Music review: Foo Fighters – 鈥楳edicine at Midnight鈥�
The latest album by the Foo Fighters sounds unlike any of the band鈥檚 previous efforts. Frontman Dave Grohl has stated he wanted to make a party album. Sparked by elements of pop, funk and rock, 鈥淢edicine at Midnight鈥� achieves Grohl鈥檚 vision.
For me, the new material draws comparisons to the delicious sound diversion delivered by U2 on 鈥淧op.鈥� Just like 1997鈥檚 U2 release, the Foo Fighters shift gears and venture down a winding road that demonstrates Grohl still has some surprises up his sleeve.
Grohl speaks of the good things to come on the opening track that echoes with a sense of spiritual cleansing and a refocused determination as he sings, 鈥淏ut if this is our last time/Make up your mind/I鈥檝e waited a lifetime to live/It鈥檚 time to ignite/I鈥檓 making a fire.鈥�
The title track possesses a smoldering dance vibe reminiscent of David Bowie that offers up a sophisticated energy, highlighted by Chris Shiflett鈥檚 impassioned guitar solo that instantly brings to mind the genius of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
鈥淪hame Shame鈥� serves as the album鈥檚 lead single and deviates the most from the Foo Fighters鈥� signature sound. It鈥檚 a dark slow burn of uneasiness that provides a hypnotic tone as Grohl announces, 鈥淚鈥檒l be the war at your door/Come and let me in.鈥�
鈥淲aiting on a War鈥� details the heightened anxiety caused by increasing political and global tensions, creating an uncertain environment that has stripped away our innocence and forced many to live each day simply waiting for the sky to fall. Grohl ponders the current situation in a search for a renewed purpose when singing, 鈥淛ust waiting on a war for this and that/There鈥檚 got to be more to this than that.鈥�
鈥淣o Son of Mine鈥� draws from the band鈥檚 tried-and-true formula of offering straightforward rock that gets down and dirty right from the start. Filled with a distain from the aftermath of blindly following leaders who lack a moral compass, Grohl declares, 鈥淣o son of mine will ever be/Under the power vested in thee/March into slaughter down on his knees.鈥�
The acoustic beauty of 鈥淐hasing Birds鈥� displays the lighter side of the band before closing it all out on a rousing note with the guitar-driven punch unleashed on 鈥淟ove Dies Young,鈥� making 鈥淢edicine at Midnight鈥� the perfect prescription for curing what ails you.