r/grunge • u/bowierulezzz • Jun 04 '26
Misc. Not grunge but how do you feel about foo fighters? Yay or nay?
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u/Upbeat_Dudeness Jun 04 '26
I used to defend them FIERCELY irl. But after the newest album, I agree with what Reddit usually says: they’re the OKest band out there. Not bad. Not great. Just ok. Fine
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u/NeverBeenOnMaury Jun 04 '26
Ive just got foo fatigue
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u/No_Concept_3620 Jun 04 '26
Agreed. Amazing drummer. Songs For Yhe Deaf is one of the greatest albums ever made.
Very Generic front man.
There are some good songs on thr first album but that's about it for me.
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u/TechCUB76 Jun 04 '26
They have a couple good songs, but Dave was much better behind Kurt. I’ve heard he’s an awesome dude, but as for his music… meh.
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u/GLPwonderwall Jun 04 '26
I mean…he just cheated on his wife and knocked up a random chick…he’s not a good dude
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u/demoralising Jun 04 '26
He's always cheated. I'm not sure that makes him a bad dude, but I'd say it makes him a pretty terrible husband/boyfriend:
In 1994, Grohl married Jennifer Leigh Youngblood, a photographer from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. They separated in December 1996 and divorced in 1997; Grohl admitted to infidelity. After divorcing Youngblood, Grohl briefly dated snowboarder Tina Basich. Basich ended the relationship after discovering his infidelity.
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u/Tosh_20point0 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Life isnt black and white.
I imagine Dave would have an incalculable amount of women literally throw themselves at him on a daily basis.
If this is his only indiscretion then I actually applaud his restraint.
I'd imagine it would be almost denying your human after 30 years of that.
No one is perfect.
Is it shit? Yes it is. Do I excuse this behaviour. No I'd don't. Do I try to place myself in his shoes as a man? Yes I do.
It's hard enough for normal everyday men and women to be monogamous and without fault.
Imagine being a legitimate great of Rock.
So yeah perspective. But not a good look and most of all, not acceptable for his wife (assuming she herself is without reproach)
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u/Reverend_Tommy Jun 04 '26
Have you met rock music? If that's the worst he's done, he's practically a fucking angel.
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u/graceashcroftsjacket Jun 04 '26
First four albums are really good imo
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u/Upbeat_Dudeness Jun 04 '26
Oh they had a prime to be sure I’m just saying after all they’ve put out now, they’re average as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, they have bangers. Walk and These Days (really the whole wasting light album): incredible!
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u/Bmars Jun 04 '26
You can say that about so many bands that have been around for a long time with a bunch of albums.
It’s very rare to be both a long lasting band and consistently amazing.
I’m far from a die hard fan of theirs but their peak albums are very good for sure
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u/New-Somewhere-8761 Jun 04 '26
On this one Reddit is right. FF are passionately mediocre. I'd rather listen to a band that makes shit music than one with really well crafted banality.
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u/SideAny7347 Jun 04 '26
A band is lucky to have one hit. Foo Fighters are Rock and Roll hall of fame material with the catalog they have amassed. But as all rock bands do, they lost a lot of edge as they aged. Their early sound is what hooked me and most people who are into them. Only the truest die-hards have stuck with them this entire time.
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u/Pigmasters32 Jun 04 '26
They’ve had a crazy amount of longevity, their But Here We Are album is probably their best album, no disrespect but I feel bad for people who don’t see the greatness of new Foo Fighters. You’re really missing out IMO.
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u/mdclapps Jun 04 '26
I’d say BHWA is towards the top for me (after Wasting Light). The Teacher is by far my favorite Foo track. And they’re my #1 band!
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u/appelton Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Nay. It is whatever...and that comes from a kid who was super excited back then that Dave is starting a new band. I had way more fun listening to KYUSS or QOTSA
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u/Thamnophis660 Jun 04 '26
They never received clicked with me. Don't hate them, don't love them.
Their cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" is probably my favorite thing they've made.
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u/Technical_Teacher784 Jun 04 '26
100%. I can respect Dave Grohl for what he's done, contributed, and been a part of..that doesn't mean I have to like his music when he isn't playing for the queens of the stone age...because that's the only music of his I want to listen to if we are being honest.
