“Twenty years. We’ve been doing this exactly 20 years,” said Dave Grohl in the premiere of “Sonic Highways,” the HBO miniseries that documents the band’s journey to eight major studios in cities across the United States including Chicago, Washington D.C., Seattle and New York, to record their recently released album of the same name. Two decades have passed since Dave Grohl recorded Foo Fighters’ self-titled debut in the Seattle studio where Nirvana’s last studio album was recorded. The band has since continued to be his primary concern, transforming from a solo project formed during Grohl’s days in Nirvana to what many believe to be one of the greatest modern rock and roll bands.
“Sonic Highways,” which premiered on Oct. 17, is an introspective look at different cities across the United States and their histories and how their diverse cultures have impacted the world of music. The show celebrates the Foo Fighters’ 20th anniversary and really spends some time looking at each city to learn exactly what their music is all about.
Good
Josh Beverage
Connector Contributor
While the band got inspiration for each of the album’s songs from their experiences traveling, they were adamant about not straying too far from their own style. Their first single, “Something From Nothing,” hit radio the day before the premiere of the show, and it’s definitely a signifier that the band isn’t ready to retire just yet. They are still rocking as hard if not harder than ever, delivering heavy riffs, melodic vocals and an undeniably catchy tune. It seems the band is one of the few nowadays that play to the beat of their own drum while still remaining one of the most successful modern rock bands.
“The Feast and the Famine,” influenced by their Washington D.C. travels, is an ode to the punk music scene. “Congregation” is a heavy rock track with a bit of a Southern guitar twang from Nashville. It’s fresh and new, but pleasantly familiar. Perhaps the one track that stands out as radically different from the rest is “Subterranean.” It is a slower song with an eerie feel and chilling guitar, distinct from the rest and maybe even distant from any other song in the band’s career, but somehow it’s still them. The album’s closer, “I Am a River,” is seven minutes long with great instrumentals throughout and emotionally-charged vocals, swapping out the yelling vocals in some of the other songs for an epic anthem of life. This track is definitely an appropriate end to the album.
The band has come a long way since Grohl recorded their first album by himself in a Seattle studio in 1994. It is rare that a band with 20 years and eight studio albums behind them can still be putting out great music like this, but Foo Fighters seem to have pulled it off. “Sonic Highways,” in Grohl’s words, is “a love letter to the history of American music.” It’s a thank you to all the artists that came before them
for all they had given to the music world. And it’s worth a listen for lovers of the band, rock and roll and anyone who has an appreciation for good music.
Final Grade: A-
Not So Good
Jen Desrosiers
Connector Editor
Between the documentary series and the extensive traveling and work that went into putting this album together, “Sonic Highways” could easily be called the Foo Fighters’ biggest project yet… but bigger does not always mean better. Although the concept for this album was unique, many attempts to tie the songs to their respective cities using historical information seems more forced than inspired. The references to the Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tenn. in “Congregation” and the nods to Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters in “Something From Nothing” give the impression that they were quickly thought of and written down instead of being given a fair amount of consideration beforehand.
Whether every one of the songs really needed guest musicians is debatable. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s brass section in “In the Clear” makes the song stand out from the other collaborations, giving it a distinct sound. In one episode of “Sonic Highways,” Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick asks if another guitar is really needed after he is asked to play in “Something from Nothing.” The band itself already has three guitars and a bass, but because it is part of the album project to have guest performers in each song, it was disregarded that not every song actually needed it.
“Sonic Highways” does not compare to earlier releases such as “Wasting Light” or “In Your Honor.” It feels more like a soundtrack than an actual album. Instead of being released as an album of its own, “Sonic Highways” could have done much better as an accompaniment to the documentary series as a way to enhance the viewing experience. In my own personal opinion, this album is a mishap in the band’s career, but to each their own.
Final Grade: B-
