The much-awaited new album from the Foo Fighters, finally arrived this summer, shows the band hasn't lost its touch. In Your Honor is a roaring success with its gritty vocals and thought-provoking lyrics.
The Foo Fighters started as the solo project of lead singer/guitarist David Grohl who was constantly writing songs and working on putting together an album. Born in Warren, Ohio, over 35 years ago, Grohl was recording his own songs by the time he was 21. When the band he drummed for fizzled out (Nirvana — maybe you've heard of them?) Grohl took matters into his own hands and released the Foo Fighters' first album. While Grohl had recorded a good portion of the album already, playing all the instruments himself, the band came together in the summer of 1995 to tighten up the sound and release their self-titled debut.
Two years later, the band, with a more solid sound, released their second album, The Colour and the Shape. Prior to the release of this disc, two members (drummer Will Goldsmith and guitarist Pat Smear) left the band. Goldsmith was immediately replaced with Taylor Hawkins, and Frankz Stahl took Smear's spot in the roster. Stahl would later leave the band in 1997-98 during the recording of There is Nothing Left to Lose.
After the band's core was finally established with Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate), Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiftlett on guitar, the band began to work on its fourth album. It took several tries to get it right and Grohl's short absence from the band to put the album together, but in 2002, One by One was released, received rave reviews and won two Grammys. "Every album that we made, I'd always imagine it to be our last," Grohl is quoted as saying on the band's website (www.foofighters.com). As fate would have it, One by One was not to be the band's last or most successful album.
The new album, In Your Honor, is a two-disc set, featuring a drastically different sound on each disc. Hawkins recalls on the website how the discs were recorded very differently, almost like separate albums. The first album features the classic hard-rock feel of the Foo Fighters, with melodious yet grating vocals. The second album is a softer, acoustic album that Grohl has said he's always envisioned recording as a solo project. Together they showcase the band's wide range and prove to be a phenomenal triumph, as the 10-year-old band shows its true talent.
The hit song "Best of You," on the first disc, starts with Grohl singing his heart out as the guitar slowly but soundly adds melody to his words. He sings like a man who has been through heartbreak as he partly screams, partly sings, "Is someone getting the best of you / Is someone getting the best of you / Has someone taken your faith?" As this chorus erupts, the drums come crashing down, adding to the palpable pain from Grohl's voice. The guitar picks up and Grohl's voice becomes more melodic as he reaches the climax of the song. The song, while seemingly sad, is simultaneously harmonious and disjointed, giving it a surprising emotional power usually not found in modern rock.
The next song on the disc, "DOA," begins with one chord played repeatedly, with a small variance in key. Grohl's voice soon comes in smoothly, but like the guitar, his voice doesn't change much until the chorus, when he belts out "It's a shame we have to die my dear / No one is getting out of here alive". While his voice is somewhat coarse, it remains finely tuned. What's so impressive about this song and the others is that true emotions can be felt. Though the lyrics are seemingly depressing, the way he sings evokes spine-tingling thoughts of living life to the fullest because one day it will be over.
In the song "What If I Do," on the second disk, the acoustic guitar strums along slowly with a soft drum brushing heard in the background. Grohl's voice is much softer and melodious, making the song almost reminiscent of a country tune, but then it's brought back to its Foo Fighter roots as Grohl raises his voice slightly to sing, "What if I do Lord / What if I don't / I'd have to loose everything just to find you." The guitar maintains its slow and steady pace as a piano chimes in with a few chords to compliment Grohl's crooning. This song, as with others on the second disc, shows how surprisingly sweetly Grohl can sing. While he's often forceful, he can also be quite serene.
"On the Mend" begins with individual notes plucked on the guitar while the bass plays slowly and softly in the background. Grohl's voice sounds far away and pensive. The song is forceful, but not due to the typical harsh chords and belting of words. Rather, the song has such an impact because the bass is soft but resonant and the guitar is harmonious, as Grohl sings in almost a whisper, "I'm here / And I'm on the mend my friend." The high pitch of the notes during a guitar solo suggests contentment, something Grohl may finally have found with the band.
In Your Honor, the band's fifth album in their 10-year history, proves to be yet another stunning victory.
Grade: A
