Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

Last updated

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Foos-ESPG.jpg
Studio album by
Foo Fighters
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2007 (2007-09-25)
RecordedMarch–June 2007
Studio606 West (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length51:12
Label
Producer Gil Norton
Foo Fighters chronology
Skin and Bones
(2006)		Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
(2007)		 Greatest Hits
(2009)
Singles from Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
  1. "The Pretender"
    Released: August 21, 2007
  2. "Long Road to Ruin"
    Released: December 3, 2007
  3. "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)"
    Released: April 7, 2008
  4. "Let It Die"
    Released: June 24, 2008

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is the sixth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on September 25, 2007, through Roswell and RCA Records. The album is noted for a blend of regular rock and acoustic tracks with shifting dynamics, which emerged from the variety of styles employed on the demos the band produced. It also marks the second time the band worked with producer Gil Norton, whom frontman Dave Grohl brought to fully explore the potential of his compositions and have a record that sounded different from their previous work. Grohl tried to focus on songs with messages that resonated with his audience, writing reflective lyrics that drew inspiration from the birth of his daughter.

Contents

Critical reception to Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace was mostly positive, with praise to the sonic variety and songwriting, though some reviewers found the record inconsistent and uninspired. The album topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Austria, and had three successful singles, "The Pretender", "Long Road to Ruin" and "Let It Die". Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning Best Rock Album, and was also awarded the Brit Award of Best International Album.

Background and recording

The tour for the Foo Fighters' fifth album, In Your Honor , had both acoustic and electric shows to fit the song variety in that record. Frontman Dave Grohl discussed this with RCA Music Group president Clive Davis, on how "it'd be so cool" if the Foo Fighters were the band that did those different shows that appealed to specific audiences "and they wouldn't necessarily have to go to both", to which Davis replied that "you can do both together". Grohl took this advice when composing his following album. [3] Grohl added that "we didn't plan the new album to be half rock and half acoustic", picking the songs the band considered the best, with "demos which ranged from psycho fucking Nomeansno to sloppy, Tom Petty country to fucking piano-driven songs". [4]

"We haven't been ready to write a record like this until now. I know that Dave wouldn't have been comfortable putting violins on a song before. But for whatever reasons, it just felt like the right time to explore those things now. The last record, obviously, was half heavy stuff, half acoustic songs. So it really was like two sides of the coin. It sounds obvious, but this time around we weren't afraid of incorporating everything into one song if it felt right."

 —Taylor Hawkins regarding the album's sound [5]

Since Grohl felt the songs were different from the band's previous input and "had the potential to be something great", he considered that instead of doing something like the last three albums, the band had to go out of "our own comfort zone" and "needed someone to push us out of there". So Grohl decided to work again with Gil Norton, who produced the band's second album The Colour and the Shape , citing how Norton taught the band of the importance of pre-production and refining the composition, and claiming Norton's "unconventional" approach "seems to capture the best of this band", considering that with him "we're not going to do a straightforward AC/DC record, he's gonna make it different". [4] [6]

Preparation was extensive: first Grohl had his usual start-off by developing demos with drummer Taylor Hawkins, but for the first time Grohl tried to input vocals and lyrics in this early composition stage. [5] After rounding up composition with guitarist Chris Shiflett and bassist Nate Mendel, [7] Grohl spent two weeks with Norton discussing "arrangements, harmony and melody" and reducing the song ideas, and then the band spent four weeks rehearsing, playing "a song a day, from noon to midnight". [8] Hawkins stated that "we basically played each of these songs 100 different times, trying every little thing every different way" and that it was the first time since The Colour and the Shape "that Dave had to deal with someone in the room questioning all his ideas", given the more laid-back approach of previous producer Nick Raskulinecz. [7] Grohl claimed the choices were for the "most powerful, dramatic songs", [9] and that there was an effort to "make everything sound as natural as possible – just like on the albums we grew up listening to", citing 1970s artists such as Neil Young and Wings as a major influence. Shiflett added that for the first time he played lead guitar in some tracks while Grohl "usually works out all the bits" of composition. [10]

