Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters have been one of the top five rock bands in the world for the past ten-plus years...as far as sales are concerned. Most critics love 'em, too, and it's pretty easy to see why. First of all, Grohl is about as affable a front man as there is (or ever has been) in hard rock, and he's smart, too. Secondly, the band records radio-friendly melodies that have enough earnestness and crunch to play on College Radio, Modern Rock Radio, Top 40 radio, and even (I kid you not) Adult Contemporary radio. They've yet to go Country or Urban, but I bet those (especially the former) aren't too far ahead. You can head-bang to 'em, you can hum in the shower to 'em, you can even shop in Wal-Mart to 'em. They're the All-American Band--they're Nickelback with positive reviews. Personally, I don't like 'em.
I've got nothing against Grohl (who's grown into a competent singer and has always been a fantastic rock drummer) or any other band members (drummer Taylor Hawkins may be even better than Grohl, and that's saying something). They--especially Grohl--sound very knowledgeble and respectful in interviews. They even give to charity (though it might depend upon one's definition of charity). It's just their music--I find it dull and safe. I don't find excitement within the grooves. I don't see 'em ever taking any chances musically or lyrically. It's radio ga-ga--metal for those who don't like metal--mediocre, even.
Their single "All My Life," though somewhat formulaic, contains two elements exciting enough to keep me coming back. First, the odd time-signature changes in the verses seem to spark the band, and second, Grohl lifts the song's pseudo-coda (and the parallel structure of the end of one of the verses) straight from the Violent Femmes--and I applaud him for it. He sings, "Dead, dead, all for the next one," and repeats and builds until he and the band are chomping at Gordon Gano's bit as they leap into proto-punk-metal fury--just at the point where Gano pulled back on the reigns (in the Femmes' "Kiss Off"). They scream and thrash, throwing common musical sense--and the song proper--out the door...for just a few seconds...and then the jingle-ready melody of the chorus comes back to save the song...and then the Foo Fighters eschew the natural fade and rush head-first, rock and roll style, into the cold stop.
Grohl and company never completely escape the boundaries of the Well-Made Pop-Rock Song that they've propigated throughout their career, but for a few seconds they try against Grohl's "better" instincts and push those walls back, allowing the spirit of rock and roll to shine just for a few moments...and that's all we need.
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