Spring Break
Listen up!
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Out & About
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Foo Fighters
"Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace"
Take one look at Foo Fighters' new album title, and you'll know exactly what it takes to make an upstanding rock and roll opus: echoes of the past, the silencing of critics, patience from fans and a level of grace unforeseen by the public. Somehow, Dave Grohl and crew have made it unscathed through the mediocrity-marinated machine of radio-friendly rock, and the band's lingering legacy continues to thrive throughout its latest LP. On a first listen, "Echoes ..." lacks an outstanding anthemic track like chart-toppers past, but that doesn't defray the foursome from foraying through its standard bag of tricks - driving guitars and tender acoustic twilight surging into bombastic bass-and-electric shred and a couple of tunes where you can't help but tap your toes. The Foos' greatest growth comes in context. Greatly aware of its senior status, the group's songwriting shifts from superhero mode to senior citizenry, particularly on the sarcastic stab at emo kids entitled "Cheer Up Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)." Between the alt-country colors of "Summer's End," the instrumental inventiveness on "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners" or the prettying piano parts on album closer "Home," Foo Fighters are clearly past '"learning to fly," and the other sissies that are somehow succeeding better suck it up and pay their respects.
Verdict: Still rocking hard enough to skate past the retirement resort.
Band of Horses
"Cease To Begin"
With another 10 songs under its belt, Band of Horses make the self-proclaimed stylistic move from "The Great Salt Lake" to the great Southeast on the upcoming release "Cease to Begin." The new series of tracks are less bombastic than the selections on "Everything All The Time," but solidly soar thanks to the thematic turns and twang. Often mistaken for a poor man's My Morning Jacket, lead singer Ben Bridwell does himself a favor by kindly removing some reverb - exposing the tender tenor and gentle naivete behind his billowing beard. The greater part of the album's attributes are richly romance-ridden, with Bridwell penning vivacious verses leading into love-laden lyrics like "No one's gonna love you more than I do..." and "My eyes can't look at you any other way." Whether ruminating on rings and holy unions ("Marry Song," "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands") or summoning the swelter of a hot Southern summer with standouts like "Lam on the Lam (In the City)" and "Window Blues," place your bets on Band of Horses to be around for the long run.
Verdict: Galloping past a sophomore slump at breakneck speed.
-Sami Promisloff
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