Recording began in March 2007 at Studio 606 in Dave Grohl's Virginia home's basement (the studio has since been moved to Northridge, California). [11] As the band took a ten-day break in April, Grohl thought that the record needed another uptempo song, so he spent his time developing an unfinished song that became "The Pretender". [12] The sessions wrapped in mid-June, [13] and for the first time the band did not feel the need to rerecord any song. [4] Grohl stated that while In Your Honor was a double album because he felt it would be "schizophrenic" to alternate between loud and acoustic songs, Norton helped on sequencing the tracks into "an album that makes sense". [6]

Kaki King is featured in "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners". Kaki King with acoustic guitar.jpg
Kaki King is featured in "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners".

The album features the Foo Fighters' first instrumental, "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners". It was written by Grohl after meeting with one of the miners involved in the Beaconsfield mine collapse who requested an iPod with In Your Honor in it during the incident. As Grohl was moved by this action, he decided to "write something just to dedicate to him that night because he definitely seemed like a hero", and later promised to include the instrumental on the album. [4] [14] The album version features Kaki King, whom Grohl invited to record the song as she was visiting Studio 606. Grohl later said that "I showed it to her once, and she shredded 10 times better than I ever played it". [10] [15] Another guest was guitarist Pat Smear, who had been a band member from 1995 to 1998, and a guest musician on the tour for In Your Honor. Smear, who has since been reinstated as a full-on member, described his participation as "the oddest recording experience I had with Foo Fighters" given he had no input in composition and was "going in and playing on a song that was already written". [16] This is their first Foo Fighters' album, since The Colour and the Shape (1997) to feature Smear, before officially rejoining the band for their next album, Wasting Light in 2011.

Composition

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"The Pretender"
Sample of the album's lead single "The Pretender", showcasing the album's shifting dynamics with a stripped-down intro that shifts into an electric hard rock sound. [17]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace offers a mix of both electric and acoustic songs, which Grohl likened to the band growing older and "comfortable with all kinds of music" instead of just focusing on straight rock songs, saying that listening to the album he felt like "we've gotten over our insecurities, because it presents us in a way that we probably hid in the past." [10] Grohl also stated that "the idea now is to step up and make [ The Zombies'] Odessey and Oracle " - [8] the album he claimed to have listened the most during production - [10] and that "it has always been my dream to mix Steely Dan with Nomeansno." [14] Amidst the number of heavier tracks and themes Grohl decided to include the song "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)", described as "the most light-hearted, melodic song of all" which "seemed like a little ray of hope in the middle of all this despair." [4] [18] Grohl added that there was a bigger focus on melodies even in heavier tracks such as "The Pretender", "Let It Die" and "Erase/Replace", [10] and that album closer "Home", a ballad featuring Grohl on the piano, was "the best song I've ever written". [19]

The songs of the album are noted for their changing dynamics – with "middle sections [that] turn into this mass orchestrated swarm and ridiculous time signatures" which include musical references to 1970s soft rock bands such as Wings, Eagles and Bread - [14] summed by Hawkins by saying the band "wanted to make sure that everything 'built' on this record, that each instrument started somewhere and went somewhere else in the course of a song". [5] The drummer attributed this to the acoustic tour leading the band to "shed some of the fear of incorporating mellower stuff with the heavy stuff", [7] and Grohl added that "we wanted the stops to be pin-drop silent before exploding. If we had a beautiful melody, we'd throw a fucking string quartet in there. So we did everything we could to really magnify all those elements and that was fun. Usually you have a few parameters you're afraid to pass but, this time, there was no fear of going too far." [9] Mix engineer Rich Costey added that his work to "preserve what [the band] had done to a fairly large degree" with "balancing and rides to get the dynamics to happen" was difficult given the sonic variety of Echoes, which went from "[the Foo Fighters'] endless walls of guitar overdubs, almost like a swarm of bees" to string quartets: "The challenge of this type of mix is to retain the power of the track, yet define a space for everything." [17]

"Most people think the world begins with their birth and ends with their death, but at some point your realise there's a much larger world out there that will continue existing long after you have made your exit. So I started to take in the big picture, and these realisations had an influence on the new album. There are songs about birth, death and life because my perception of these things has changed radically."

