2008 Woodie Awards
'Echoes' is not bad
Chris Reimer
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Entertainment
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The Foo Fighters' "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" is an inconsistent album from a band known for its consistency. Dave Grohl has never been as brilliant, exciting, or inspired as former band mate Kurt Cobain, but on each Foo Fighters album, he's consistently written catchy songs that bring the rock.
There are some great songs on "Echoes," and despite branching out into more acoustic timbres and experimental structures, it still sounds like a Foo Fighters album. But it also comes off as a self-conscious attempt to write a 'classic' album by overextending the band's creative limits, the kind of stunt that many inexperienced bands try on their sophomore records, usually destroying any appeal that they had in the first place.
Of course, the Foo Fighters are now on their sixth studio album, the band could hardly be called inexperienced, destroying their appeal would be nearly impossible, and it would take a much larger misstep than "Echoes," regardless.
But it still stings to see Grohl shoot for the moon with some fantastic tracks like "Statues," and wind up all over the map with a mess of B-Side material.
"Echoes" is riddled with dull acoustic numbers and heart-on-the-sleeve ballads that seem to drag on well past their expiration date, bringing the album's energy down with them.
It happens early, and it happens often. Coming down from lead single "The Pretender," "Let it Die" opens the second track of the album with a full two minutes of buildup, complete with hushed singing, strumming guitars, and not a drum kit in earshot. "Come Alive" builds on the same basic premise. It doesn't create tension or excitement - just boredom. If only the quiet bits were more interesting, or shorter, these would be great rock songs.
Only "But, Honestly," near the end of the album, manages to pull off the formula without sounding forced. Perhaps it's because the delicate intro is the highlight of the song, rather than a stepping-stone on the way to a bombastic finale. By the time the guitars get cranked up, it has already worked its magic.
There are some great songs on "Echoes," and despite branching out into more acoustic timbres and experimental structures, it still sounds like a Foo Fighters album. But it also comes off as a self-conscious attempt to write a 'classic' album by overextending the band's creative limits, the kind of stunt that many inexperienced bands try on their sophomore records, usually destroying any appeal that they had in the first place.
Of course, the Foo Fighters are now on their sixth studio album, the band could hardly be called inexperienced, destroying their appeal would be nearly impossible, and it would take a much larger misstep than "Echoes," regardless.
But it still stings to see Grohl shoot for the moon with some fantastic tracks like "Statues," and wind up all over the map with a mess of B-Side material.
"Echoes" is riddled with dull acoustic numbers and heart-on-the-sleeve ballads that seem to drag on well past their expiration date, bringing the album's energy down with them.
It happens early, and it happens often. Coming down from lead single "The Pretender," "Let it Die" opens the second track of the album with a full two minutes of buildup, complete with hushed singing, strumming guitars, and not a drum kit in earshot. "Come Alive" builds on the same basic premise. It doesn't create tension or excitement - just boredom. If only the quiet bits were more interesting, or shorter, these would be great rock songs.
Only "But, Honestly," near the end of the album, manages to pull off the formula without sounding forced. Perhaps it's because the delicate intro is the highlight of the song, rather than a stepping-stone on the way to a bombastic finale. By the time the guitars get cranked up, it has already worked its magic.
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Mitch
posted 10/22/07 @ 9:57 PM EST
I disagree with your negativity directed towards the acoustic side of the record. In fact, after In Your Honor, Skin and Bones and Echoes, it seems that these acoustic tracks are what prevent the Foos from being, as Grohl sings in the track "Wattershed", 'Just another rock band. (Continued…)
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