The result? The band’s most fully-realized album yet. “Grace” is a great showcase of the Foo’s songwriting prowess and musical abilities, achieved while adding new colors to their signature sound. Album opener and first single “The Pretender” evokes the classic metal tendencies of the Foo’s previous work, with a charging chorus and a Zeppelin-esque opening. Other rocker highlights include the charging anti-emo anthem “Cheer Up, Boys (Your Makeup Is Running)” and the groove-heavy “Summer’s End.”
Perhaps the most noteworthy element of Grace is the band’s newfound ability to create a cohesive album which blends all of its musical preferences. After 1997’s breakthrough record “The Color And The Shape,” the Foos wrote albums which played as a collection of songs rather than a focused, tightly-wound disc. Yet Grace classily manages to sequence the tunes in a logical order, integrating softer outings alongside tougher jams. As the penultimate “But, Honestly” screams away into a fadeout, closer “Home,” a sentimental piano ballad, wraps up the album quite nicely. It’s refreshing to see a fully-realized document from the one band which should have accomplished it earlier.
Sure, there are some nitpicks to be found within this album. Some of the tunes are a bit long, and one or two are underdeveloped. But to dwell on those facts in the face of a triumph such as “Grace” is inconsequential. Ten years ago, the Foo Fighters captured the hearts of alternative and heavy rock fans with their radio-friendly riffs. But this anniversary marks the turning point which could elevate the Foos into legend. “Grace” is a real album from a real band, and that’s a trick the nicest boys in rock deserve to pull out of their hat.
Bill Earl is back at school in Ithaca, NY, where he’s rockin’ out and writin’ a blog for “The Ithacan” called Sharp Notes. Check it out at http://theithacan.org/blogs/sharpnotes.