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Posts 6070
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posted on 4-13-2011 at 06:43 PM
Foo Fighters
For anyone who doesn't know, they've got a new album out "Wasting Light" that is getting absolutely stellar reviews. It was produced by
Butch Vig, if that's any indication to how fucking awesome it will be. I've heard a few songs off of it and this will be a definite
purchase for me.
I also just got done watching their brand new, absolutely amazing documentary that aired on VH1 Classic this past Friday called "Back And Forth."
If there is a blueprint for making a band documentary, this is it. It starts with Grohl in Nirvana (of course), then goes through Kurt's
suicide, Grohl recording the first Foos record on his own, and so on. What's great about it is that they leave absolutely NOTHING out. This
mainly comes into play on the scenes that discuss the uncomfortable way they kicked out their first drummer (he's included in the doc and still
seems very bitter about it) and Taylor's drug OD from a few years back. Is is also revealed that Dave had an opportunity to join Tom
Petty's band in the mid-90's but decided he wanted to see how this Foo Fighters thing turned out. I'd say he made the right
decision. Anyway, if you are a Foo's fan (or just a fucking ROCK fan), seek out this documentary any way you can.
Back to the band, I am so glad they are doing it better than ever (Pat Smear has even re-joined the ranks). I was fairly lukewarm on them for a while
but they've proved that they are most likely THE greatest rock band of their generation.
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
Chris Is Good517
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Mood: punchy
posted on 4-13-2011 at 07:56 PM
Who has two thumbs and is going to see the Foo Fighters at Verizon Arena in Little Rock on May 18th?
This guy.
Gee, I wish I was still alive- LuckyLopez R.I.P.
Bachmann: "I haven't had a gaffe... when it comes to the best Republican who take
on Barack Obama and not have any clunker in my record to be able to take him on, it's me."
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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Mood: Opus Eponymous
posted on 4-13-2011 at 08:18 PM
I didn't even know they were touring?! How have my Ticketmaster/Live Nation notification emails not NOTIFIED me of this?! They've got to
be making a stop somewhere in NC.
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
Chris Is Good517
Posts 10711
Registered 1-10-2002 Location Little Rock, AR Member Is Online
Mood: punchy
posted on 4-13-2011 at 08:58 PM
Yeah, they're coming here with Motorhead. I'm not a huge Motorhead fan but I don't dislike them either, and I'm more than
happy to sit through them to see the Foo Fighters again, since the first time I saw them was in a torrential downpour at the outdoor Beale St. Music
Festival back in 2005. Didn't feel like I really got the full effect.
Gee, I wish I was still alive- LuckyLopez R.I.P.
Bachmann: "I haven't had a gaffe... when it comes to the best Republican who take
on Barack Obama and not have any clunker in my record to be able to take him on, it's me."
denverpunk
Showstopper
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posted on 4-14-2011 at 12:59 AM
Foo Fighters are one of those bands that I've always liked, but never got that into or bought their albums. Songs like "Learn To Fly" were
always a little too sappy for me. That may change, though, because "Rope" is the best single I've ever heard from them. If the rest of the
album is like that, then it's a must-buy for me.
the goon
Sister Act
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Mood:
posted on 4-14-2011 at 03:04 AM
quote:Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
Who has two thumbs and is going to see the Foo Fighters at Verizon Arena in Little Rock on May 18th?
This guy.
I once sold Dave Grohl an Xbox (true story). So there.
And I've seen the Foo Fighters live twice, but due to being pretty wasted for both concerts, my memory of them is hazy at best (especially the
first time I saw them). So they're one of those bands that technically I can say I've seen live in concert, but I'd be hard-pressed
to tell you what the setlists were at either show.
As for the new album, I dig the two songs I've heard off of it. I'll probably just wait for the gooker to get it and then get the album
off of him.
OORick
You and what army?
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posted on 4-14-2011 at 03:37 AM
I've had the "album" for a month and a half, but only if you count a "secret" live show they did where they played the entire record
(it's the show featured in the "Back and Forth" documentary, which I also endorse as Must See).
