Last week legendary rock band Foo Fighters released their 11th album, “But Here We Are,” a 10-song 48 minutes long genre-bending story of grief that closes with a beautiful goodbye.
The album has since received positive responses from critics and fans alike. For many, the album recaptures the golden rock sound lacking in their latest years.
As of June 11th, critics rated the album an 87 on the meta score, and fans have rated it an 9.0 on a 10-point grading scale.
The album comes to us a year after the passing of the band’s drummer, Taylor Hawkins, and Dave Grohl’s mother, Virginia, in 2022. The band confronts their feelings in this record for one of their most emotionally driven projects we wish they never had to create.
From the classic style of the Foo Fighters’ “Everlong” era to the newly adapted sound of “Show Me How,” the album shows off their range as a rock band.
Album Review:
“But Here We Are” track list
- “Rescued” – 4:18
- “Under You” – 3:39
- “Hearing Voices” – 3:48
- “But Here We Are” – 4:43
- “The Glass” – 3:49
- “Nothing at All” – 3:27
- “Show Me How” – 4:53
- “Beyond Me” – 3:54
- “The Teacher” – 10:04
- “Rest” – 5:33
Total length: 48:08
Rescued
The tracklist begins with the emotional and powerful “Rescued.” “Rescued” begins with what can only be assumed as the band’s reaction to the sporadic nature of death: the passing of their band member and Grohl’s mother. The lyrics read:
“It came in a flash
It came out of nowhere
It happened so fast
And then it was over”
Setting the tone for the album and the coming performances as a project brimming with deep-seated feelings crafted from their experiences. Above all, “Rescued” echoes a more classic rock sound featuring Grohl’s fabled roar. First released as a single on April 19, “Rescued” has amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify alone.
Under You
“Under You” is another Foo Fighter classic that stays true to its basics as a rock band. With a chorus that makes you want to scream along to the overpowering guitar melody. The single lead them to face the past years’ trauma head-on as they recount melancholy feelings and detail the acceptance of their losses.
Grohl sings:
Someone said I’ll never see your face again
Part of me just can’t believe it’s true
Pictures of us sharing songs and cigarettes
This is how I’ll always picture youOver it, think I’m getting over it
But there’s no getting over it
Likely referring to band member Hawkins’ death and Grohl’s path in “getting over it.”
Hearing Voices
The eerie third track, “Hearing Voices,” similarly cries in grief:
“I’ve been hearing voices/ None of them are you”
Nothing At All
“Nothing At All” is a more vibrant track that, throughout the album, is likely the most representative of the Foo Fighters’ classic style from the late 1990s to the late 2000s.
The song is led by a snappy snare, a guitar that screams “Rock!” and Grohl’s hoarse distorted voice. Fans recall Nirvana’s “Aneurysm” when listening to the song, boasting a similar drumbeat and even aesthetically similar vocals.
Show Me How
“Show Me How,” the seventh number on the list and my favourite of the album. Although sonically, the track diverts from what is typical of a rock band like the Foo Fighters, it shows their ability to adapt and present something new.
Grohl joins his daughter Violet’s delicate vocals for a more contemporary-sounding rock track. Despite a new sound, the band maintains the weight of their recent losses, evident in the song.
The Teacher & Rest
The first eight songs act as the build-up to “best” of the album, “The Teacher,” an “experimental anthem,” and “Rest,” the soft goodbye of the album and the goodbye to their lost ones.
“The Teacher” makes up over 20% of the album’s playtime. The song opens with a coarse guitar riff before Grohls enters with a hushed voice, building up to a beat drop. In a sudden change of pace, the melody turns the song into a blaring rock song that continues to gain momentum as Grohl leads you to an intense and frightening interlude.
Grohl sings:
“You showed me how to breathe, never showed me how to say goodbye
In the final track, “Rest,” Grohl mourns for their passing in a hushed acoustic intro leading to a static/electric climax as Grohl puts his family to rest:
“Rest, you can rest now
Rest, you will be safe now”
If you want to learn more about the band and the circumstances behind the recent album’s release, visit these articles: Pitchfork, Rollingstone, The Guardian and NPR
