This is going to be very unpopular among some, and popular among others. But here goes – the Foo Fighters are rubbish.
The Foo Fighters are the very definition of a band past their used by date. In fact, they were past this used by date a good 11 or 12 years ago.
Of course as most lovers of good ole rock n roll have, I once enjoyed this band. As a teen, they were still making music that although quite middle-of-the-road, it was still enjoyable. Innocent and fun, songs like “My Hero” and “Everlong” were triumphs of radio-friendly rock music (that are still today thoroughly enjoyable songs). I really did love these guys. However, as the years and my music tastes have progressed, their music has sadly not.
The irony of one of their more recent singles “Rope”, is that when I hear it, I want someone to hand me a rope. So I can hang myself with it. Plodding and predicable, punctuated by an obvious and overblown stadium-friendly chorus. This song is neither interesting, catchy or innovative.
Their most recent release, “These Days” unfortunately graced my ears this week, and I pray that this song is a joke. Grohl poorly appropriates the melody from “Amazing Grace” in the verse, before following up with a bridge that could have been plucked from any one of their watered-down offerings from the past 10 years. It is a lesson in how to create mid-tempo garbage which would easily fill the background of a commercial selling holidays in Queensland or Depend undergarments.
Dave Grohl’s nice guy schtick has become more grating as time has passed. Is it to smooth over the fact that they actually don’t give a shit anymore about crafting a good song? Or is he trying to divert our attention from their utter inability to make music worth listening to if you have had the fortune of discovering that you no longer should be listening to Triple M if you are over 18 and have a brain.
Please Nate – leave this band and focus on Sunny Day Real Estate. You might not make as much money, but at least you will be focusing your efforts on a band that were innovators at some point and have a throng of quality artists who cite you as influences.
The Foo Fighters have made some great music, and I wish they would again. Listening to anything post The Colour and the Shape however is a form of torture.