The first few times through, I liked it enough. Certainly better than the past two albums, with a better rock:ballad ratio and more than just one or
two songs that were so catchy that could be hits. (Seriously: that last record kinda turned out to be "The Pretender" kicking ass, 1 or 2 more OK
songs, and then meh.)
By the time I got the real (studio) album two weeks ago, and gave it a few more listens, I upgraded it from "better than the last two albums" to
"Uh oh, Colour and the Shape has competition." I mean that as a man who has "Colour and the Shape" among his top 20-ish or so favorite albums
ever.
It's telling that between SNL and the Daily Show, they had 4 chances to play, and played 4 different songs off the record (including my
favorite, Track #5, on Stewart). It's deep, baby. And varied, too; just because the needle swung more back towards "rock" doesn't mean
it's even close to monotonous. The rock ranges from punk-pop ear candy, to ultra hard riff rock, and with some slower/softer stuff (including
Track #10, which is toys with being wankery/magnum-opusy, but manages to just be engrossing). There might be some "meh" mixed in too, but only if
you look really hard (*ahem* probablyatthemiddleofsidetwo *ahem*) and are really harsh in judging.
Ergo, if you're just going by the single: (1) WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? The video for "White Limo" was released weeks before the audio
of the single! And (2) It gets even better than "Rope" once you dig in.
In fact, I'd put "Rope" in the bottom half of the tracks. Not that it sucks, but the rest of the record is that strong. Also: I think I have
an in-bred hatred of "math rock," so Grohl and the boys showing off by cramming a measure of 5/4 time in every bar of the verse annoys me, and
overshadows the breakdown/drum-solo bit o' rock. So your mileage may vary...
Rick
"He's from Mars, Officer; whiskey does not affect alien beings." -- Venus Flytrap speaking on The Rick
denverpunk
Showstopper
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posted on 4-14-2011 at 04:27 AM
quote:Originally posted by OORick
Ergo, if you're just going by the single: (1) WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? The video for "White Limo" was released weeks before the audio
of the single! And (2) It gets even better than "Rope" once you dig in.
Well, in my defense, I did mention that I was never that into them, so I didn't know about "White Limo"! If the album's as good
as you say, then I'll like it a lot.
And being an admitted Rush fan, math-rock time signatures and I get along just fine, so "Rope" is right up my alley.
[Edited on 4-14-2011 by denverpunk]
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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posted on 4-14-2011 at 01:28 PM
quote:Originally posted by denverpunk
Foo Fighters are one of those bands that I've always liked, but never got that into or bought their albums. Songs like "Learn To Fly" were
always a little too sappy for me. That may change, though, because "Rope" is the best single I've ever heard from them. If the rest of the
album is like that, then it's a must-buy for me.
I've actually got a very similar history with them. I bought the first album and absolutely LOVED them right off the bat, just because I was a
disciple of Nirvana and Dave Grohl could've recorded himself reading the phonebook at the time and I would've bought it. But then I kinda
started losing interest, I think because so many of their big singles got so overplayed and I got sick of them. "Everlong" is still one of my
favorite songs of all-time though.
Anyway, I think, especially since the acoustic album and "Echos, Silence, Patience, and Grace," they're really just starting to transcend to
another level and have pulled me back into the fold.
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
Slade
The Rowdy One
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posted on 4-15-2011 at 10:29 PM
I really enjoyed Back and Forth, as well. I saw it Wednesday night on the big screen in a theatre, downtown. It was billed as a one night only
screening, with a live performance of the entire album, broadcast via satellite from Dave's garage. It turns out it aired live on April 5th for
people who went to the thearical screenings of the documentary in the US. In an event, I purposely put off buying the album until the day after it was
released, right before going to the theatre, so that I could hear it all performed for the first time by the band rocking out in the garage, just like
how the record was made.
I really enjoyed the documentary and the band's performance. However, it was a bit weird because you were watching a band perform and you felt
like clapping and cheering at the end of the songs, but then you were in a theatre, and theatre etiquette is to be as absolutely quiet as possible,
most of the time. Some of us clapped, but most people remained silent. It was strange. It reminded me of this one time, some 7-8 years ago, back when
I used to never miss wrestling PPVs, and I had to go to the theatre to watch a PPV because the bar I used to always go to had decided to discontinue
screening them. My friends and I were being as rowdy as we would always be at the bar, but a lot of people were quiet. Some people sitting near us
even asked us to be quiet because we were ruining it for them. I responded by telling them it was a wrestling show and it demands audiance
participation, not a fucking Oscar nominee for motion picture of the year.
