But Here We Are makes it clear that loss and grief drive the Foo.
But Here We Are…That’s how direct the name of the new album by the Foo Fighters. If you think about it, his story is marked by tragedy. He started with one death and almost stopped for another. A strong title to make it clear that they will not stop at their eleventh album, the first after the painful death of Taylor Hawkins in March 2022. Many were waiting to see if they will continue and we already have the answer: Dave Grohl He doesn’t plan to stop, he will use his pain to move forward and not with sadness, but with strength and passion.
The album is a sonic and lyrical journey that reflects the difficult experiences of the band (or Dave Grohl, who lost his friend and also his mother) during the last year. It combines the band’s characteristic sound impregnated with distorted guitars, screams of Dave, fast and slow tempos, and with a few more experimental elements, nothing off the radar of what they have done before and which at times feels a bit generic, because they are not going to radically change their sound at this time. The weight of the album falls more on the lyrical part and nothing was saved there.
The lyrics are personal and revealing, dealing with a wide range of emotions, from pain and loss, through confusion, despair to hope and resilience. It’s easy to connect with the lyrics if you’ve gone through similar experiences. So prepare to shed a few tears.
Start with “Rescue”a powerful song in which Grohl reflects the pain and unexpectedness of the death of a loved one and is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, we must always seek the support of others. “Under You” It tells us about how we feel lost when a loved one leaves this material plane. It’s a way to remember the times he spent with Taylor. “Show Me How”, With a calmer tempo, it talks about the way to move forward after grief, to have resilience. In “The Teacher” and “Rest”songs where it is appreciated that they try new things, Grohl is ready to move on and say goodbye to his friends and family who have passed away, in the first with a cathartic roar and, to close, a slow farewell with acoustic guitar that detonates at the end , with a forceful and strident ending, ready to move on and with the promise of finding those he lost along the way again.
Special mention to the great solo of “Beyond Me”, “The Glass” It’s your typical ballad (a very good one) and “Nothing at All”, which reminds you a little of his old band because of the fury of its sound. It is not so constant in its 10 songs. There are ups and downs, if you are a little demanding, but it is the best they have done in recent years.
In conclusion, “But Here We Are” is a moving album that has everything you expect from the fooo along with a great emotional burden. A beautiful tribute to Taylor and the mother of Grohl where we learn about loss and pain, along with a powerful message that, even in the midst of darkness, there is always hope.