 —Dave Grohl on the album's lyrics [10]

As the acoustic tour made Grohl realize "we were making music worth listening to, rather than music made for pummelling the person next to you" he decided to give more importance to the lyrics and "have a connection with the crowd in front of us", considering that among the many compositions the band made on pre-production "the ones that stand out are the ones that say something". [20] So for the first time the lyrics started being written before recording begun, with Grohl stating that he "sat in the back of the studio and just wrote every day for about 14 hours a day." [21] Most of the lyrics of the album deal with themes of birth, death and life, which Grohl attributed to the birth of his daughter Violet, considering that having a child "changes your entire outlook on the world", [10] and that he was suddenly more emotional - "So when you're writing music with that in mind or that in your heart, everything just blooms into this fucking incredibly colourful, colourful feeling." [4] Helped by the extensive lyrical preparation, [21] the lyrics also tried to show more of Grohl's feelings, "those things that you've always wanted to do or always wanted to say", [22] with Hawkins adding that he could not listen to "Stranger Things Have Happened" as "I'm one of his best friends, and the last thing I want to do is read a love letter to his wife or whoever it is." [8]

Packaging

The cover art was made by Invisible Creature, and features a combination between an aerial bomb and a vacuum tube to juxtapose the weapon "with another object that traditionally wasn’t associated with war or violence". The remainder of the album sleeve has similar juxtapositions of objects "that reflected the album's tone of life and mortality". [23]

The album's title comes from a lyric on the album's final song, "Home". Grohl stated that as he struggled to think of a title given the musical variety of the album, even considering the title "The One With That Song On It"; regarding the chosen title, Grohl "thought it was nice because it's open to interpretation and it's a beautiful title and I think the album is beautiful in its diversity and its melody and its musicality – it goes from delicate acoustic moments to the heaviest shit we’ve ever done." [21] [22]

Release and promotion

The album's first single, "The Pretender", had a forty-second preview released on a cross-promotional campaign with rock radio stations in July 2007, and eventually saw its debut on August 3, 2007 at ESPN's broadcast of the X Games XIII. [8] It was released for music download and for radio play in August 2007, with a CD single coming out on September 17, 2007. [24] "Long Road to Ruin" was released as the second single in December 2007. [25] In 2008, "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)" was issued as a download single in the UK, [26] with "Let It Die" being picked instead for the United States. [27] All three North American singles topped Billboard 's Modern Rock Tracks charts, making it only the ninth album in history to spawn three number one hits on this chart, [28] and "The Pretender" set a record by spending eighteen weeks at the summit. [29]

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace was released on September 24, 2007. Pre-orders through iTunes were awarded with a free download of "The Pretender", advance access to tickets through Ticketmaster, and the bonus tracks "Seda" and "Once and For All". [30] [31] The album was also issued as a double vinyl record. [32]

The promotional tour begun in September 2007, after some concerts in the United Kingdom during the summer, [8] and lasted until Fall 2008. [33] While the back-up band compiled for the In Your Honor tour – guitarist Pat Smear, keyboardist Rami Jaffee, violinist Jessy Greene, and percussionist Drew Hester – remained to perform complex songs such as "Come Alive", a few tracks had more stripped-down arrangements. [8] [34]

"Home" was used in the TV shows Brothers & Sisters , One Tree Hill , Private Practice , Bosch, 911 Season 5 Episode 7 and in the 2015 animated movie Shaun the Sheep Movie .