Anyhow, the album fucking rocks. It's like they turned the dial up to 11. I've always been a really big fan of the band, ever since the
first record was released. As a very young Nirvana brat, seeing the Big Me video for the first time and recognizing the drummer from Nirvana
singing and playing guitar in a new band was a good enough reason for me, as a 12-year old, to go buy the CD. I've been with them ever since.
However, I will note that while some you seem to have been unimpressed by some of their recent albums, I've liked them all, with the exception
of One by One. It's the only one of their records that I think of as being instantly forgetable and that only has about three good tracks
on it.
Chris is lucky that he gets to see the band soon, because they're only playing a handful of shows in US markets that are often after thoughts
for most stadium acts on their way to headlining Sasquatch Festival at the end of May and then they're spending their entire summer headlining
practically every major festival over in Europe. They have a 5-6 week break from mid-July to mid-August, but the rest of the time they'll be in
Europe (before and after that). They're still heavily rumoured to be a headliner at Lollapalooza, this year. If that happens, maybe
they'll book a few more shows in North America. I had hoped that they would be coming to Osheaga in Montreal, as it's the weekend before
Lolla and tends to have many of the same acts on it's line-up. Unfortunately, the line-up was announced and they're not on it.
"Love is making out with someone after you've blown a load on his/her face." - Dan Savage
OORick
You and what army?
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Mood: Foo'd
posted on 4-16-2011 at 03:11 AM
To follow up on live performances of the new album that are entirely worth watching (especially if you're a cheapskate and haven't gotten
the record yet)....
Here's the "Live on Letterman" show they did back on Tuesday when they were guests on Late Night, but taped an entire hour-plus long concert
(in full homage-to-the-Beatles-on-Ed-Sullivan Mode)... I thought it was a one-time webcast, but it turns out they're keeping it up for all to
see. So I insist you see it:
This is the third instance of a HQ performance of them playing the entire album straight through... I kinda love that. In this day and age of
downloading one song for 99 cents because of whatever ADD has infiltrated society, it's great that somebody still cares about putting an entire
record together and being proud of every song to the extent that they play 'em all live. Like I said in my previous post, this record is
super-deep, so I do not mind being asked to sit through all the new album. Not at all.
This is the third instance of having a HQ vid of the entire album being performed, but it's the first one where they follow up the new record
with some old favorites. It's half new album, half hits. So that's, ummmm, a whole bunch of awesome.
Rick
"He's from Mars, Officer; whiskey does not affect alien beings." -- Venus Flytrap speaking on The Rick
williamssl
Steers and Queers
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posted on 4-16-2011 at 03:40 AM
There seems to be an emerging trend for "play new album in entirety".
Well maybe not a trend, but citing two I know off hand, and then these Foo examples make 3...and you need 3 datapoints to call "trend".
Duran Duran did a series of New York shows (like 2 weeks consecutive nights) when they released Red Carpet Massacre in late 2007. They played the
album in entirety, in order, then went into the back catalogue.
The Cult did this last year (or year before) with their Love Live tour - so going back into the vault to their "debut" album (yes I know
Spiritwalker came before it..), played it in order in entirety, then went through their catalogue of more recent stuff.
Don't Mess With Texas
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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posted on 4-21-2011 at 02:33 PM
quote:Originally posted by williamssl
There seems to be an emerging trend for "play new album in entirety".
Well maybe not a trend, but citing two I know off hand, and then these Foo examples make 3...and you need 3 datapoints to call "trend".
Duran Duran did a series of New York shows (like 2 weeks consecutive nights) when they released Red Carpet Massacre in late 2007. They played the
album in entirety, in order, then went into the back catalogue.
The Cult did this last year (or year before) with their Love Live tour - so going back into the vault to their "debut" album (yes I know
Spiritwalker came before it..), played it in order in entirety, then went through their catalogue of more recent stuff.
I saw Coheed and Cambria this past Monday and they played their entire first album in its entirety to commemorate their 10th anniversary.
