Album Review — Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters — Medicine At Midnight

It’s hard for me to believe that the Foo Fighters have been around for 25 years. Over those 25 years they have continually cranked out albums every year or two and have carried the torch for hard rock in the mainstream. According to Dave Grohl, this new album has been done for a year and they were just sitting on it waiting for the pandemic to pass. Like most of us, they got tired of waiting so they released “Medicine At Midnight” this week.

I will start by saying that I love this band. But after 25 years I get a sense with this new record that they wanted to do something different. And “Medicine At Midnight” is something different. You have probably heard the first single, “Shame Shame”, which is a good representation of the record. There are parts that sound like Foo Fighters, but there are parts that don’t, all in the same song.

The record starts with what I would consider a mid-tempo track for Foo Fighters. The first voices you hear are of what sounds like backup female vocalists. That’s not something you would expect from Foo. It’s a little more poppy than I’d expect for an opening track but I do like it.

“Shame Shame” is next and it’s definitely not a typical Foo track. Stylistically, it might be the most unexpected song but again, there are definitely familiar sounding parts, especially in the pre-chorus.

“Cloudspotter” starts with a guitar riff but not a typical Foo riff. It’s less crunchy and more disco-y. Again, there’s a female voice singing the harmony in the verse. The chorus kicks in and is a little more heavy and Dave’s growl makes an appearance.

Another single, “Waiting On A War”, might be the most Foo sounding song on the record. It’s mostly acoustic until the last minute or so and then kicks in with that big Foo sound. I almost expected the song to kick in much earlier, but it works the way it is as it’s one of my favorite tracks on the record.

The title track is a borderline dance track at times. There are a lot of interesting percussion parts on the record including at the beginning of “Medicine at Midnight”. This one competes for the most un-Foo sounding song on the record.

And there’s the heavy riffage. “No Son Of Mine” starts with what sounds like a Metallica riff. Plenty of heavy rockin’ here that reminds us the band still has that gear when they want it.

“Holding Poison” is an interesting combination of familiar and new. I hear a little from the “Wasting Light” record, a little from the debut record in the chorus and some bits that sound like the new record.

“Chasing Birds” is a mostly melancholy acoustic track. It’s almost has a Pink Floyd kind of quality to it. Some more new territory for the band to explore.

The fairly short album ends with what might be the most Foo sounding song on the record. “Love Dies Young” has that heavy riff to start and that big sound we are accustomed to hearing from the band. Unlike much of the record, I can definitely hear the band doing this one live. A great way to end the record.

I can already tell that a lot of folks, including longtime fans, won’t love this record. It’s different and they definitely cover new musical ground for the band. I’ve only had the record for a few days and I’m already getting over the expectations of a Foo Fighters record and starting to enjoy “Medicine At Midnight” for what it is.

I am guessing a few years down the road I will look back at the record and will still be listening to a few of the tracks. Stylistically, it’s very different from “Concrete And Gold”, but I think I’ll be listening to just as many songs from this record in a few years as I do from that one. And maybe more.

Overall, I like it. I’m not sure how much I like it yet, but for now…

90 out of 100

Track Listing

Making a Fire *
Shame Shame
Cloudspotter
Waiting on a War *
Medicine at Midnight
No Son of Mine *
Holding Poison
Chasing Birds
Love Dies Young *

*Best Songs