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Last year when Foo Fighters released a live set entitled "Live From Roswell" to various internet media outlets as an "exclusive", it contained pretty much what those who both love and hate Foo Fighters have come to expect from them. Loud explosive guitars, a thundering rhythm section, brash, abrasive vocals, and just a bit too many generic hooks and cliched hard rock riffage to be called anything more then "pretty good" . Standard issue Foo Fighters for all intent and purposes. For "Skin And Bones" however, Dave Grohl and company deliver a curveball of an album that is both somewhat unexpected and as it turns out, a delightful surprise. How about an acoustic flavored, mellow Foo album? And a live one, at that? No you say? Well as said before, surprise, surprise....
Kicking things off with "Razor" and "Over And Out" from their last studio release and these aren't songs you would expect to start a Foo Fighters show. "How you all doing? You ready? Me too..." Grohl tells his audience before quietly beginning the set with a solo performance of Razor until the band joins him at the coda for a slow build of piano, strings (yes those kinds of strings), percussion, and galloping drums, while Over And Out is given a lush noirish treatment courtesy of Grohl's thoughtful vocals, the aforementioned strings and percussion, and some nice vibe work. Elsewhere on the album other lesser known and unlikely Foo songs benefit from their new framing as well. The title track turns into a whirling frenzy of circus like music after striding along smoothly for much of the song, giving us some adventure to close the tune. And once again from the Foo's last studio album (In Your Honor) "Cold Day In The Sun" is even tougher then the album version and comes to full life in this more spirited arrangement with the entire band joining in. It pays to point out that although this is music being played on "acoustic" instruments the group nonetheless digs in and rocks out when called for. Loud bass, drums, guitar, and maybe even a little acoustic/electric cheating are all given room here, but never get in the way of the songwriting. Which is something the Foo's vicious hard rock attack and low key ballads have oft times conspired to do. Rather on Skin And Bones the band seems to have struck a chord of balance that was eluding them in larger doses prior, and they sustain it throughout.
For those unfamiliar with all but the "hits" or more widely heard album cuts from Foo Fighters, this record also has much to offer you. "Big Me" from the Fighter's debut album is simply lovely with it's soft piano and female backing vocals, lending itself perfectly to the mood of the album. And "My Hero" is grand and diverse as this expanded to eight members Foo Fighter line up goes places with the song until now unheard of from this band. "Next Year" from "There Is Nothing Left To Lose" also flourishes from a softer touch but fuller arrangement, while near definitive performances of "February Stars" and the now classic "Everlong" help bring things to a nice finish toward albums end, each and every cut a winner.
It's not so much the Foo Fighters are unfamiliar with the quieter side of things. They have always thrown in some acoustic tunes here and there on record and on stage, to varying degrees of success. But Skin and Bones is something entirely different. Taken from the groups 2006 "acoustic" tour it's not a record of acoustic music in the same vein as we are used to hearing from this group. Rather its some of the Foo's best material played for depth instead of noise and dare I say beauty instead of angst. Rearranged, reimagined, and reworked, these songs flourish in this setting whereas before they may have simply bashed you over the head or lulled you into a bored stupor. After a few listens to Skin And Bones, Foo Fighters first "official" live album, you may come to hear this group in a whole new light. I know I have. And I like what I'm hearing an awful lot.
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Album Rating: 4.0
this is my review of the new Foo Fighters album. hope you enjoyed it....This Message Edited On 11.09.06
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This is some lovely work. My girlfriend and her best friend caught them on their acoustic tour and they both said it was an incredible show. I like some Foo Fighters here and now.
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Great review. I'm probably going to get this when I get the chance. I loved the acoustic side of In Your Honor.
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I saw them last Friday, opening for Bob Dylan. They put on a pretty great show. I might pick this up actually.
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Its been too long since you've reviewed last, JXD.
Good review too, Foo Fighters opened with Razor when I saw them live on their acoustic tour.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I think you made your points pretty well. I got a good idea of what this might be like from the review. Good stuff.
