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Foo Fighters – Wasting Light (2011)

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The seventh album from Foo Fighters and one of their best, recorded just with analog equipment in Dave Grohl's garage.
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Foo Fighters, one of the biggest bands of recent years, emerged in the aftermath of the eminent breakup of Nirvana following the legendary Kurt Cobain’s death. The band carried the intrinsic responsibility of honoring one of the most revered icons in rock. Led by Dave Grohl on guitar and vocals, they have succeeded as one of the most charismatic bands, featuring the late Taylor Hawkins on drums and Pat Smear on guitar, who was also a member of Nirvana, notably as part of the live lineup.

Weary of the digital era, overproduction, and virtual instruments, Foo Fighters decided in 2011 to record “Wasting Light,” their seventh studio album, at Dave Grohl’s garage, using only analog equipment and minimal editing. Dave took on the production alongside Butch Vig of Garbage, who also produced the iconic album “Nevermind” (1991) by Nirvana.

Today, in The Rock Review, we discuss what in our opinion, is the band’s best album released to date.

What can we listen to?

A warm and heavy sound, preserving their traditional “Post-grunge” with strong influences of Hard Rock. Musically, Foo Fighters present rebellion from start to finish with tracks like the opener “Bridge Burning” or “White Limo,” where we can even appreciate screams from Dave Grohl, taking a slight influence from Black Metal and even Modern Thrash Metal. Undoubtedly, a song that impresses to listen to due to its spontaneity and unpredictability.

We appreciate the analog touch, primarily in Taylor Hawkins’ drumming, with a snare meticulously compressed intended to show off a slow attack. We also feel the warmth of the guitar amplifiers, especially in Dave’s rhythmic chords. While not known for being a virtous guitarist, he has managed to establish his own signature style, much like Malcolm Young of AC/DC.

Continuing with the Nirvana excitement, we love that we can hear the bass in “I Should Have Known” played by Krist Novoselic, a former member of the band. In the bridge, we hear an important presence of his instrument with a slight distortion that makes it stand out. Krist also plays the accordion on the track, giving a special touch to “Wasting Light.”

the-rock-review-foo-fighters-wasting-light

Powerful and memorable vocal melodies

Despite “Wasting Light” being a pure rock album, the band manages to soften it through Dave Grohl’s vocal melodies, making most of the songs quite memorable, including the now-hit “Walk,” a song that closes the album in an iconic and nostalgic way with lyrics that remind us that we can all start anew at any point in our lives.

Another of our favorite songs on “Wasting Light” is “Rose Mary,” with a chorus that is also very memorable and complemented by riffs. The guitar arrangements are not necessarily complex but are more about the artist’s expression and the chemistry among them, showing us that even though the rest of Foo Fighters are not “iconic” members, they are an essential part of the band.

Possibly in the vocals, we find some influences from Alternative Rock, as seen in songs like “These Days,” a track that draws on vintage-style arrangements.

the-rock-review-foo-fighters-wasting-light

"Wasting Light," the best album by Foo Fighters.

This album, from our point of view, stands out as the best by the band, offering contemporary rock appealing to both old-school enthusiasts and new genre followers. There is much debate when comparing the album to others in their discography, such as “The Colour And The Shape” (1997). However, in “Wasting Light,” we hear the band at one of their most mature points, with Dave Grohl being more experienced as a producer and frontman.

And what about you? What do you think of “Wasting Light”? Do you agree with us? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Picture of Enrique Coronado

Enrique Coronado

Músico, productor, MBA y MKT. Apasionado por la historia del rock.

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