Welcome to Junk Mail, where a few Music Times staffers email back-and-forth about each week's biggest release throughout the work day. This week, Carolyn Menyes, Kyle Dowling and Caitlin Carter chat about Foo Fighters' new album Sonic Highways. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments section, and check back next week for more.
Carolyn Menyes: If there's one thing that can easily be said about Foo Fighters' new album Sonic Highways, it's that it's the band's most ambitious project to date. Eight different cities, eight different studios, dozens of guest musicians, new lyrical and musical influences coming from everywhere... And, simultaneously, Dave Grohl had to make a cohesive album and HBO documentary. I don't envy this project.
Beyond the fascinating story behind this record, how did the music turn out? Eh. I like Wasting Light better. What do you think?
Kyle Dowling: I'll be honest about the Foo Fighters. I'm a big fan, but I don't love every song I hear. It seems that with each album they put out I feel the same way: it's typically a good album but I'm most likely going to skip over some tracks to get to the gems. With that said, I think the work put into Sonic Highways helps me respect it even more than other albums. There are undoubtedly some killer tracks on here, but I'll end by saying that it's pretty consistent with what I've been feeling about the band for some years now.
Caitlin Carter: This concept was super ambitious, which is why the documentary is so fascinating. As for Sonic Highways the album, I think the production was tight and the song structure was super accessible. It did feel a little grandiose and a bit gratuitous at times, but that's nothing new for the band. I wish it had less of a soundtrack feel and more of a gritty "we went back to the roots of American music" feel. That said, the instrumentals on this are awesome and the album certainly rocks hard. Did you guys go about the album paying attention to the city it was recorded in, or did you listen to it outside of that context?
CM: Before I get further into the documentary Sonic Highways, I'll touch on both your parts. Kyle, I'm also obviously a big Foo Fighters fan, too. My 10-year-old Foo Fighters hoodie from the epic Foozer tour is one of my favorite possessions.That being said, I do think Foo Fighters tend to clog some of their albums with filler. Or, you know, the good stuff is so good that the mediocre stuff plays off worse. For me, "In The Clear" is the real dull one on Sonic Highways. I kind of just keep forgetting it exists.
And Caitlin, I don't know how often Foo Fighters are gratutious, but that's a great adjective for a lot of the songs on this album. There is just no need for some of these cuts to be five minutes other than to take that "left turn" that Grohl described as being particularly inspired by each city. The last two songs, "Subterranean" and "I Am A River" are solid enough, but together they log 13 minutes. That is just a long time, and it starts to feel a little self indulgent. Then again, I just never have loved long songs. It's the garage rock fan in me.
FINALLY... I've been following Sonic Highways on HBO, so it's hard to ignore the city influence on each song, The Nashville track "Congregation" really fells like its city, but for a lot of them, I don't get it. I would've guessed that "Outside" the L.A. track and Seattle's "Subterranean" were switched (other than the Sub Pop reference in the lyrics of "Subterranean"). But, then again, I could use some more history on American rock -- which is why I watch the show! Hey!
KD: I didn't go into it thinking about the different cities — though I do feel that's a cool way to approach listening to Sonic Highways. That said, I think I'd have to agree with Carolyn in that I don't necessarily get it from each song. I don't think many are songs that have a certain feel of Seattle or New York or LA and so on. To me, no matter what, they all sound very Foo Fighters. Which I guess is a good thing.
I will admit that the songs being over five minutes did not bother me at all. I tend to enjoy songs that hover around the 5-minute mark. I'm guessing the reason for it on this album is because Grohl and the band had so much material to work from (being because of the interviews, of course).
I am curious of one thing (and it may not drive the conversation any further, but what the hell, right?): Had this album not been accompanied by an HBO docuseries (but the band still traveled to eight cities and conducted all the interviews) do you both think it would have been so hyped up?
CC: I would have to agree with you both that the location/inspiration behind each song isn't very obvious. That's not necessarily a bad thing beside the fact that they are promoting this album as a sonic journey across America. I think that the hype is making listeners give the album credit for its concept, though it's essentially a mediocre record if judged outside of that context. Not that it's bad, but it didn't blow me away by any means, considering all the hype around it.
CM: I agree. It's kind of the problem of doing something really ambitious. People get really excited for something they expect to be revolutionary. Then, when it's really just OK, it comes across as less than it actually is, if that makes sense. It's all a matter of expectation.
A Foo Fighters record will pretty much always be hyped since they're one of the last few champions of "real" rock 'n' roll, whatever that is supposed to be. But this one has a documentary with it and an interesting process, which is really put out there... so people will want something that does sound like a trip across the U.S. on a "Sonic Highway."