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 71/100 [35]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly A [36]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [37]
Pitchfork 4.2/10 [38]
PopMatters 4/10 [2]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [39]
Robert Christgau B [40]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [41]
Spin 6/10 [19]
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [42]

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace was met with positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 71, based on 30 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews. [35]

Writing for Entertainment Weekly , Tom Sinclair considered that while the record was not ground-breaking, "the Foos have found a way to create their own archetype, with an instinctive feel for what constitutes a killer song", and praised "how damn near flawless the tone of the whole set feels". [36] Rolling Stone 's David Fricke praised the sonic variety, described by him as "an anthology of strong new songs by a great bunch of bands, all calling themselves Foo Fighters". [41] Jessica Letkemann of Billboard was acceptive of the "delicious sundown grooves" of the quieter piece and "the Foos' usual soft-louder-loudest 'radio friendly unit shifters'" - referencing a track of Nirvana's In Utero – while considering "Home" the only disappointing track. [43] Robert Christgau rated the album a B, describing it as a "candid attempt to recapitulate Nirvana Mark II's 10-year-old triumph, The Colour and the Shape". [40] Henrik Holmgren of Melodic praised the production of the album and felt that Grohl's singing "gets better and better with every record." [44] Dave Simpson of The Guardian called Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace the band's "most accomplished album", praising the composition and saying that "Gil Norton's stunning production can't disguise the raw humanity beneath the sheen". [37]

A few critics considered the album not as inspired as the band's previous work. Kyle Anderson of Spin wrote that "two-thirds of these tracks sound a lot like songs Grohl has done before", considering that album's strengths came from "the handful of songs that deviate from the wallop 'n' wail template". [19] Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine also felt the rock songs were not as remarkable "compared to the almost effortlessly engaging melodies of the softer songs," ultimately describing Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace as "just another Foo Fighters album instead of the consolidation of strengths that it was intended to be". [1] Pitchfork's Adam Moerder considered that the album "feels like a retread" and that the band was "sounding less and less relatable", with ineffective acoustic tracks and rock songs that "sound cold and detached compared to heart-wrenching Foo pop gems like 'Big Me' or 'Everlong'". [38] While Sputnikmusic reviewer John Hanson was accepting of the rock songs, where he felt "the boys are most comfortable," he considered that the songwriting "has just become stale" and ultimately described Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace as "extremely boring and uninspired". [42] PopMatters' Josh Timmermann was very critical of the overtly serious tone of the record compared to the lighthearted work the band had done before, joking that the title of "Cheer Up, Boys" "sounds like the suggestion of a concerned fan for a band he or she used to actually care about." [2]

Accolades

At the 50th Grammy Awards, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, and "The Pretender" was chosen for Best Hard Rock Performance. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year, while "The Pretender" was also nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rock Song. [45] [46] The album also won Best International Album at the 2008 Brit Awards. [47] Q ranked it the 12th best album of 2007, [48] while Rolling Stone put the album at the 45th spot in a similar list. [49]

Commercial performance

In the United States, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace entered the Billboard 200 album chart at number three, selling 168,000 copies in its first week, [50] and has since been certified Gold by the RIAA. [51] As of April 14, 2011, it has sold 897,000 copies in US. [52] On October 6, 2017, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace was certified Platinum by the RIAA. [53]

The album debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart, selling 135,685 albums in its first week; [54] Australia and New Zealand, being certified platinum in its first week in both countries; [55] [56] and Canada, [57] where the album went Platinum. [58]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett except where noted

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Pretender" 4:29
2."Let It Die" 4:05
3."Erase/Replace" 4:13
4."Long Road to Ruin" 3:44
5."Come Alive" 5:10
6."Stranger Things Have Happened"Grohl5:21
7."Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)" 3:41
8."Summer's End" 4:37
9."Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners"Grohl2:32
10."Statues" 3:47
11."But, Honestly" 4:35
12."Home" 4:52
Total length:51:12
European edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Once & For All" (Demo)3:47
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Once & For All" (Demo)3:47
14."Seda"3:45