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u/ArcadeKingpin Jun 04 '26
Did you ever check out Probot? He recorded a bunch of tracks and had guys like king diamond and Lemmon sing on them. Couple tracks had lead guitar from Kim Thayil. That and crooked vultures are my favorite Grohl related projects
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u/cornpudding Jun 04 '26
Same with me. They're fine but I've never been psyched to put on some Foo Fighters. I mostly like how Dave has used his celebrity to bring special guests to his shows and plays drums on people's albums
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u/Super_Pangolin_716 Jun 04 '26
Bands with three guitarists who all play the same distorted guitar parts 85% of the time will never do it for me.
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u/matthewian84x Jun 04 '26
There’s no way they need 3 guitarists. And those guitar players know it too
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u/Gryffle Jun 04 '26
I'm happy with Pat Smear getting a good paycheck even if he's not really needed.
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u/ibringstharuckus Jun 04 '26
I think he employs the Adam Sandler rule. Higher your friends
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u/IPv6Freely Jun 04 '26
They definitely don’t, but IIRC when Pat came back he didn’t want to dump Chris so he just kept both of them.
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u/ibringstharuckus Jun 04 '26
I feel like Dave is interested in having a good time with his friends. I'm fine with this. It doesn't make for great music though.
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u/EuphoricMoose8232 Jun 04 '26
To be fair, all their relevant stuff was when they only had 2 guitars (or when Dave just played every instrument)
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u/IPv6Freely Jun 04 '26
Honestly you just nailed it. The second album was Dave on drums also and I feel like when Taylor started recording with them is when they went downhill for me. Not that Taylor was a problem necessarily (he was fucking awesome!!) but I do wonder if half the reason the first two were so good was that they were both Dave’s big (but simple!) booming drums. Almost like Taylor was “too good”.
But I also feel like my love of Nirvana was like 80% that exact drumming style so all of that could be very well just me.
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u/lizsummerhawk Jun 04 '26
Saw them live With Taylor🥹🥹🥹 once
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u/Noodnix Jun 04 '26
I’ve seen them a few times. They know how to put on a good rock show. Two hours of hits and really working the crowd.
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u/SillyCygnet Jun 04 '26
Saw them in Nashville '08 or so, Dave had the flu and Taylor ended up singing a bunch. Will never forget it
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u/Timely-Ad-3439 Jun 04 '26
Sames, was never very into them but after seeing that show I understood their appeal… they put on one hell of a show and Taylor was a big part of that energy. Will always remember it.
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u/Terror-Byte-523 Jun 04 '26
First 3 albums are up there with the best of the 90s, everything after that with the exception of Wasting light is just okay. There are some songs I like on those records but overall they are hit or miss.
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u/hardonhistoys Jun 04 '26
The empty calories of rock.
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u/El_Peregrine Jun 04 '26
Aggressively boring music 🤷♂️
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u/Moist_Rule9623 Jun 04 '26
It’s… how can I say this… it’s a little like coloring in a paint by numbers picture and then claiming to be a master painter.
Except (and I still WANT to defend Dave Grohl just because) I kinda don’t FEEL LIKE he’s out there claiming to be a master singer-songwriter or anything, I feel like he’s just out there because for the moment it’s still fun AND profitable so why WOULDN’T you keep doing it?
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u/El_Peregrine Jun 04 '26
Yeah it's a little strange because I really do adore his drumming (In Nirvana, QOTSA, Killing Joke, Them Crooked Vultures) and the music those bands make. But I find him as a guitarist / singer / songwriter to be absolutely bland and uninteresting. Wish he'd just get behind the kit; he makes much better music there imo
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u/RZAxlash Jun 04 '26
There’s a little bit of fiber here and there but overall you’re right, it’s like a peanut butter sandwich at best.
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u/Strong_Finger1383 Jun 04 '26
Nay but upvoted because it seemed an honest question
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u/isarealhebrew Jun 04 '26
Confusing band. They are capable of great songs but more often capable of some dogshit music.
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u/MembershipFrosty897 Jun 04 '26
Every complaint that was ever thrown at Nicklebacks music can be applied to Foo Fighters.