Finally bought "Wasting Light" last night. Listened to the first three songs on the way to work this morning.
Fuck...it's really good.
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
DBMacJericho
Fella
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posted on 4-21-2011 at 10:57 PM
This is pretty easily one of the best albums I've heard in years. I've been a fan of the Foo ever since the very beginning. The video for
"White Limo" was fuckin' hilarious! Everything about this album is fantastic.
This is my show, assclown! I do whatever I want! That's what I do!
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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posted on 4-21-2011 at 11:13 PM
If I have to name one track that has fucking grabbed my ear and commited passionate, rough, sweet, beautiful sex to it, it would be "Arlandria."
That song is pure fucking rock bliss from beginning to end.
Also, the one-two punch of "Bridge Burning" and "Rope" to kick off the album are a couple of the best two songs to kick off an album I've
heard...ever.
Edited to add that I don't get Rick's indifference to "Rope" either. It's been one of my favorites on the album so far.
[Edited on 4-21-2011 by gobbledygooker]
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
OORick
You and what army?
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posted on 4-22-2011 at 12:19 AM
All I said about "Rope" is that there were probably 5 other songs on the record I liked better, which statistically puts it in the bottom half.
Jesting about my (sadly, very real) aversion to "math rock" aside, I meant that more as a comment on the rest of the album than a critique on the
one song.
At least we agree that Track #5 rules the known multiverse, gooker. That's the one that grabbed my ear right away, and still hasn't let
go. I wager if the Foos are still around in 10 years, that's one of the ones that -- regardless of whether it was a hit single or not -- will
make the jump from album track to fan favorite/live show staple. Bank on it.
Some more random pontificating blowhardery:
Of the fan-submitted video winners on Fuse last week (1 winning video was picked for each track on the new album), the hands-down best one was "Back
& Forth." Awesome. Second place goes to "Walk." A few others were decent and "honorable mention-y." And predictably, a goodly number were overly
arteestic attempts at cinema by struggling film school graduates.
It goes without saying that none were anywhere near as good as the oft-mentioned-in-this-thread official video for "White Limo." But honestly: how
could they be?
I wish I could find the "This Video Sucks" contest winners online so I could link (at least) the two good ones. But for some reason, I can't
find them. Anywhere. And usually, I'm pretty good at teh intarnetz. What gives with those 11 low-budget, fan-submitted videos apparently having
better security than most WWE DVD releases?
Rick
PS: if you didn't see the "Back & Forth" documentary (the big 2 hour movie, different from the 4 minute "Back & Forth" music video I
mentioned), I *did* manage to find a link to that. Quite easily, and by accident. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--8OeqmvmQ4
[Edited on 4-22-2011 by OORick]
"He's from Mars, Officer; whiskey does not affect alien beings." -- Venus Flytrap speaking on The Rick
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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posted on 4-22-2011 at 01:36 AM
Just to finish off the verbal fellating of "Arlandria," (and, granted, I have been drinking) this happens to me from time to time - Just when I
think every great rock riff has been written, nobody else can possibly come up with anything worth a shit, etc...a song like "Arlandria" comes
along. And complete restores my faith in the fact that some songwriters can still kick fucking ass when they are in the zone.
Fuck, with this buildup people who listen to it from this thread are going to be expecting "Stairway To Heaven II."
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
Gobshite
The Rowdy One
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Mood:
posted on 5-1-2011 at 12:52 AM
quote:Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
Who has two thumbs and is going to see the Foo Fighters at Verizon Arena in Little Rock on May 18th?
This guy.
I have two thumbs, and am going to see them at Milton Keynes Bowl on July 3rd.
And that's NOT the concert I'm looking forward to right now. I'm gonna go start a thread about Download 2011 and rub all 'yall
noses in it...
Clownbaby
Turd Generation Superstar
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posted on 5-19-2011 at 07:11 AM
quote:Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
Who has two thumbs and is going to see the Foo Fighters at Verizon Arena in Little Rock on May 18th?
This guy.
I went and it was fucking great.