Just a couple of grammar/spelling/general points. Some of your sentences are absolutely huge. Maybe consider cutting them in half, or limiting a sentence to only a few ideas, rather than four or five. For instance:
"Big Me" from the Fighter's debut album is simply lovely with it's soft piano and female backing vocals, lending itself perfectly to the mood of the album, and "My Hero" is grand and diverse as this expanded to eight members Foo Fighter line-up goes places with the song up until now unheard of when it comes to this band.
"may of" = 'may have'
But yeah I like this review, and I think I'll download the album. :thumb:
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
yeah. someone pointed out the may have may of thing for my last review. i just write them like i hear them in my head. i'll fix it because you pointed it out, but meh. i go over my reviews painstakingly before i post them. but things still get through. so far as sentences going long that is something new for me. usually they are as you say they should be. like i said, just doing things differently. pixiesfanyo told someone they seemed like a retard the way they wrote short start and stop sentences. so i took that into consideration also.
that sentence is long, though. i knew it but thought it flowed. whatever the case i changed it. i can't find the may have may of thing...
EDIT: found it..thanksThis Message Edited On 11.10.06
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Nah that's cool, I know when I write a review (God it's been months now...) I go over it heaps but there are still mistakes and stuff. I think this is a neat review. Just listened to a bit of the album then, sounds pretty impressive, looking forward to giving it a proper listen.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
am gona get this soon! i might pick up the dvd an alsowith the dvd u get hyde park gig with it! :D
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Ohh I'm soo getting this. February Stars, I love that song.This Message Edited On 11.10.06
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Pat Smear rocks! I'm very glad he participates again in this
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Next Year is my favorite Foo song, I can't wait to hear it like this.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
yes expectadead i think Smear taking part is a great thing also. hes a very good guitarist and lends himself well here. i'm not sure why he left all those years ago? i heard he wasn't satisfied with the direction the band was going in. musically speaking. he really did just start with them and then quit looking back on it. but whatever the case i can see why he may of returned for a bit to do this.
and yeah pennywise its cool. i welcome criticisms like that so long as its not rude and the person is also trying to be helpful as you are. and i did correct those things and also came back today to revise and refine a bit. so it keeps me looking to improve things. i also went back and corrected my spelling mistakes in my last several reviews. not many i was happy to find. and all were typos of words i know very well. but i still don't see how i can miss them while looking again and again...
so far as the "would of" and "would have" stuff, etc...that is still a work in progress. i hear it "would of". not would've or would have. its just something i'll have to keep in mind. and i'm sure not going back to correct all of those :p
i think i better take a trip to "The Writers Block" in the forums 
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Is this album worth buying? Or should I just wait until the DVD comes out?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
its priced right at Amazon and i would suppose elsewhere. i think its well worth buying as the music itself is worth listening to wherever you are. it is an abbreviated set however. CD has 15 songs (and a bonus cut in some instances) and the DVD has 21 cuts plus bonus features, etc..really two different things...but yeah, on its own its worth a purchase or a download, IMO...
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Hmm... I may have to pick this up. Looks like it has some great songs on it, and I haven't heard much live stuff from them. (The only time I could have seen them was when they played an accoustic show, and I was gone...)
"Best of You" for the last song? Hrm...
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Nah Everlong is the last track, and it's a cracker.
And yeah JXD it is crazy how many things are missed on a screen, as opposed to reading a piece of paper. Some reviews of mine I've read 5 times fully through and then there'll be a word missing or some mistakes... Don't know why it's so different on a screen but it is hey.
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Nah Everlong is the last track, and it's a cracker.
Yeah, I meant to say second to last, but still. I wouldn't think of it as being good for one of the last songs. Then again, for some reason, I just can't get to like it that much.
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I saw them with Weezer and Weezer sort of owned them, but they had an alright show. Nothing I would see again though.
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
Personally, I dislike this record....Dave is good when he plays loud and funny music: his songwriting and voice lack the necessary depth to make a good unplugged.....
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