FOR two decades The Foo Fighters have staunchly hammered their meat and potatoes brand of rock. It's kept their ageing fan base happy, but Dave Grohl has sounded increasingly bereft of creative ideas.
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Album 10 - a milestone that appeared insurmountable when Kurt Cobain died in 1994 and left Grohl a band-less drummer - has arrived and the Fooeys have shaken up their trademark sound somewhat.
Medicine At Midnight is arguably their poppiest album since There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1999) as Grohl introduces elements of David Bowie-esque white funk on the title track and a radio-friendly "na na na" hook on Making A Fire.
However, most of the fresh sounds are cosmetic. The hard rock and grunge aesthetic at the band's heart remains just below the surface.
The acoustic Waiting On A War is custom-built for stadium singalongs (whenever they return), but several tracks like Holding Poison and Cloudspotter are driven by riffs and melodies we've heard Grohl tackle before.
Medicine At Midnight isn't a Foo Fighters reinvention, but a minor diversion.
3 stars
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
