There are very few musicians that could relate to the career of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. Besides the fact that his talents expand to almost every corner of the recording process to a degree that places him and his band in a league of their own, very few others can say they’ve experienced loss quite like Grohl. After losing Kurt Cobain in 1994, just last year Foo Fighters lost their similarly trailblazing drummer when Taylor Hawkins passed in March of 2022. His death was felt globally, with an endless amount of praise and love raining down after the news was broken. Rightfully so, Foo Fighters’ latest release centers around the longing for normalcy after a devastating blow to your life. But Here We Are arrives this week and brings with it a stirring set of songs that tugs on the heartstrings without sacrificing the fierce rock that has made Foo Fighters such a powerhouse. For ten powerful tracks, Foo Fighters struggle with the feared fork in the road of moving on or allowing oneself to sit in grief.
The events leading up to But Here We Are forced the band to reveal a side of themselves that we haven’t seen in years if we were aware of it at all. The lyrics of the album read like a complex poetry book, each song giving us a glimpse into the headspace the band was in during the recording process. These words are visceral and delivered with gusto through watered eyes while attempting to treat an open wound that doesn’t want to stop bleeding. These emotions reach a boiling point on a song like “The Glass”, a ballad that features just enough edge without diluting the emotional vulnerability on display. “I had a person I loved and just like that I was left to live without him” pierces any layer of thick skin and sits like a rock on your chest. While the rest of the album centers around a similar theme, this specific line is the first on the album where it feels like the band is talking directly to their late drummer.
The songs leading up to “The Glass” avoided the use of the word “Him”, opting for a vaguer approach that is just as emotional. This three-letter word feels like the first time the band is accepting reality, allowing themselves to personify their poetry making this song, and the rest of the album, much more emotional.
The depth that But Here We Are reaches goes beyond Foo Fighters’ words and bleeds into the sonic direction of the LP. Grohl himself sat behind the drum kit for these songs, adding sentimental value to these masterful pockets. The longing in the vocals is matched with a softer sound that evokes similar feelings while still staying true to the band’s signature sound. The explosive title track comes directly after the gentle psychedelia of “Hearing Voices”, being strung together by the expansive guitar sounds the band has at their disposal. The tender piano at the beginning of “Beyond Me” holds your hand as the band attempts to accept the things they can’t change with an arrangement that inflates only to return to a humble balladry. The arrangements on But Here We Are pull from the best moments of the band’s discography, fearlessly switching tempos and tones while attempting to keep up with Foo Fighters’ mood swings brought on by tragedy.
But Here We Are is a fitting title for Foo Fighters’ eleventh studio LP. The band entered the recording session with hearts full enough to attempt to fill in the endless hole left by Taylor Hawkins. Foo Fighters have never sounded more open, allowing their arrangements to twist at the will of their emotions to create an all-encompassing LP. For 10 violently vulnerable and divinely written tracks, the band focuses their energy on creating some of their best music to date while also finding a sense of therapy. Foo Fighters attempt to find solace in their poetry, making But Here We Are a love letter to Hawkins while also showcasing a veteran band who isn’t afraid to put their hearts on their sleeves and allow their emotions to do the talking rather than their legacy.
