FOO FIGHTERS: Foo Fighters (ROCK,Grunge): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

On April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain was found dead in his house in Seattle. He would have committed suicide with a bullet in the head three days earlier. Nirvana will not survive. Dave Grohl, drummer of the group, launches then in a personal project which is going to be used to him as outlet. Taking care of all the instruments as well as the vocals, he records an album in six days containing 12 titles, written for the majority a few years before when he was part of Nirvana. This opus will be released under the name "Foo Fighters" in reference to the ghost hunters, a subject that Dave Grohl strongly appreciates, and to keep a certain anonymity.

If Dave Grohl always hammered that the songs contained in this "Foo Fighters" did not correspond to Nirvana, the similarities between the two bands are nevertheless obvious. Obviously Dave Grohl is not Kurt Cobain and his singing does not have the same strength despite some raging vocal lines that undeniably remind of it. Musically, the differences are not huge either, with mostly saturated guitars that often form a wall of sound. The majority of the fast tracks ('This Is A Call' or 'I'll Stick Around') navigate between grunge and punk and would have been very well on a "Nevermind" or a "Blew" just like the few slower tracks ('Big Me'). Only 'Floaty' with its rhythmic a little more original and its melody is slightly different as well as 'Weenie Beenie' clearly acting as an outlet with its rigged screamed vocal.

"Foo Fighters" received in 1995 a very good general reception. It's hard to criticize the work of someone who was once part of Nirvana and who is mourning in music. However, if taking care of everything, alone, in less than six days is a performance that can be applauded, it limits the work on nuances and arrangements. In fact, there is none. Dave Grohl hits his drums and cymbals like a barbarian, his vocal lines are accurate but very rudimentary despite some attempts to bring a little more depth by doubling them, and the guitar does not shine by its finesse (there is no solo but there will not be much more in the following albums). The final result is dry and abrupt and ends up assaulting the ears over the length of the album, especially since the production, old-fashioned and a bit messy, does not help.

From this monolithic "Foo Fighters", it is finally very difficult to pick out one track rather than another. Moreover, it doesn't contain any anthem or single acclaimed by the public, a rare thing in the band's discography. Neither bad, nor good, "Foo Fighters" is not the recommended album to enter the universe of this one-man band which will evolve into a real band and will quickly become more powerful as soon as the following album. - Official website

FOO FIGHTERS

FOO FIGHTERS

AUTRE LABEL

ROCK