Rick, thanks for the Letterman link. That's some goodness too, and I've watched it many times. Wish I could find mp3's of it (or
Little Rock show). It got my hopes up that they would play the entire Wasting Light album, which until the third song I thought was what they were
gonna do. Either way, I am glad I got to go.
And yes, Arlandria kicked much ass!
All this and Lemmy too!
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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posted on 5-20-2011 at 07:37 PM
I'm jealous. I'm just hoping that they'll do a proper U.S. tour in the fall/winter.
Back to the CD for a second, for being recorded in Dave's garage, this is the flat-out best-sounding recording I have heard in a long
freakin' time. I don't know what kind of magic Butch Vig worked but I wish he would produce the upcoming albums of every band I like. I
mean, I'll be listening to my iPod on shuffle while I'm out driving around and some song will be on, then a song from Wasting Light comes
on and it's like BOOM! Just loud, clear, and awesome.
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
Gobshite
The Rowdy One
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Mood:
posted on 7-4-2011 at 01:24 PM
I mentioned that they were doing two shows here this weekend... and I have come to the conclusion that between festivals and what happened over this
past weekend, UK >>> USA in terms of a live music scene. Maybe in general. You should all move here NOW. We get Raw live (granted at 2am), Smackdown
before you, and dont have to pay anywhere near as much for PPV's.
We were treated to Foo Fighters and what is left of queen - they must be good friends as when I saw them in Hyde Park a few years ago, they were there
too. But then we were treated to the FOO FIGHTERS PLAYING ON STAGE WITH ALICE FUCKING COOPER!!
SCHOOLS OUT BITCHES!!!
gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
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posted on 11-9-2011 at 03:00 PM
As I recover from seeing the Foo's play last night, I just wanted to brag about it here a bit. Fucking UNBELIEVABLE show. Dave Grohl was made
to be a rock star. I've been to a LOT of concerts and their show last night has moved into my top three of all time. Possibly even top two.
Possibly even #1! I need some time to reflect.
It was at Time Warner Cable Arena and they had an open floor, which is where we were and which was fucking awesome. It was the perfect setup for a
show like this. We worked our way up and were right at the front of the stage by the end of the show, on Pat Smear's side of the stage as an
added bonus.
Setlist -
1. Bridge Burning
2. Rope
3. The Pretender
4. My Hero
5. Learn to Fly
6. White Limo
7. Arlandria
8. Breakout
9. Cold Day in the Sun
10. Stacked Actors
11. Walk
12. Monkey Wrench
13. Let It Die
14. These Days
15. This is a Call
16. In the Flesh? (Pink Floyd cover)
17. All My Life
Encore:
18. Wheels (Dave Grohl Acoustic)
19. Best of You (Dave Grohl solo acoustic)
20. Times Like These (Dave Grohl Acoustic)
21. Dear Rosemary
22. Breakdown (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers cover)
23. Everlong
Easily worth more than the $60-per-ticket we paid. This is how you do a live show.
[Edited on 11-9-2011 by gobbledygooker]
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
salmonjunkie
American Dream
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posted on 11-9-2011 at 05:15 PM
I'm quite surprised I haven't chimed in yet on this thread.
I haven't throughouly enjoyed a Foo Fighters album since There Is Nothing Left To Lose, which is steps down from Colour and the Shape.
I've liked singles, and some album tracks off the other albums, but for the most part, they've been tepid to me, too. That said, Wasting
Light is easily their best album since Colour and the Shape, easily the best album of 2011, and probably my favorite rock album released since Them
Crooked Vultures' album (hey, nice to see you again Mr. Grohl!). Excellent album from beginning to end. I still haven't gotten sick of
it, and I listen to it probably 1-2 times a week since it's been released.
Gooker, I agree. The album SOUNDS amazing, not just the songwrtiting and what not, but the quality of the recording. Vig did a damn good job with
this. Analog. Who woulda thunk it?
Also, throw my hat in the sentiment that "Alandria" is an amazing song and the best one in an album full of great songs.
I missed them when they played in Seattle - I've seen them in the past, and they are awesome. That live show from Wembley they air on Palladia
is awesome too.
Also, Back and Forth is on Netflix. It's a very good documentary as well.
Personally, I think he�s a [freaking homosexual].
bigfatgoalie
The Man
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