The Foo Fighters are only moderately successful here...
Written: Jul 17 '01 (Updated Mar 01 '02)
Product Rating:
Pros: Sometimes stellar songs, great rock riffs on occasion
Cons: Some really rotten tracks
The Bottom Line: There are a few really stellar songs here, and a few that suck. I only recommend this album to rock fans and people who already like the Foo sound.
lambchops's Full Review: Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters
Rising from the exhaulted ashes of Nirvana, Dave Grohl had an idea. He wanted to continue making music on his own terms. So, he recorded Foo Fighters' debut album essentially on his own. It was only when the band had to make appearances and tour that he recruited ex-Germs guitarist Pat Smear, Nate Menden on Bass, and William Goldsmith on the drums. It was then, in Seattle in the year 1994 that Foo Fighters was officially born.
So, you ask, what exactly is a 'Foo Fighter?" Well, 'Foo Fighter' actually refers to a World War II term for an unidentified flying object. Yup. Dave Grohl named his band after a UFO. This obviously set the scene for a band with guitar-laden music coupled with a keen sense of humor. What listeners got wasn't the traditional Seattle grunge of the early 1990's. Rather, they got a post-grunge pop/rock band with a sense of humor. This attitude was welcomed at the end of the depressing grunge era.
The self titled debut from Grohl (and eventually company) isn't much like Nirvana. That's fortunate considering the backlash that the subgenre was getting in the mid 90's. What is instead left is an album that eventually found itself widely accepted by both MTV and rock fans alike. It's also an album that found critical success...especially in the form of a Grammy nomination in 1996 for "Best Alternative Performance." Anyway, this album is both good and bad, but in most cases I find that the good fortunately outweighs the bad.
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1. THIS IS A CALL
Starting out at a quiet wimper, this song quickly explodes with huge guitar riffs and great drums. I love it! In fact, I have to say that it's my favorite song on the entire album. Grohl's vocals sound very good on the album (although, I've heard that they aren't so good in person). This is the kind of noise that I miss on some other artist's records. I love the guitars and the drums. What makes this a bit different is that you can actually hear Grohl and what the lyrics say without the aid of the liner notes. The words aren't profound, but they are catchy and fun and the rhyme very nicely...
visiting is pretty
visiting is good
seems that all they ever wanted was a brother
this can be a secret
we can keep it good
even all the ever wanting had a problem
2. I'LL STICK AROUND
This is another real rock track. And, for that matter it's another one I really like. The drums are great like before and for that matter Grohl's guitar is perfect. I want to also add that I like the variation between Grohl's voice in the chorus and the rest of the song. I like the anger in his voice that he projects during the chrous....apparently he doesn't "owe you anything!" A great song and one that maybe not everybody got to hear when it was initially released as a single. Check this track out regardless of what you think of some of their more pop-laden songs like the next track.
3. BIG ME
This is really the song that got Foo Fighters noticed. But, to be quite honest, I don't like it. It's too soft for my tastes. The lack of heavy guitars makes me lose interest almost immediately with this MTV hit. Yeah, you heard me. MTV hit. This is the video that was shot like one of those stereotypical Mentos commercials. At least the video was entertaining. Here's a sample...
when I talk about it
it carries on
reasons only knew
when I talk about it
aries or treasons
all renew
4. ALONE+EASY TARGET
This is a very dense, very grungy song that is actually very much unlike the other real rock tracks on this album. The guitars are very thick and the drums are also very much a part of the song. It's relatively interesting, but I don't really like Grohl's vocals in contrast to the grunge sound. He's just not a grungy singer like his former bandmate Kurt Cobain. There are hints of pop here, but that's all...The words don't make much sense besides sounding good together...
pieces fell in place
puzzles suck, laughin my face
turn and swing the pace
I'll give this, keep the good waist
5. GOOD GRIEF
Punk influences make this track a bit different than some of the others. There's some really fast guitars and very strong drum beats to keep the song going at full pace. I actually much prefer Grohl's occassionally angry voice to his actual singing. Maybe that's just me, but I think this album is strongest at it's angriest. This song is okay. Not great. It doesn't stand out to me like a few of the other tracks.