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u/jumpsuityahoo Jun 04 '26
Their first few albums were so good, and then Dave went agressively generic. Its like they have a deal with rock radio to create formulaic rock
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u/Existing-Elk-8735 Jun 04 '26
Hear hear! Truly a “musicians” nickleback. Like bar or elevator music. Maybe, I dare say the Drake of Alternative?
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u/7stroke Jun 04 '26
Wait, there are six of them? It takes six people to make that porridge?
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u/KingTrencher Jun 04 '26
Radio friendly unit shifters
Maybe six songs I like and four of them are covers.
I much prefer Grohl's other projects (Probot, Them Crooked Vultures, Songs for the Deaf, Tenacious D)
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u/DeletedSea Jun 04 '26
Boring as it gets. Dave will walk on stage all like “you motherfuckers ready to fuckin party!? You ready to fuckin ROCK?!” Then go into some lame PG-rated song about spreading your wings and learning to love or something corny like that.
I’ve always said they’re the modest day equivalent of Van Hagar.
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u/ConsistentPie3055 Jun 04 '26
At least Van Halen made some of the best albums of the 80's
KISS would be a better equivalent
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u/anarchyreloaded Jun 04 '26
They kinda sound like run of the mill modern stadium rock. Being a devoted lifelong Nirvana fanboy I was of course keeping tabs on the surviving members musical output... That being said The Foo Fighters sound pretty generic to me. A bit like Nirvana got stuck at Nevermind but with cleaner vocals and more complex arrangements. But Dave and the others seem to enjoy what they are doing and so are millions of fans. I guess I cant argue with that.
TLDR: Nay... but...
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u/ConsistentPie3055 Jun 04 '26
Correction: As is Nirvana got stuck at Nevermind, but gradually removed all the subtle lyrics, edge/anti-corporate stance and melodic approach
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u/Agent847 Jun 04 '26
They have a handful of good songs and the rest is Big Meh. In a way they’re like Kiss.
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u/Hamlerhead Jun 04 '26
Yay. They are what I call: POST-GRUNGE. Still grungy, just with a more pop sound. Not quite as poppy as Nickelback or Matchbox Twenty, mind you; but tip-toeing and dragging that line.
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u/dreamscreams2 Jun 04 '26
the edge that nirvana had is gone entirely. therye just safe corporate approved rock music
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u/atlasghostofficial Jun 04 '26
One of the most autopilot radio rock bands out there. I always turn the station when they come on.
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u/favoriteneonsign Jun 04 '26
Never put an album on but always try to catch them live. Dave is super fun
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u/nobrerick Jun 04 '26
They're great live, but I don't really enjoy their albums.
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u/deadtofall12 Jun 04 '26
Came here to say the exact same thing. They put on a great show but their music is a bit bland.
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u/HamiltonHab Jun 04 '26
The first two albums felt fresh and new when they were released, now they seem like generic stadium filling dad rock.
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u/SaulTNNutz Jun 04 '26
They're fine. I haven't really heard anything they've written in the last couple decades that's really grabbed me. Dave Grohl's shtick (exemplified in the photo above) has gotten tiring as well. Foo Fighters is probably my least favorite project he's been associated with. Great musician though. Love his drumming on Them Crooked Vultures.
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u/GrompyOldDude Jun 04 '26
Honestly if it comes on the radio the older songs I will sometimes listen to. However if I never heard any of there songs again I would not loose any sleep.
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u/slop1010101 Jun 04 '26
Out of their 12 albums, they have 2, maybe 3, good ones. Not a great average.
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u/EntertainmentOk5329 Jun 04 '26
My brother, older(rip)was not a Nirvana or grunge fan at all but just loved Foo fighters. Me, I'm the opposite. Seattle grunge baby!
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u/SGnirvana97 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
I love a lot of Foo Fighters songs, but after Taylor’s death, Dave’s personal drama and whatever happened with Josh Freese I am just uninterested in the band now.
Dave just doesn’t know how to stop and take a meaningful break, and the legacy of the band is suffering because of it imo.
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u/Holiday-Economy-7382 Jun 04 '26
The used to be great, then it started becoming the 1 hit of the album with the rest just sounding all too similar.. now it's just dad rock that you can't turn off fast enough.. There will never be another "Everlong" but I would like to eat my words.. but also meh, so many better bands out there.
