Holy shit, Dave Grohl.

I'm sitting here watching "Foo Fighters: Back and Forth" and just learned that Dave Grohl turned down an opportunity to play drums for Tom Petty.

Because he had this dream of starting Foo Fighters (this was after he had recorded the demo that was all him on all the instruments - but before there was actually a band) and being the lead singer/guitar player, which was something he had never done before.

Turned him down.  Tom Fucking Petty.

Dave Grohl is officially the biggest bad ass in rock music.

Sweet, sweet retro

I'm noticing a trend lately and I have to say I like it.  Usually, I run screaming from trends and fads because they tend to be short-lived and, frankly, stupid.  I did tag along on that freak folk thing that Mumford & Son are doing - I still dig it, actually.  But I'm not here to talk about that right now.

Right now, it's all retro, baby.  There have been several artists who I happen to love from way back that have released songs/albums lately that sound like, well, like themselves.  Here's the thing, I am all about artists evolving and growing and developing their sound.  I like to have multiple records from one artist that tell a story - that map the journey of their careers.  I'm into that.  I don't want the first record I have to sound exactly the same at the 3rd or 4th record (Matchbox Twenty...I'm talking to you), even if that sound is really good.  I want to hear a song and be able to tell which record it comes from, just by the way it sounds.  Like, "Oh yeah, that was his bluesy record, or that was when they experimented with a more techno sound." 

But, and this is a big but (I like those...me and Sir Mix-a-Lot), they should not forget where they came from.  Even if they become hugely popular and can release total shit and people will still buy it (you know who you are...U2...Radiohead...Coldplay) they should not forget what it was that made people love them in the first place.  So sure, go ahead and change, evolve, experiment, I'm more than happy to go on that journey with you.  But at some point, please give me a little of what I fell in love with in the first place. Get back to your roots, so us that you still have that awesome in you...then go back to spreading your wings.

Here are some sweet examples of bands who have done just that:

Foo Fighters - 'Walk' (actually all of "Wasting Light" sounds more like the Foo Fighters than they have sounded in years...maybe ever, and this song is an excellent example of that)

Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie' - with Anthony's lyrics and Flea getting down on that bass, this is very reminiscent of "Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik"



Blink 182 - "Up All Night" - I haven't heard this whole album, but this song manages to sound all ground up but with the same overall feeling that Blink has always had.

Foo Fighters "Wasting Light"

Album: Wasting Light
Artist: Foo Fighters
Release: April 12, 2011

I finally got around to listening to this album all the way through.  My first impression was, "this is awesome".  By now, everyone knows that "Wasting Light" was recorded in Dave Grohl's garage (which, something tells me isn't exactly the same as my garage), but what's really amazing about it is that it lives up to the hype.  It really sounds like actual humans playing actual instruments and like a real guy singing.  It doesn't feel like there is a lot of trickery going on when you listen to this one.  You really believe that if you saw them perform it live, it would sound just like this (and I hope that's true). 

This record gives you that feeling you had when you were 17, sprawled on a worn out couch with broken springs listening to that guy you like rehearse with his band (is that just me?).  Only, this time the guy you like is Dave Grohl and he and his friends are genuinely (and unbelievably) talented and the music fucking rocks.

I think this record sounds like it was fun for them to make, and that's important.  It doesn't feel forced or contrived, just natural and flowing.  It is full of familiar Foo Fighters sounds, but somehow they have been made better.  The warm growl of Dave's voice shines on the slower tracks and the fierce screamers. They brought in some outside talent on this one including Krist Novoselic (you know, that tall guy that was in that other band with Dave Grohl) who lends his mad bass (and apparently accordion) skills to 'I Should Have Known'.

You don't have to be a die hard Foo Fighters fan to appreciate this album.  It's basically just 48 minutes of good old rock (or, Rock & Grohl, if you like) played by amazing musicians.  I look forward to it blending into my play lists and making it's home there.

Teaser

As I mentioned, I bought the Foo Fighters' new album, "Wasting Light" on vinyl and also got the free digital download that came with.  As soon as I get a chance to listen to the whole thing, I'll give you my initial impression.

Also, coming soon:
Stone Temple Pilots "Purple" - my favorite of their offerings
Alanis Morissette "Under Rug Swept"
Gin Blossoms "New Miserable Experience"
Linkin Park "Hybrid Theory"

Vinyl

After having gone to the "artsy" neighborhood in the city nearest us recently, we found out this weekend that the record store in our own little town has the best vinyl collection we're likely to find.  After much self restraint, we walked out with:

Foo Fighters "Wasting Light" - an album I have actually never heard (well, only a couple songs), but I know it is going to be awesome.  The album came with a free mp3 download which I got last night, so I'll be checking the rest of it out soon.

Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" - because no self-respecting vinyl collection would be without it.

Also, Matt Nathanson's "Modern Love" came in the mail last week.  Yay!!

This store also had plenty of classics and all the new stuff you could want.  I want to go back, but I better wait until I'm ready to buy some more...I've never been very good at window-shopping for music.  :-)