Back in 2002, "One By One" was receiving fantastic reviews from the press... but had gotten horrible reviews from fans alike; claiming it over polished and the worst Foo Fighters album to date. It's now 2005, and Dave has since then been collaborating(sp?) with many other bands (Queens Of The Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke etc.) Dave finally rallies his band back into the studio for his 5th album entitled "In Your Honor." The title was given after the loss of John Kerry's election, and Dave has mentioned that he dedicated the album title to him. Instead of producing another 11-12 track album, the Foo Fighters try and tackle one of the hardest things to accomplish in the music business, the double album.
Unlike other double albums, the unique thing about "In Your Honor" is that one disc contains pure rock music, some of foo's hardest music to date. Disc 2, on the other hand, is a softer side to the Foo Fighters, which shows off their acoustic melodies. As an album, the Foo Fighters do a very good job in distinguishing the two discs, leaving no room for any grey area. Dave Grohl has recently stated that he wants In Your Honor to be the Foo Fighters album that a father recommends to their son, and compares it to "Physical Graffiti." Fans will always have "The Colour and the Shape" in the back of their mind, but "In Your Honor" all in all is a very good album.
The first disc features the band strumming away to anthems such as In Your Honor, the stunning opening track. As Dave yells "Can you hear me, hear me screaming?," you can feel the agony and pain that he brings in his voice. Best Of You is a beautifully written song that sounds like it easily could of been on TCATS or TINLTL... with vulnerable lyrics such as "I got another confession to make, I'm your fool.." Other standout tracks are DOA, Resolve, and the climactic End Over End. As many good rock songs there are, In Your Honor fails to show any uniqueness compared to previous albums. For half of the disc sounds very similar and redundant. Another flaw is that as hard as Dave tries, it seems like he is trying too hard, and the album once again comes off a little over produced. Nevertheless, Disc 1 of "In Your Honor" proves its point that Dave Grohl and family can produce some kick-ass rock music.
Usually double albums have a sense of continuity, or familiarity. Examples like Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and The Wall capture the audience and try and tell them a story, or paint a picture. The second disc is a whole different story, and could be written off as an entirely different concept album. A very unique aspect about disc 2 is that Dave has many collaborations, such as John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame on piano in "Miracle" and harmonica on "Another Round", Norah Jones on the jazz themed "Virginia Moon," and Josh Homme of QOTSA on the chilling closer "Razor." Disc 2 really gives off a nostalgic vibe, reminding me of the shy, vulnerable Dave Grohl back in 94'/1995. A song like the stunning opener "Still" is very intimate, and is beautifully contructed with spooky lyrics about a suicide pact near the railroad tracks. You can't help but think of Kurt Cobain on the solo track "Friend Of A Friend," as Dave whispers "no one speaks." All in all, Disc 2 is a wonderful and easy listen, and also a very melodic and sad listen.
In a sense, Dave Grohl has accomplished the double album, consisting it on 20 well written tracks. Also in a sense, Dave Grohl has no accomplished the double album. For both CDs are entirely different, and come off as two entirely different CDs. Still, In Your Honor is a wonderful album that soars past "One By One" and leaves it in the past. Dave Grohl shows maturity, struggle, suicide, and love in the 2 disc album, and leaves you begging for more.