Personnel

Personnel adapted from Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace liner notes [59]

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Certifications

Sales certifications for Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [103] 2× Platinum140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [104] Gold10,000*
Belgium (BEA) [105] Gold15,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [58] Platinum100,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [106] Platinum20,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [107] Platinum200,000‡
Ireland (IRMA) [108] Platinum15,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [109] 2× Platinum30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [110] 2× Platinum754,000 [111]
United States (RIAA) [112] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Foo Fighters</i> (album) 1995 debut album by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is the debut studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on July 4, 1995, through Roswell and Capitol Records. Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl wrote the entire album. He recorded it himself in six days with the assistance of producer Barrett Jones at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, Washington, in 1994. Grohl said that he recorded the album just for fun, describing it as a cathartic experience to recover from the suicide of Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain. The album is considered to have started the post-grunge genre.

<i>The Colour and the Shape</i> 1997 studio album by Foo Fighters

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>There Is Nothing Left to Lose</i> 1999 studio album by Foo Fighters

There Is Nothing Left to Lose is the third studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 2, 1999, through Roswell and RCA Records. It marked the first studio credit for drummer Taylor Hawkins, and is often seen as a departure from the band's previous work, showcasing a softer, more experimental sound. Vocalist and guitarist Dave Grohl has called it his favorite Foo Fighters album, stating that it was "totally based on melody" and that the recording process was a serene experience. The album was recorded using only three musicians; Grohl, Hawkins, and bassist Nate Mendel in the basement of Grohl's home in Alexandria, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foo Fighters</span> American rock band

The Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the lineup now consists of Grohl, Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear (guitars), Rami Jaffee (keyboards), and Josh Freese (drums). Drummers William Goldsmith and Taylor Hawkins, along with guitarist Franz Stahl, are former members of the band.

<i>One by One</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2002 studio album by Foo Fighters

One by One is the fourth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on October 22, 2002, through Roswell and RCA Records. Production on the album was troubled, with initial recording sessions considered unsatisfying and raising tensions between the band members. They eventually decided to redo the album from scratch during a two-week period at frontman Dave Grohl's home studio in Alexandria, Virginia. The album, which includes the successful singles "All My Life" and "Times Like These", has been noted for its introspective lyrics and a heavier, more aggressive sound compared to the band's earlier work, which Grohl said was intended to translate the energy of the Foo Fighters' live performances into a recording. This was the first album recorded with Chris Shiflett as part of the band, and the first in which Grohl did not play drums, as drum duties were permanently assigned to Taylor Hawkins.

<i>In Your Honor</i> 2005 studio album by Foo Fighters

In Your Honor is the fifth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on June 14, 2005, through Roswell and RCA Records. It is a double album, with the first disc containing heavy rock songs and the second containing mellower acoustic songs. Frontman Dave Grohl decided to do a diverse blend of songs, as he felt that after ten years of existence, the band had to break new ground with their music. The album was recorded at a newly built studio in Northridge, Los Angeles, and features guests such as John Paul Jones, Norah Jones, and Josh Homme. Its lyrics deal with both resonating and introspective themes, with a major influence from Grohl's involvement on the campaign trail with John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. It was the first album to feature keyboardist Rami Jaffee, although he would not join the band as full-time member until 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DOA (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2005 single by Foo Fighters

"DOA" is the second song released as a single from Foo Fighters' fifth album, In Your Honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foo Fighters discography</span>

The discography of Foo Fighters, an American rock band formed in 1995 by Dave Grohl, consists of eleven studio albums, fourteen extended plays (EPs), six video albums, one live album, and 57 singles. The current Foo Fighters line-up consists of Grohl, Rami Jaffee (keyboard), Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Pat Smear (guitar) and Josh Freese (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pretender (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2007 single by Foo Fighters

