Dave and company have done it again. And done it well. Again.
The Foo Fighters released the full-length album “Concrete and Gold” on Sept. 15, 2017. With plenty of compositional depth and a virtual militia of guitars, their ninth studio album reveals that the Foo Fighters show no signs of mellowing out. “Concrete and Gold” is the band’s most recent release since a 2015 EP named “Saint Cecilia,” and includes guest appearances from the likes of Paul McCartney and Justin Timberlake.
A tireless drummer, a detailed keyboardist, anywhere from one to three guitars, and the energetic voice of the one and only Dave Grohl confirm yet another Foo Fighters album as a surefire hard rock masterpiece. They are currently touring in support of their new music.
The eleven-track album begins with “T-Shirt,” a short and frankly curious opener. From there, the Foo Fighters hit the gas. The album’s first single, “Run,” hurtles forward with screamed vocals and the guitar power of ten rock bands, echoing the group’s 2005 hit titled “In Your Honor.” The same effect bombards the listener on “Make It Right,” which further proves that the band has indeed survived the ’90s and melded seamlessly with the rock scene of the mid-2000s.
However, the ghosts of the 1990s Foo Fighters visit listeners on the lyrically thoughtful “Dirty Water,” the second-longest tune on the album. The longest, “Sunday Rain,” is an introspective, bass-laced groove reminiscent of the Red Hot Chili Peppers easier material. “Happy Ever After (Zero Hour)” utilizes melodic ease to convey serious warnings about the future, complete with harmonized vocals, acoustic instruments, and plenty of apocalyptic imagery within the lyrics.
The release still has plenty of backbone, with the alternative energy of “The Line” and the hard rock shuffle of “The Sky is a Neighborhood.” The album ends with the haunting title track, “Concrete and Gold.”
The Foo Fighters have adapted well to the modern rock scene. In a world where many rock groups sound the same, the Foo Fighters are a ray of creative light. Gone are the days of “Learn to Fly” and “Everlong,” but “Concrete and Gold” should teach fans and music critics alike that the Foo Fighters are far from burnt out, and are one of the unique few bands to survive the ‘90s and thrive well into the 2000s.