6. FLOATY
Starting with a pseudo acoustic guitar, this song has a bit different sound than some of the pop and rock songs here. It is kind of trippy, kind of sing songy. I actually do very much like the song, but the lyrics are very much nonsensical. They are basically repeated four times with a few substituted pronouns. Fun to listen to in comparison to some of the weak songs here, but...
they float
float away
on the ground
they come back down
7. WEENIE BEENIE
I love the beginning of the song. It actually sounds like it could have been stolen directly from an eighties hair band song. Quite honestly, I realize that it may not be the best song on this album, but what I appreciate is the apparent homage to rock styles of old. Grohl's voice is almost unrecognizable. It's very distorted....that means that I really don't mind it at all. Basically his voice in this song is another musical element rather than something unto itself. Fun.
8. OH, GEORGE
This song actually sounds a bit like a pumped up "Big Me" at times. There are more guitars and more noise (both elements I like, of course). But overall this song is relatively weak. I'd throw it somewhere at the bottom of the barrel of this album...like maybe the third worst or something. It's boring to me...I give you permission to skip it if you'd like. Again, Grohl's lyrics really aren't saying much, as with this sorry example:
phase it out until the older ones return
have a seat and watch it burn
trace around the corner this is what I've learned
always waited for my turn
9. FOR ALL THE COWS
Interesting song at best, "For All The Cows" is another of the songs that Grohl called upon his influences to write. It has a country western twang. This basically means that I'm immediately turned off. I don't like it when Grohl actually sings (which is what he's doing here, and I don't like country music). Period. The lyrics are boring and useless...just thrown together to sound good.
I'ts funny how
money allows
all to browse
and be endowed
the wish is true
in falls into
places new the cow is you
10. X-STATIC
This is the only song where Grohl doesn't play all the instruments. In fact, he doesn't actually play guitar on this track at all. And, I must say I like the guitar work. It's loud and very electric. Great to listen to if you ask little ol' me. I have to say that so far as Grohl's songwriting goes, this is one of his best attempts. His voice is somehow more interesting, and his words seem to possibly have a meaning. A good song, and worth a listen. Although, I may understand if you turn the album off before you get here...
take it back for them to keep
fallen into something deep
not that I had made that leap
annointed
11. WATTERSHED
I hear some punk here, too! The guitar is fast and hard in the begining. And, I really do like to hear Grohl like this. He isn't singing, rather he's angry and there seems to be some emotion in is sometimes-stoic voice. To be quite honest, you wouldn't even connect that this is a Foo Fighters song if it wasn't for the fact that the only place you'll ever hear it is on the Foo Fighters debut album. Not great words, but as with all punk the words aren't really what matters...it's the attitude. Good song.
12. EXHAUSTED
Grrrr. How annoying could a song possibly be....it's rough to say the least. It apparently is supposed to sound as such and be somehow quirky. Well, I hate it. Spare yourself. Turn this album off before this last track. There is no redeeming quality here. Run to the CD player before it gets this far....
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Sure this music doesn't sound much at all like Nirvana, but as I said earlier it was a welcomed relief to a somewhat dire music scene. It woke some fans up to the fact that rock wasn't all drugs and depression. In fact, I think that in many ways that the Foo Fighters cleared the path for other "happy" rock like the subsequent Wallflowers and Third Eye Blind. But, what makes the album worthy of a second look is the fact that it's not all poppy. In fact, Grohl creates growling and loud music. The kind of music I like. The kind of music that all real rock fans like.
So, in conclusion, this debut from the Foo Fighters isn't perfect. There isn't any question though that there is merit in the recording. The first three songs were all relatively popular singles. But, it's the other songs that make this album move toward completion. I give this album 2 1/2 stars, but am forced to mark it three stars thanks to the Epinions ratings system.
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