Album Review: Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Foo Fighters are a band that need no introduction, from their very formation in the early 90’s they were immediately in the spotlight thanks to Dave Grohl’s infamous involvement with Nirvana. Sadly after the staggering loss of drummer Taylor Hawkins last year the group have put themselves through a period of introspection and bittersweet remembrances, highlighted by the tribute concerts in both London and Los Angeles.
June of 2023 sees the band release themselves from the confines of their mourning, a period which has seen them produce a brutally honest and emotional new album in ‘But Here We Are’, released on June 2nd.
Opening with ‘Rescued’ the musical tone very much picks up where their past two albums ‘Concrete and Gold’ and ‘Medicine at Midnight’ left off. They have refined their sound over the years and the opening track is unmistakably Foo Fighters in sound.
‘Under You’ is where the emotion of the lyrics really kicks in, the sound is a little more upbeat than usual, but lyrically “Someone said I’ll never see your face again, Part of me just can’t believe it’s true” really tugs at those heart strings. It brings personal memories to the listeners mind and a tear to their eye as the song plays out.
As the album progresses the introspection of Grohl and his bandmates continues, ‘Hearing Voices’ again starts you welling up again, a melancholic number with a haunting, relatable story. Title track ‘But Hear We Are’ experiments with sounds, light industrial tones that lead you into a fast paced yet sombre ditty.
With each tune the mourning process the group have been through, and are still going through, becomes more and more clear. Remembrances of a bandmate lost, the good times and the bad, the ups and the downs as their coping mechanisms kick in.
As the album nears its end, an epic ten minute number, 'The Teacher', kicks in. The song itself takes the listener on a journey, in pacing, in depth, in the mix of light and dark the song has it all. Whilst the lyrics focus again on the memories of a fallen brother.
To release an album following the death of a long time bandmate, friend and ultimately family member was always going to be difficult. However Grohl, Mendel, Smear, Shiflett and Jaffee have channelled their inner emotions into a masterpiece that both mourns the loss and celebrates the life of the shining star Taylor Hawkins.
Over the course of time, as the still fresh wounds heal, this opus will serve as a memorial for a great man.
“The Teacher” is about the passing of Dave’s mom, I personally don’t think it’s about a fallen brother. I maybe wrong. Good album!
I feel like the song teacher is more about his mother whom passed away 5 months after Taylor and who was a school teacher for 30 years
You cropped Taylor out of the original photo. Wow.
Thats how it came in the press release, we didn’t crop anything 🙂