Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight
(RCA / Roswell Records)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
As one of the biggest – and most adored – rock bands in the world, the hype surrounding the release of the Foo Fighters’ new album ‘Medicine At Midnight’ has been loud, and prolonged. Some fans and critics have proclaimed that this is the album we need right now. Perhaps. Could it be a form of medicine for the soul, a welcome distraction from daily life during a pandemic? A 36 minute reprieve from reality? Maybe.
Some diehard fans have declared that the Foos can do no wrong, while others have spent the last few days somewhat perplexed as they try to wrap their heads around the new album. That’s not to say that ‘Medicine at Midnight’ is an abomination; far from it. Rather, the album sees Dave Grohl and the boys head in a slightly different direction. And why not? Last year marked twenty-five years since the release of their debut album, with ‘Medicine at Midnight’ their tenth studio album. The now six-piece have masterfully managed to avoid making the same kind of record twice; each album possessing subtle differences from each of its predecessors, rather than resting their laurels on the same tried-and-true formula.
Groove is the driving force of ‘Medicine at Midnight’, an element that Grohl has admitted the band hasn’t really delved into – until now that is. And if producing some groove was the goal, then they have achieved it admirably, without deviating too far from that quintessential Foos sound. In a nutshell, ‘Medicine At Midnight’ sees the band channelling a dash of classic rock infused with groove, and at times a dash of funk, placing Nate Mendel’s basslines in the spotlight.
Some may be caught off guard with the backing vocalists that open the first track of the album; a clear indicator that this album indeed offers a shift in pace and sound. Opener ‘Making A Fire’ is an upbeat number with a funky bassline overlaid with guitars. It is a track perfect for sing alongs, and it doesn’t take much of a stretch to imagine this song opening a stadium show in fine form. ‘Shame Shame’, the first single from the album has been getting a fair amount of airplay over the last couple of months, its laid-back groove heralding a distinct change in gear for the band. Undeniably catchy, it is without a doubt a standout track on ‘Medicine at Midnight’. For those wanting something a bit more edgy, never fear; the album includes a couple of heavier tracks, including the guitar-driven ‘No Son Of Mine’, complete with that unmistakable Grohl snarl and scream, and closing track ‘Love Dies Young’. And for those after a classic Foos ballad or two, ‘Waiting on A War’ and the Beatles-esque ‘Chasing Birds’ (another album highlight) will no doubt whet the appetite.
Perhaps ‘Medicine At Midnight’ is best surmised as an album that contains something that will appeal to Foos fans both old and new. It may prove to be disappointing to those wanting an album full of pure, unadulterated in-your-face rock anthems. Either way, there is no doubt it is a beautifully crafted album, whether or not it proves to be the type of aural medicine you want or need.
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