"The Pretender" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was the first single from the group's 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. It is one of Foo Fighters' most successful songs; peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100, only "Learn to Fly" and "Best of You" beat its position on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Road to Ruin</span> 2007 single by Foo Fighters

"Long Road to Ruin" is the second single from the Foo Fighters' sixth studio album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. The music video was released on November 1, 2007, with the single released on December 3, 2007. The video features an appearance by actress Rashida Jones, and was directed by Jesse Peretz, who had previously collaborated with the band for "Big Me", "Learn to Fly", "The One", and "Low".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)</span> 2008 single by Foo Fighters

"Cheer Up, Boys " is the third single released from the Foo Fighters' 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. The single was released as a digital-only release in the UK via iTunes. No physical retail singles were released; however, promotional singles were released for radio airplay. The B-side is a cover of Paul McCartney & Wings' "Band on the Run", which was previously released on Radio 1 Established 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Die (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2008 single by Foo Fighters

"Let It Die" is the fourth single from the Foo Fighters' sixth album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. It was only released as a promotional single in 2007 and no physical retail single was released. It was, however, available commercially as a digital downloadable single.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2009 greatest hits album by Foo Fighters

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album released by American rock band the Foo Fighters on November 3, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheels (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2009 single by Foo Fighters

"Wheels" is a single by American rock band Foo Fighters. The single premiered on radio on September 23, 2009, though it was officially released six days later.

<i>Wasting Light</i> 2011 studio album by Foo Fighters

Wasting Light is the seventh studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on April 12, 2011, through Roswell and RCA Records. Wanting to capture the essence of their earlier work and avoid the artificiality of digital recording, Foo Fighters recorded the album in the garage of frontman Dave Grohl in Encino, California, using only analog equipment. The sessions were produced by the band alongside Butch Vig, with whom Grohl had worked on Nirvana's Nevermind. Since the old equipment did not allow for many mistakes to be corrected in post-production, the band spent three weeks rehearsing the songs, and Vig had to relearn outdated editing techniques. The band sought a heavier and rawer sound in contrast to the experimentation of their previous albums. Most of the lyrics were written as Grohl reflected upon his life and possible future. Guest musicians include Bob Mould, Krist Novoselic, Jessy Greene, Rami Jaffee and Fee Waybill. Pat Smear played as an official member of the band for the first time since The Colour and the Shape (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rope (song)</span> 2011 single by Foo Fighters

"Rope" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, the second track on their seventh studio album, Wasting Light (2011). Like the rest of the album, it was written by all band members and produced by the band alongside Butch Vig. The song originated during the tour supporting Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), the band's sixth studio album. A demo version was recorded after the tour ended in 2008. Some acts that have been noted as influences on the song include Rush and Led Zeppelin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2011 single by Foo Fighters

"Walk" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, released as the third single from their seventh studio album Wasting Light. It was written by Dave Grohl and co-produced by Butch Vig.

<i>Sonic Highways</i> 2014 studio album by Foo Fighters

Sonic Highways is the eighth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 10, 2014, through Roswell and RCA Records. Similar to their previous album, Wasting Light (2011), it was produced by the band with Butch Vig. In writing the album's eight songs, singer and guitarist Dave Grohl traveled to eight cities across the United States to conduct interviews with musicians, recording engineers, record producers, and other individuals discussing each city's musical history, which he used as inspiration for the songs' lyrics. The band and Vig then traveled to a different recording location in each city to record the songs. Each track features contributions from one or more musicians with ties to that city's musical history. The process was filmed for a companion television series, Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways, which was broadcast on HBO in the months surrounding the album's release.