But, if you strip away the HBO series and the major guest acts (Joe Walsh, Rick Nielsen, Gary Clark Jr., etc.) you'll just find an OK Foo Fighters album. I still think Sonic Highways is better than the "worst" Foo Fighters record In Your Honor, though I'm struggling to figure out if I like it more than Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (my personal second least favorite, though it's still pretty good). Immediately, I want to say I don't, just because this album doesn't have anything nearly as biting as "The Pretender."
Before we get into specific tracks, overall, where does this album fall for you in the Foo discography?
KD: I'm not up on all-things-Foo, but I'd place Sonic Highways somewhere in the middle. It doesn't do it for me the way their first few albums did, but there are far more songs I'll chicken pick from here than say In Your Honor... which I think I listen to just one or two songs from there.
CC: I'm going to move into what songs we did/didn't like. I was a fan of "Something From Nothing," which isn't a surprise as they chose it as their single. I also liked "Outside," and though Carolyn, you mentioned you thought it was forgettable, "In The Clear" is actually the one song that really got stuck in my head. How about you guys? What worked for you?
CM: I want to swim in that bassline from "Outside." Oh my goodness, it's so good. That song feels very grungey and wavy to me, which is I guess why I assumed it may have been the Seattle single It has that sound, you know?
I also really liked "What Did I Do / God As My Witness." Though it maybe starts and stops a little too much for my taste, it's a reflection of the mid-'90s Foo Fighters that we all came to know and love. And I love all the twists and turns it takes. It requires a lot for me to not get bored in a longer song, and this one kept me engaged throughout its entire 5:44 run time.
"Something From Nothing" was also a solid single choice. But, to be honest, I've listened to it so many times in the past month or so that I'm growing a little tired of it. That's why I guess I can't list it among the best Foo Fighters songs of all time. I can listen to "Everlong" or "Big Me" or even "Learn to Fly" until the cows come home. But I guess I can only do "Something From Nothing" for a month or so.
I guess "In The Clear" is my least favorite because it just sounds so generic. I felt like I could've heard this on any rock station at any point in time, and there's really nothing memorable. I actually have to keep turning it back on to remember what it sounds like. The bass from "Outside" and the epic screams of "The Feast and the Famine" stick with me long after I've turned off Spotify. But, "In the Clear" just goes in one ear and out the other, even when I'm concentrating really hard. What do you like about it? I'm really interested in your answer, Caitlin.
CC: I would have to agree that it does sound generic (it's definitely not pushing the envelope or anything), but my argument was more the it wasn't forgettable in that it got stuck in my head — as many popular rock songs (that aren't necessarily great) would.
KD: I'd have to say that "Something From Nothing" is easily my favorite track on the album a perfect choice for the album's single. Oddly enough, I may feel similarly to Carolyn about how long I'll be able to listen to is. I can listen to "Times Like These" for days and days and days. We'll see about this one. Aside from that, I thought "Congregation" was a really solid track - vocals, production and all.
What didn't do it for me? The album's closer "I Am A River." I was not a fan.
CM: "Congregation" is also great. I think that song is a really nice example of what Sonic Highways was trying to do. It brings together the traditional sounds of Nashville with the help of Zac Brown while still maintaining that Foo Fighters edge. I think it also really brings in the theme of the city into the lyrics nicely. It's not so subtle, especially with that "a jukebox generation" line, but it's really satisfying.
And, yes, as a new New York resident I wanted to like my city's song, "I Am A River" more, but it's very middle-of-the-road (river?) to me... just like Sonic Highways as a whole.
CC: "Congregation" was also in the top few for me. And I would absolutely agree that "I am A River" just didn't do it for me. I thought Subterranean lagged a bit, though I liked the R.E.M./NIN vibe I'm getting from it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
KD: Sonic Highways received A LOT of hype. Upon a listen, I realized that much of it was just that... hype. Sadly, this was just another Foo Fighters record for me. The story behind it is very cool and rather captivating, but I can't say it's my favorite one. The efforts put forth to make it happen were really solid, and I respect the band for what they were trying to do. I'm guessing that comes forth better with the documentary. Regardless, Sonic Highways is a pretty good Foo Fighters album.
CM: In the scheme of things, I really wish Sonic Highways had a bit more of a bite to it. I love Foo Fighters more than most bands, but this album just feels too grandiose. I wonder if Dave Grohl and co. got so caught up in the process of making this album that they forget to write catchy, actually gripping music. A+ for effort and story, C on execution.
CC: For all the hype it got, Sonic Highways (the album) didn't blow me away. However, I really enjoyed the docu-series on HBO! The concept was great, but I wished it would've felt less generic. Overall, I'd say this album is mediocre with a few standouts. I respect the band for being innovative, but I was hoping to be blown away, which I was not. Get 'em next time Foo Fighters!
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