Hi I’m martin Anton smith and welcome to a special edition of the “Baby wants its bottle poetry inc” podcast. In this special fun edition we concentrate on other people’s art – in this case a music review of the new foo fighters album called “medicine at midnight”. In part 1 I’ll mention General things about the band and some of my general thoughts on their music and career, and hopefully I’ll go off on some delightful tangents. In part 2 I’ll review the album song by song and in total. Let’s start!

Part 1

I first got into the foo fighters around the first and second album, in 1995-97 way back in the dark ages, before the internet had become this giant socio cultural and technical behemoth. If I remember correctly I was 16 when that first album came out, I got it dubbed from a metal head called Glenn from high school. I think I thought it was ok, and at that stage I hadn’t been a nirvana fan, so the importance of that first album didn’t come into my thoughts at the time. It was off course as I would later find out, a massive musical triumph for Dave Grohl . He had picked himself up from the death of Kurt , gone into the studio and made a whole album by himself. It was of course as history has appraised it, a rock classic for the ages. Then came the second album “the colour and the shape” which was the first album I listened too as soon as it came out, I was a freshman at university at the time. That was my favourite foo fighter album , Grohl sounded great, the songs had awesome melody and great lyrics, the guitars were big and full of tasty poppy and grunge like riffs. Then basically they went downhill till “in your honour” and “wasted light” twenty years later . Since the high points of those four albums it’s been far too formulaic and Dave’s voice has lost range . But those four albums were great albums and of course I’ve always been hoping they again put out a real classic album…….unfortunately medicine at midnight isn’t it, and sadly there’s 3 or so duds that kinda ruin this album, but the remaining ones are pretty damn good and a couple songs are real breakthroughs. But before I start I’ll say this, as a fan I’d way rather have Kurt still alive and nirvana being the band that has had as many albums as the foos. Dave being behind the drums and having Kurt’s career unfold naturally , would have been the ultimate. Of course that didn’t happen , at least not in this universe…..the foo fighters to me will always be that band that is a derivative of the best rock band ever , Nirvana with an amazing artist at the helm that was up their with Lennon Dylan and chuck berry. So unfortunately by definition I’ll always look at the foo fighters and wish what coulda been, but at the same time they are one of my fave bands, and I’m always happy when they put out a rockin album like wasted light. I was hoping this new album might be it………..ok let’s go to part two and the album review.

Part two Medicine at midnight album review.

each track review.

Songs ; REVIEW SONG 1 “MAKING A FIRE “ -Opens with a killer Nirvana style riff, sadly he song becomes generic very quickly and theres a guest spot female singer which sounds like a too loud backing singer. 3/10 

track 2 “Shame” – the single – ok Ive heard this about 4 times already – This is a catchy tune, baseline rocks, but I dont like the boring SHAME SHAME SHAME chorus, its too boring – but at ok song all up 6.5/10

Song 3 “ Cloudspotter” -A jinky guitar opens this track, and a female vocalist whispering away, the Dave starts and the Guitars ramp up to a Normal Foo type energy – then back to the Female singer whispery thing -then back to Dave Rock. seems half finished but rock part rocks 7/10

track 4 “Waiting on a War” -Stripped back Accoustic with Deep Lyrics about Dave’s childhood Reminiscences – Feels Dream like and very relaxing – the strings are great – very atmospheric – love the the Chorus line and the repeat “Just Waiting on a War” motif. Best Song so far 8/10

Track 5 “Medicine at Midnight” – Starts Low key with a Groovy Bass line and talk style lyrics from Dave – Chorus ups tempo but stays low key, held back a little. This song reminds me a bit of a Stones song. has A Bluesy Solo and and Travelling Wilberries like vocal section. its ok 6.5/10

Track 6 “No Son of Mine “ This one is more of a trad Foo Belter – Big guitars Catchy Riff Short Punchy Loud Shouty Vocals – has a ghosty “ah Ah Ah” part that runs through it thats kinda cool. Solid Long Time Foos Fans will Like this 7/10

Track 7 “Holding Poison” – a Palm Muted riff starts this, and muted Drums is a prime feature to this song, which also switchs to Standard Foo type play but with a few cool jarring Guitar notes as a side order, has a cool with a cool punk style solo. Lyrics are smartly low in the mix 7/10

Track 8 “Chasing Birds” – This is a low tempo Lennon-esque Type Song – Its Quite Lovely and the Dark Lyric “the road to hell…Full of dark intensions..full of Broken Parts..Broken hearts like Mine..Chasin birds..” Works its ass off. Resists temptation to suddenly rock out, v. wise 9/10

Track 9 “Love Dies Young” -Galloping Brian May style Guitar begins this, along the Vocal – and the stays through the verse – then the Chorus hits – pretty Typical Foos – the bridge is a very nice echoe trebly little solo – some nice understated music. lyrics are a little plain tho 6.5

So this album all up scores a 67% or 6.7/10. Highlights are Waiting on a War and Chasing Birds low lights are starting with Making a fire, the worst Track on the album. This Album while good, doesn’t do justice the potential of those two great tracks. There’s some interesting …arrangements (strings, female guest vocals, a beatles song, a Punk type Solo) and I feel that this freshness could have been allowed to flourish more, as half the album is too “Standard No Frills Foos Chug’N Shout” I would have loved this album to lose two of those formulaic…songs, and replaced them with more adventurous arrangements in the vein of the rest of the album – but no doubt the pressure to sing to the Foo Army was too great to have this happen. So we all still have to wait for a foos album to match 2011’s ‘Wasted Light’.How Sad Never Mind

p.s I Repeat myself and I know this is a fantasy but I’d really prefer that Dave go back on Drums , keep Pat on Guitar and look to find a new singer, I.e form a new band that re ignites the Nirvana feel …..Dave I feel will never be able to match his vocals/songwriting ability with the skills of his drumming only – no one can learn something completely new at 25 and be as good as they are at being a world class drummer which entailed them learning it from a young age ….I’m not dissing Dave, I just think he’s choosing a second best use of resources instead of the first best option. How cool would a New Nirvana core inspired band be with Grohl on Drums Novaselic on Bass Pat on Guitar and a cross between Kurt and Johnny rotten on vocals? I’d love to see that. Dreams are free.