FOO FIGHTERS: Medicine At Midnight (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It was necessary to wait to discover the tenth album of Foo Fighters, this one having been delayed because of the health psychosis which has been affecting part of the world for a year. "Medicine At Midnight" follows the landmark "Concrete And Gold" released four years earlier.

"Medicine At Midnight" is an instant listening record, very easy to tame, about 30 minutes long with two thirds power rock and one third mid-tempi. The Americans bet on the unifying side of their rock based on energy and configuration of the songs. The six musicians have no shortage of envy but despite of Greg Kurstin's perfect production, only a few titles catch the eye because of their melodic quality or their development off the beaten track. One can quote 'Holding Poison' and 'Making A Fire' with its funky character which reminds a little Morning Widows.

The rest of the record is based on rhythmic creations and groove ('Shame Shame', 'Love Dies Young'), pure rock spontaneity ('Cloudspotter', the spritzing Motorhead-style riffs from 'No Son Of Mine') and catchy vocal (the woowoowoo of half-Bowie half Lenny Kravitz's 'Medicine At Midnight', 'Waiting On A War', the simplicity of the lyrics for the perfect anthem 'Love Dies Young'). As for the ballads, the Americans provide the minimum service in the very conventional acoustic 'Chasing Birds' but find some depth in the explosive mid-tempo 'Waiting On A War'. Far from 'Concrete and Gold' or the abundant hits of 'In Your Honor', "Medicine At Midnight" shows in the end a band not really inspired.

"Medicine At Midnight" seems to be a visceral record made for the stage but without a place to play it, a collection of hymns without an audience to sing them, and to have delayed its release to this point leaves a bitter taste. Let's hope the Foo Fighters can quickly defend this record live, since it really belongs there. - Official website

FOO FIGHTERS

MEDICINE AT MIDNIGHT

RCA

ROCK