<i>Concrete and Gold</i> 2017 studio album by Foo Fighters

Concrete and Gold is the ninth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on September 15, 2017, through Roswell and RCA Records. It is the band's first album to be produced alongside Greg Kurstin. Described by the band as an album where "hard rock extremes and pop sensibilities collide", Concrete and Gold concerns the future of the United States from the viewpoint of the band's frontman and lead songwriter Dave Grohl, with the heated atmosphere of the 2016 elections and the presidency of Donald Trump cited as major influences by Grohl. Juxtapositions serve as a common motif in both the album's lyrical and musical composition, with Grohl further describing the album's overall theme as "hope and desperation".

<i>Medicine at Midnight</i> 2021 studio album by Foo Fighters

Medicine at Midnight is the tenth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was released through Roswell and RCA Records on February 5, 2021, after having its release be pushed out of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Greg Kurstin and the band, the album shows a slight shift in the band's style, pairing their usual rock sound with elements of dance-rock and pop. It is the final Foo Fighters studio album to feature drummer Taylor Hawkins before his death the following year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace — Foo Fighters". Allmusic . Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Timmermann, Josh. "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace < PopMatters". Popmatters . Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ Moll, James (director) (2011). Back and Forth (documentary). RCA.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "This Is Our Best Record In Years" Archived September 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ; Kerrang! , August 2007
  5. 1 2 3 "The Best Of Foo". Rhythm . November 2007.
  6. 1 2 Kennedy, John (September 26, 2007). "Foo Fighters On 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace'". XFM London. Archived from the original on October 29, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Ten Years With Foo Fighters And We Still Want To Know. Who Is Taylor Hawkins? Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ; Drum!, December 2007
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cohen, Jonathan (August 18, 2007). "Rock Steady". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "There's A Part Of Me That Will Never Lose The Love Of Riffs"; Kerrang! , September 2007
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Inside The Lives Of One Of Rock's Biggest Bands". Total Guitar . January 2008.
  11. ↑ "Foo Fighters deep into recording" Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . TheRockRadio.com. April 27, 2007.
  12. ↑ Montgomery, James (February 8, 2008). "Foo Fighters' 'Pretender' Had To Hustle To Be A Contender: Behind The Grammys". MTV. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  13. ↑ Beebe, Joe. 6/8/07 Post Archived November 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine . Accessed April 15, 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 Cohen, Jonathan. ""Foo Fighters Let It Rip On Sixth Album"". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2013.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Billboard.com. July 6, 2007.
  15. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (July 14, 2007). "Fourth Quarter Forecast". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  16. ↑ Yates, Rod (November 4, 2014). "Foo Fighters: Pat Smear". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Tingen, Paul (March 2008). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Rich Costey". Sound on Sound . Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  18. ↑ Montgomery, James (July 27, 2007). "Dave Grohl May Be Fond Of String Quartets, But Foo Fighters Haven't Gone Soft". MTV. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  19. 1 2 3 Anderson, Kyle (September 7, 2007). "Foo Fighters, 'Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace'". Spin . Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  20. ↑ "What We Do Isn't Changing The World!" Kerrang!, September 2007
  21. 1 2 3 Murphy, Peter (October 10, 2007). "Life, death and rock 'n' Grohl". Hot Press . Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Let There Be Foo". Clash . September 2007. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Sleevage. October 21, 2007. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  24. ↑ "The Pretender" release notes Archived June 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  25. ↑ "Releases " Foo Fighters – Long Road to Ruin (physical)". Columbia Records UK. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Releases " Foo Fighters – Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)". Columbia Records UK. Archived from the original on November 11, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Billboard Reviews: Singles". Billboard. May 24, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Pop/Rock Charts". Billboard. August 2, 2008.
  29. ↑ "Josh Groban Ties Elvis Presley". Billboard. December 7, 2007. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  30. ↑ Orzeck, Kurt (September 25, 2007). "Foo Fighters Try To Silence Will.I.Am, Cheetah Girls, Keyshia Cole And More, In New Releases". MTV. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Get Foo Fighters' New Album and Early Access to 2008 UK Tour Tickets". Ticketmaster. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (Vinyl)". Official Foo Fighters Store. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  33. ↑ Brannigan, Paul (December 2010). "Kerrang's 50 albums you need to hear in 2011 – Foo Fighters (Interview)". Kerrang! .
  34. ↑ Almond, Steve (October 22, 2007). "The Tao of Foo". Spin . Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  35. 1 2 "Foo Fighters:Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007): Reviews". Metacritic . CNET Networks, Inc. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  36. 1 2 Sinclair, Tom (October 1, 2007). "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  37. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (September 21, 2007). "Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". The Times. London. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  38. 1 2 Moerder, Adam (September 26, 2007). "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  39. ↑ "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace". Q : 87. October 2007.
