I’m going to try and be as non biased as possible on my review of the Foo Fighters seventh studio album Wasting Light.  Being a huge Foo and Dave Grohl fan I will give you the low down on the eleven new tracks dropped by the multiple Grammy winners. And look who’s back in the mix as a full time member of the group, legendary guitarist and former member of Nirvana Pat Smear. After leaving the Foo Fighters in 1997, Smear returned as a touring guitarist in 2006 and is now a regular staple with the group. Super producer Butch Vig produced this newest issue.  Vig in the past had collaborated with Grohl when he was with Nirvana for the historic album “Nevermind.  Vig had also previously produced the tracks “Wheels” and “Word, Forward” on their Greatest Hits album in 2009.  Wasting Light was recorded in Grohl’s garage using entirely analog equipment until post-mastering.

Here is a rundown of what you are to expect from “Wasting Light”.  The first song is aptly named “Bridge Burning” and it starts off with hard charging guitars and Dave Grohl screaming, “These are my famous last words” before breaking off into a rhythmic and slower tempo the rest of the way.  It’s a quality song to start off an album and one of the stronger arrangements in the mix.The second offering and the first single off the album is “Rope”, so far the staple of the album and the song that has been performed on Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman among others.  This tune has it all, great guitar rifts, a stellar drum arrangement by Taylor Hawkins and chorus that just makes you want to sing along with Grohl. “White Limo” is the fourth track and the hardest of the songs on the album.  Grohl shrieks and wails throughout this fast and furious song and by the end you will want to hear more of that style but unfortunately you won’t get it. “I Should Have Known” marks the return of Krist Novoselic playing bass with his former band mate in this deep song.  You can pinpoint the time in the tune when Novoselic bursts in with his patented deep bass that fits perfectly with this offer. “A Matter of Time,  “Dear Rosemary”, “Arlandria”, “These Days”, “Back & Forth”, “Miss the Misery” are catchy rock ditty’s that show the vocal strength that Grohl possesses as a lead singer and the progression of the band as a whole.  The album wraps up with “Walk”, this culminating song has the makings of one of those songs like “Times Like These” and “Best Of You” that will have staying power for the band.

The Foo Fighters as a band have matured in their song writing skills since their early days and it shows in this newest outing though they didn’t lose their sense of humor when making videos.  The Foo’s are only getting better with age, trying different sounds and moving on from the “Grunge” era of rock and becoming one of the most complete bands of today.  As a whole, I’m going to give “Wasting Light” a 4 rating out of a 5 scale and this album will be in my rotation for years to come.

Evan J. Thomas is a contributor for www.iamnotjerry.com He is also a professional photographer and his work can be seen on www.evanjthomas.com Follow Evan on Facebook, Twitter and if anyone still uses Myspace

Change is inevitable…  For a band to make it in the music industry in this age of the internet, music downloads, blogs etc. they have to evolve with their music or their shelf life will be short lived. 

Linkin Park put fannies in the seats of the spacious United Center in Chicago on Wednesday night when most other bands of their era (Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach) are now relics in the rap rock genre that began in the late 90’s.  Linkin Park has managed to revolutionize their sound from the rap rock era to one that is more melodic and musical while holding on to a little of their roots that made them a major player in the industry.  Not only has the band transformed musically but they have generated a following that makes them more fan friendly in this failing economy.  LP offers a free download of each show and stages meet and greets with fans.

The stage at the UC was set up in a unique triangle shape with platforms strategically placed about the floor.  The six-piece band was spread about while singers Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda infused their contrasting vocals over the guitar rifts and samples laid down by the other members of LP.  Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity to stay for the remainder of the show due to the usual three songs that photographers get to capture the moment so I missed the best parts.  I will say this though, after listening to most of their new album “A Thousand Sun”, LP’s conversion to art-rock will give the band staying power for years to come. 

  SET LIST “The Requiem”
“The Radiance”
”Faint”
“Lying From You”
“Given Up”
“What I’ve Done”
“No More Sorrow”
“From the Inside”
“Jornada Del Muerto”
“Waiting for the End”
“Blackout”
“Numb”
“Iridescent”
“The Catalyst”
“Shadow of the Day”
“In the End”
“Bleed It Out”

ENCORES
“Empty Spaces”
“When They Come for Me”
“Papercut”
"Crawling”
“New Divide”
“One Step Closer”

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