make a thread about them in light of their new album. Their new song The Pretender is freakin' amazing in my opinion.

I've known about them for a while seeing as I'm a big Nirvana fan, and I knew Dave Grohl made this band, but I never really cheacked them out. However I was up at 6 in the morning the other day and saw this PV and it was awesome. Needless to say, I instantley bought the song on iTunes and am gonna get the full album when I can.

Any other fans?

[goddessofanime]

here.

I can't believe it's been ten years already since The Color and the Shape came out.

[HSaabedra]

I'm more of a Grohl fan in general moreso than a Foo Fighters fan, but he can really write. He's one of the best session drummers in the world too.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

I don't listen to them anymore, but I LOVED "Learn To Fly". Easily my favorite song of theirs. The video was highly interesting too.

[Woooh]

Didn't like Nirvana. Just wanted to get that out of the way. Anyways, on topic now. Everything that came after "Learn to Fly" was downhill. I can't stand anything that they have recorded since that song. It's all a bunch of repetitive, annoying, and boring riffs accompanied by unimpressive lyrics and vocal melodies.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Pretty much what I would say too. I heard "Learn To Fly", loved it, and never listened to anything of theirs again. Best of You was alright, but I never was a fan of them really after.

[Samurai Drifter]

The Foo Fighters are great, from what I've heard. Ironic that a drummer whose talents were rarely utilized in a band that sucked went on to form a band that rocked.

[Soluzar]

Of course I do love the early Foo Fighters. Recently they seem to have gone downhill somewhat, which happens to all bands sooner or later. They just activate cruise control and stop really doing the things that made them special.

Everything up to and including One by One was exceptional. Everything since then has been just OK. I'm a bit bemused to note that it seems to have become really cool to hate Nirvana. They weren't the best band in the world, but they were popular and a lot of fun. I'm pretty sure a lot more people liked 'em at the time than would admit to it now.

Having said that, a quick look at the date of birth of the the members saying that Nirvana sucks reveals a lot. They weren't incredible, but for those of us who were around then, they were part of the spirit of the age. You guys just don't know.

[kenshinbebop]

And they were just plain awesome...

[Samurai Drifter]

Having said that, a quick look at the date of birth of the the members saying that Nirvana sucks reveals a lot. They weren't incredible, but for those of us who were around then, they were part of the spirit of the age. You guys just don't know.
Whatever, but no song I've heard by them has been any better than mediocre.

[Soluzar]

Whatever, but no song I've heard by them has been any better than mediocre.
That's a matter of opinion which I have no wish to dispute. What I'm trying to say is that at a specific time, they loomed large in popular culture. So large that their degree of musical talent became almost irrelevant.

[Samurai Drifter]

So? A huge amount of music that "looms large" in popular culture sucks.

[Soluzar]

So? A huge amount of music that "looms large" in popular culture sucks.
I didn't actually say otherwise. Personally I think they were just a bit above average, but it's entirely a matter of opinion. What I'm saying is that their impact on pop culture accounts for the different levels of popularity I observe. For a certain generation, they have an appeal which is amplified by non-musical factors.

[HSaabedra]

I didn't actually say otherwise. Personally I think they were just a bit above average, but it's entirely a matter of opinion. What I'm saying is that their impact on pop culture accounts for the different levels of popularity I observe. For a certain generation, they have an appeal which is amplified by non-musical factors.

Thit is something I have to agree with. My generation was on the cusp of adolescence when Kurt died so it's no surprise most members would say they sucked, when reality says otherwise.

I just don't enjoy the deification of the band or Kurt. They had their moments of greatness like any band that causes a real change, but as always fame can destroy even the most heartfelt demonstration of authenticity.

If you want someone to thank for their above average sound, thank tireless anti-industry producer Steve Albini, since I feel he brought out the best of the band with In Utero.

[Soluzar]

I just don't enjoy the deification of the band or Kurt. They had their moments of greatness like any band that causes a real change, but as always fame can destroy even the most heartfelt demonstration of authenticity.
I certainly agree. There's nothing so terrifying and sad as a person who, a decade and a half later, still insists that Nirvana were the last great thing to happen to popular music. I have met people exactly like that and I find that kind of person just as inexplicable as the type of person who would dismiss the significance of Nirvana.

Both extremes are equally alien to me.

[kenshinbebop]

Thit is something I have to agree with. My generation was on the cusp of adolescence when Kurt died so it's no surprise most members would say they sucked, when reality says otherwise.

I just don't enjoy the deification of the band or Kurt. They had their moments of greatness like any band that causes a real change, but as always fame can destroy even the most heartfelt demonstration of authenticity.

If you want someone to thank for their above average sound, thank tireless anti-industry producer Steve Albini, since I feel he brought out the best of the band with In Utero.

+1 to this post.

Steve Albini is a great producer. He's worked wonders with bands like Nirvana, the Stooges, and Cheap Trick.

However, even though he did wonders for In Utero, I much prefer Nevermind, and still think of it as their greatest album. From Smells Like Teen Spirit to Something in the Way, the whole album is pretty much phenominal. Kurts voice is just a wonderful thing to listen to, and can never be duplicated.


But anyway, since this thread IS about the Foo Fighters, and not Nirvana, I'd like to say that I disagree with the posts broght up earlier, and have found at least 2 or 3 songs on every album to be enjoyable.

[Soluzar]

But anyway, since this thread IS about the Foo Fighters, and not Nirvana, I'd like to say that I disagree with the posts broght up earlier, and have found at least 2 or 3 songs on every album to be enjoyable.
I could say the same, but that's not enough. Especially when I don't enjoy even that few songs as much as the ones on earlier albums. The first four albums they released I could just listen to from start to finish. That's how ya should listen to an album in my view. Any album I can't do that with just isn't a great album to me.

[kenshinbebop]

Really?...that can go up to 20 tracks on some albums.

I'm satisfied with an album if there is at least 2 or 3 songs I REALLY love. If there it is a solid album the whole way through that's awesome, but it's not necessary,imo. If there are no songs I love, as long as the whole album is good give or take a few...

Just for the by...I said at least 2 or 3 on each album, but I didn't mean only. There are quite a few albums I can listen to all the way through, like you said, and a few that have 5 or 6 great ones. What I meant though was that every album was pretty solid as opposed to people saying that they stopped making good albums after their first couple.

[Soluzar]

Just for the by...I said at least 2 or 3 on each album, but I didn't mean only. There are quite a few albums I can listen to all the way through, like you said, and a few that have 5 or 6 great ones. What I meant though was that every album was pretty solid as opposed to people saying that they stopped making good albums after their first couple.
I see... well, I don't think they made any really terrible albums, but I do think that their last couple were really lazy work. Not so much bad as... like I said, "cruise control" which always is enough to irritate me.

[kenshinbebop]

I see... well, I don't think they made any really terrible albums, but I do think that their last couple were really lazy work. Not so much bad as... like I said, "cruise control" which always is enough to irritate me.

Well stated. Nothing compares to their first few, but none were bad.

I've yet to hear their new one to it's full, but judging from their single, the Pretender, I think it should be good.

[kenshinbebop]

Revive!

I picked up Echoes, Silence... earlier this week and was very pleased with it. One thing that really picked me up was their variety of genres through out songs. They can really rock, and they can be really mellow.

One thing that took me aback was the amount of acoustic songs on the album. I liked a few, but disliked one or two. I wish more were as rocky as The Pretender. The song that's due to be the new single was by far my least fave, so hopefully there are some good Bsides to go with it.