Review: Foo Fighters, One by One

The Foo Fighters have effectively transcended the myth of Nirvana.

Foo Fighters, One by OneWith three platinum albums under their belts, the Foo Fighters have effectively transcended the myth of Nirvana. Though they’ve yet to sell as many records as Nirvana, the Foo Fighters remain one of the more consistently good rock bands of the last decade. Dave Grohl has successfully fashioned himself into a true renaissance man, effortlessly transitioning from Cobain henchman to hook-spewing leading man in a matter of power chord changes. While it’s virtually impossible not to read Cobain into almost all of Grohl’s lyrics (he growls “I’ve been gone so long but I will come back!” on the fuzzy, crunch-guitar-filled “Come Back”), the dynamic “All My Life” finds the frontman employing Cobainian angst to an impressive degree: “I’m done, done, on to the next one!” Though the Foo Fighters truly take wing during the album’s darker tunes, the band still dishes out more of its famous pop magic on tracks like the sonically sweeping “Halo” and “Lonely As You.” Rollicking drums and panning guitars accent Grohl’s understated vocal performance on the aggressively sexy “Low.” And when he sings, “I won’t go gettin’ tired of you” on the acoustic “Tired of You,” it doesn’t exactly sound convincing. “Is this just desire or the truth?” he asks. If Grohl hasn’t found love, he’s certainly getting hot.

Score: 
 Label: RCA  Release Date: October 22, 2002  Buy: Amazon

Sal Cinquemani

Sal Cinquemani is the co-founder and co-editor of Slant Magazine. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Village Voice, and others. He is also an award-winning screenwriter/director and festival programmer.

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