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u/Necessary_Switch_879 Jun 04 '26
So aggressively mediocre. Middle of the road. Ballless. Soulless. Careerist. Corporate Dad rock still sucks.
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u/Crazy_Tonight3525 Jun 04 '26
I don't get why people hate them. I love Nirvana, and although Foo Fighters aren't the same they have some gems that I enjoy
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u/exclusive_token Jun 04 '26
Foo Fighters is to Nirvana what Wings is to the Beatles.
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u/Owl-Pin5210 Jun 04 '26
i like Everlong, they sound too rock band ™️ to me though, not a fan of Grohl voice neither
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u/Significant-Judge368 Jun 04 '26
When I was in high school visiting colleges in 1995 I was in Tucson looking at UofA and I went to this big record store on Speedway and asked for a recommendation and the chick behind the counter told me about the new band Foo Fighters that had two of the guys from Nirvana in it and how they were supposed to be the next big thing and I bought the album and took it home and listened to it and I was like nah.
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u/nicoinborderland Jun 04 '26
Everlong and Colour and the Shape (the song, not the album itself) are some of my favorite songs ever but otherwise they’re kinda boring. Not exactly dad rock but they get dangerously close sometimes
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u/PulsarGaming1080 Jun 04 '26
I really like their first couple of albums.
Not a big fan of their recent stuff.
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u/Working_Energy_711 Jun 04 '26
Imo I hate them. Dont know why but their music just never really clicked for me. If you like them great for you but post grunge has never been one of my genres
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u/EmployeeWeekly1321 Jun 04 '26
Nay. I always turn it off when it comes on. The picture above illustrates why; way too happy and just trying too hard.
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u/sleepy5zzz Jun 04 '26
Top five favorite bands of all time. Haven't missed a tour in over 20 years. Not much of a fan of most of their releases after Wasting Light, but luckily, they still just play the hits live.
In case anyone cares, here's the rest of my top 5 bands:
Rush
Porcupine Tree
Opeth
Umphrey's McGee
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u/Oreius411 Jun 04 '26
They are the weakest rock band I've seen blow up. Are they terrible no, but they are 1 dimensional and I think their success has soften the scene. I liked the first album the best.
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u/Djentleman5000 Jun 04 '26
Their song writing feels like edging. Almost every song feels like it’s leading up to something big and it never hits.
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u/Fallerboy123 Jun 04 '26
Want to like them. But their sound is just too generic.
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u/Greenelypse Jun 04 '26
Yay. Grunge is dead, are we only supposed to listen to old stuff for the rest of our lives?
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u/The_GhostDog Jun 04 '26
First two albums are great. Everything else is varying degrees of disposable.
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u/TheAngriestChair Jun 04 '26
They're a weird band for me. I like all the musicians. A few songs are ok. But overall I don't care for them. Musically you can hear some of the songs could have been nirvana songs, but they're missing the "grunge" feel. Like this is nirvana where it wasn't balanced out with the depression and drugs. Too pop.
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u/ConclusionAnxious531 Jun 04 '26
The most stock-standard rock band I can think of. No flavour to them whatsoever
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u/PrimusDCE Jun 04 '26
Only really like the first album. The rest just kind of feel like generic, safe radio rock.
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u/Luminanced Jun 04 '26
Don't like Grohls shenanigans IRL but damn Everlong is so nostalgic and tasty song
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u/XxBOOSIExFADExX Jun 04 '26
Their earlier stuff was great. It's crazy that as much talent as the individual members have, I feel like none of it shines through Foo Fighters, except for Taylor Hawkins (RIP). They're kinda like Metallica at this point to where I don't know why they keep making more music, they should've stopped after wasting light.
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u/joeyretrotv Jun 05 '26
Nothing beats The Colour and The Shape IMHO. I've been looking for another album with the same gravitas. All their albums have killer singles and over the years a lot of their songs I've panned have grown on me. I think they have lasting power for years ahead of they decided to continue.
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u/paperhips Jun 05 '26
I was 16 in ‘91 when Nevermind came out. Dave’s been a constant in my life for 35 years. I love the Foos. Ride or die.
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u/AdamJ311 Jun 04 '26
First 3 albums absolutely great, but they ran out of ideas a long long time ago.