Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
Rock – June 2, 2023 – 10 songs, 48 mins
REID
Over two years ago, TSR reviewed the tenth studio album by Foo Fighters, Medicine at Midnight (2021). While our individual ratings were scattered, we all made a point to say their most recent string of releases felt repetitive and lacked substance to give listeners something to connect with. A year later we were slapped in the face with tragedy and the age-old lesson ‘be careful what you wish for’.
Despite our criticism of their work, the band’s talent and superstardom was never in question. Dave is one of the kindest rock stars ever and his genuine enjoyment of his craft is felt every time he walks on stage. Their live shows are an absolute spectacle and we’re lucky they’re still around. As news spread of Taylor Hawkins’ death in late March last year, this longevity was in serious question. They cancelled the rest of the tour dates on their loaded 2022 schedule and the future was unclear. To make matters much worse, Grohl’s mother passed away months later. You couldn’t help but wonder if this was the end for the band.
One of the most important lessons I learned with my father’s passing in 2020 is not everyone grieves the same. And that’s ok. You should have the freedom to mourn as you please, as long as the path is a healthy one. Foo Fighters collectively chose to bury themselves in what they’re most passionate about and use art as an outlet. Perhaps Grohl relied on his experience with Kurt Cobain’s death. Either way, seeing him on stage dedicating Everlong to his friend with tears rolling down his face or performing My Hero with Taylor’s son on drums gives a big lump in the throat. As a lifelong fan, I’m happy for new music. As a human, I’m happy they have seemingly chosen a healthy route. Just over fourteen months after their bandmates’ passing, Foo Fighters release a ten song, forty-eight-minute record, But Here We Are.
Fair or foul, intrigue for this album exceeded anything Foo released in a very long time. It had an inspired by true events type of feel and a mystique as to just how open the band would be. Grohl leaves nothing to the imagination, extracting the multitude of heartbreaking emotions in losing his best friend and mother. The result is powerful and relatable, elevating the body of work and erasing issues from previous albums simultaneously.
Strictly from a musical standpoint, BHWA doesn’t hit much we haven’t heard before from the band. A couple of bright spots for me are Under You and Show Me How which rewind the clock to the There Is Nothing Left To Lose (2000) days. Otherwise, the true beauty of the album is the message. With such a deep discography, the reality is this album may not have a setlist song amongst them but they’ll remain deeply personal to the band forever.
Foo Fighters dig deeper emotionally than ever before on But Here We Are. They stay true to their sound but the impact of each element holds more weight. You feel each Grohl scream, streaking guitar solo and thundering drumbeat to the core, knowing the source of the mental anguish. Hawkins would be proud.
Overall Rating: 8.0/10
Favourite Song: Under You
LUNDI
Foo Fighters have always been one of my favourite bands, and to be completely honest, I was hesitant about even wanting to do this review. After a panning of their previous effort and a heartfelt Taylor Hawkins tribute on our podcast, I felt we closed the door. It would have been in poor taste to be critical and after the last decade I just didn’t think the boys had it any more, especially with the massive hole left on the drum kit. But with great loss, we have the ability to transform into our strongest self. Foo Fighters’ But Here We Are proves just that.
Before I get to Grohl, I want to touch on the record’s sound and composition. Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Nate Mendel are core members of FF who spent many a days jamming with Hawkins. The whole group’s complacency and desire to make music over the last 10 years is fair to question, but they absolutely brought their best on But Here We Are in memory of their longtime bandmate. It’s still the pure stadium rock they’ve always produced, but the effort and love is easily felt. They took their grief and bottled it into purpose, a sense that hasn’t been felt in a while from the icons. But Here We Are is the best sounding Foo Fighters album since 2011’s Wasting Light and one of the greatest in their very deep discography.
For Grohl, the excellence extends even further. It’s obviously not fair to say this is his best writing ever given the nightly hit parade the band can perform, but it is his most honest, sincere, and open effort to date. It is by all accounts an incredible tribute to his fallen best friend (and to an extent his mother). The album experience is extremely emotional, pulling at your heart strings as it never shies away from the reason behind the album. All the stages of grief are on display, fraught with pain. What makes this album so wonderful is how the wave of emotion hits you and you’re left immersed in it for the entire 48 minutes.
One of the more profound characteristics of this album is the mid way inflection point Grohl reaches on his emotional journey. While he returns to loss to finish the album there is an excellent transition in the middle that takes time to observe the present and be mindful of what the future brings. It’s a message we all often forget. Life is cruel and throws you twists and turns at the most unexpected moments. Grief is inevitable and tomorrow isn’t promised. We take that for granted, but Grohl reminds us beautifully.
I admit I was hoping Foo Fighters turned the lights off after Hawkins tragic passing but I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is an album they needed in so many ways and for me it was a beautiful emotional experience.
But Here We Are is heart wrenching tribute to a fallen friend packed with deep emotion and love. Foo Fighters find purpose in loss and deliver their best effort in over a decade.
Overall Rating: 8.0/10
Favourite Song: Rest
ROZ
No it isn’t deja-vu, no this isn’t a re-post. This week the TSR gang dives back into American rock band Foo Fighters, led by beloved frontman and human golden retriever Dave Grohl. But Here We Are is the eleventh studio album in the bands illustrious career and is the first undertaking since drummer Taylor Hawkins’ tragic and untimely death in March of 2022; an event that many felt would be the catalyst for the bands end. This turned out to not be the case, and seven months after announcing that the show will go on But Here We Are was released.
To get the objective downsides out of the way right out of the gate, But Here We Are does not break any new ground sonically for the band nor does it stray very far from their previous effort from 2021. The album, however, in typical Foo fashion has a multitude of radio friendly and stadium rock anthems; with the use of repeating phrases and simple power progressions allowing for many clap-along moments in the live concert environment. One particular moment that had me tilting my head was my listens of The Teacher - a ten minute ride along through various playing styles and tempos - a beautiful tribute to Grohl’s late mother. So much loss in this mans life, my God. Overall, in each song Grohl’s pain is displayed not only in his singing (where at some points it seems as though his vocal cords are about to rip completely out of his throat), but also in his drumming. Grohl took it upon himself on this album to do all of the drums on his own without use of a new drummer, a decision that adds yet another layer upon the tribute to his dear friend Taylor, which itself is coupled with heartbreaking lyricism on songs such as Rescued, Under You, Glass, Nothing At All and of course, Rest.
I am a true believer in music being the gateway to the soul. There is no doubt in my mind that the effort undertaken in writing, recording and eventually performing But Here We Are was extremely emotional and cathartic for all individuals involved. In saying that, the album overall falls into the same tropes I have preached about in the past: Foo Fighters have done everything and more - their sound is iconic if not completely ingrained into the musical lexicon of the modern era and nothing sonically finds itself standing out among their vast catalogue of hits. Of course, all of these points go through the window when taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding its creation. At the end of the day, the album is a beautiful tribute to a close, close friend - look no further than Rest, the final song on the album and one that ultimately symbolizes the pain that the band has been going through during this past year.
But Here We Are is a beautiful homage to a fallen friend, and the raw emotion of the band's sadness and loss permeates through the entirety of the track list. The album not only cycles through all phases of grief but also makes for an equally emotional listen for Foo Fighters fans both new and old.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Favourite Song: Rest