  40. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Foo Fighters". Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  41. 1 2 Fricke, David (October 4, 2007). "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  42. 1 2 Hanson, John (September 17, 2007). "Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  43. ↑ Letkemann, Jessica (September 29, 2007). "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  44. ↑ Holmgren, Henrik. "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Melodic . Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  45. ↑ "Grammy 2008 Winners List". MTV . February 10, 2008. Archived from the original on June 5, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  46. ↑ Heisel, Scott (November 30, 2011). "Skrillex, Foo Fighters, Bon Iver, Sum 41, Radiohead, Coldplay get Grammy nods". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Foo Fighters win BRITs 2012 International Group award". BRIT Awards . February 21, 2012. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  48. ↑ "50 Best Albums – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace / Foo Fighters". Q. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  49. ↑ Christgau, Robert; Fricke, David; Hoard, Christian; Sheffield, Rob (December 27, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
  50. ↑ Hasty, Katie (October 3, 2007). "Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  51. ↑ "RIAA Searchable database – Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  52. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (April 14, 2011). "Foo Fighters Flying Towards First No. 1 Album". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  53. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". riaa.com. Recording Industry Association Of America. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  54. ↑ Jones, Alan (October 1, 2007). "Foo Fighters kick Blunt off top spot". Music Week . Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  55. ↑ ""Fooies Album Goes Platinum!!"". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Sony BMG. September 26, 2007.
  56. ↑ "CHART 1584 1 October 2007" (PDF). RIANZ. Retrieved May 17, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  57. ↑ "Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  58. 1 2 "Canadian album certifications – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Music Canada.
  59. ↑ "Echoes, Silence, Etc".
  60. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  61. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  63. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  64. ↑ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  65. ↑ "ČNS IFPI". Hitparáda – TOP50 Prodejní (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  66. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  67. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  68. ↑ "Eurocharts: Albums". Billboard . Vol. 119, no. 41. October 13, 2007. p. 85. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  69. ↑ "Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  70. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  71. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  72. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2007. 40. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  73. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 39, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  74. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  75. ↑ 今週の注目ランキングトピックス一覧！ (in Japanese). Oricon. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 6位は、フー・ファイターズの『エコーズ，サイレンス，ペイシェンス・アンド・グレイス』(初登場赤丸付、2.5 万枚)。 (6-position, the Foo Fighters for "Echoes, Silence, Patience And Grace" (with a red circle first appearance, 25 000 copies).)
  76. ↑ "Mexicancharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  77. ↑ "Charts.nz – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  78. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  79. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  80. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  81. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  82. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  83. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  84. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  85. ↑ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  86. ↑ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  87. ↑ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  88. ↑ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  89. ↑ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  90. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  91. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2007". austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  92. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2007". Ultratop. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  93. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2007". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  94. ↑ "Year End Charts – European Top 100 Albums". Billboard.biz. 2007. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  95. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  96. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007". hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  97. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  98. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  99. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  100. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  101. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  102. ↑ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  103. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  104. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Crace" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  105. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  106. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". IFPI Danmark.
  107. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Foo Fighters; 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Crace')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  108. ↑ "The Irish Charts - 2007 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  109. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  110. ↑ "British album certifications – Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  111. ↑ Copsey, Rob (February 3, 2021). "Foo Fighters' biggest albums on the Official UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  112. ↑ "American album certifications – Foo Fighters". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 1, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.