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Sep 22, 2017 Web Exclusive By Jason Wilson

Upon first listen, Concrete and Gold—Foo Fighters’ ninth studio album—may land with a bit of a shrug, relying on overly familiar hard rock grooves and staying largely in the band’s comfort zone. The riffs crunch and Dave Grohl alternates between soft balladeer vocals, a gruff snarl, and occasional scream.

Subsequent listens may not wholly break new ground, but once it settles the textures of a solid, workmanlike rock and roll album reveal themselves. The singles are raucous affairs with “Run” bringing the expected back-and-forth between subdued and aggressive, and “The Sky is a Neighborhood” featuring some of the best harmonies the band has produced. These tracks aren’t without their flaws, however. “Run” is—like almost all of the band’s ambitious in scope and disappointing in execution Sonic Highways—overlong and redundant while “Sky” is lyrical nonsense. The Foos have never been known for their illuminating lyrics, so this isn’t a major issue and the song makes up for it with its hooks.

The album comes alive in the second half, starting with highlight “Dirty Water,” which should become known as an all-timer in the band’s catalogue. It’s the most tonally inventive song, breezy first half before building to rising crescendos that pack the desired punch. This is the song that brings together the two sides of the band’s fifth album In Your Honor into one track, something that record could have used. Grohl also gives way to drummer Taylor Hawkins as lead vocalist on “Sunday Rain,” which gives another angle to see the band.

Like “Run,” however, the songs occasionally fail to justify their length. “Dirty Water” earns its runtime because of the overall structure, but others like “Make It Right” can’t sustain even four and a half minutes without too much repetition.

At this stage of the band’s career, though, if you’re looking for a reinvention of the rock and roll wheel, you’re generating unrealistic expectations. Instead, if you’re looking for a very listenable, hard rock fist-pumper you’ve come to the right place. (www.foofighters.com)

Author rating: 6.5/10