•
Rating: "When Nirvana broke up, I really didn't know what to do. Our lives and world were turned upside down. It's hard to imagine playing again after such events. It was really tough, I've always written and recorded songs by myself, but I didn't want to play them in front of anyone".
One can certainly discuss Mr. Dave Grohl; drummer of one of the most beloved bands of the '90s, Nirvana, and, after the tragedy of Cobain's death, frontman of one of the most appreciated rock bands on the planet, the Foo Fighters. We said one can discuss him, but certainly not deny the evidence of the facts; in a positive or negative way (depending on tastes and points of view), he made it for the second time. This time on his own.
Getting rid of past ghosts is one of the most difficult challenges that life forces you to face. Dave doesn't play drums in the Foo's, at least not live (only occasionally, for some pieces like "Cold Day In The Sun"); his drummer's soul is always behind "those" skins, serving Kurt's anguished screams. But he has never publicly admitted it until now. He does it for the first time in this new, beautiful album.
"Let It Die", the focal song of the new work, talks for the first time (after thirteen years of a practically solo career) about Kurt, Nirvana, those cursed days. The piece is an escalation of anger, but never resigned; when you expect an eternal ballad, the tones rise and the guitars start to scratch, Dave's singing (who has never been a great singer but let's say he now handles it more than well) becomes a scream and the piece closes right when it's about to explode definitively. Excellent and abundant the first extract "The Pretender", chosen both to anticipate the album and to open it; perfect work on the guitars, pleasant yet not predictable chorus, ultimately one of their best singles since the incomparable "Everlong". Also convincing are the melodies of "Long Road To Ruin", a candidate for future radio glory.
Die-hard fans need not be scared: the classic Grohl outbursts are not missing, just listen to the bursts of energy like "Erase/Replace" or "Cheer Up Boys, Your Makeup Is Running" (a not-so-subtle jab at the "colleagues" of the emo scene?). Nor are the legacies of the acoustic experience made with the second CD of "In Your Honor" or the live "Skin And Bones", like the acoustic "Stranger Things Have Happened" or the splendid and very unique instrumental "The Ballad Of The Beaconsfield Miners" (which contains the only collaboration of the album, with Kaki King) and the ashcroftian "Statues". Beautiful and interesting is also the closure, entrusted to a piano and voice "Home" with vague "jazzy" flavors.
Beautiful album, this "Echoes...", which smoothens the uncertainties and exaggerations of the previous "In Your Honor", and re-proposes the good Foo's still in good shape. Decisive is the return to production of Gil Norton (Pixies), already at the "helm" for the monstrous "The Colour And The Shape".
Let It Live.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Pretender (04:29)
Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend
Keep you in the dark
And so it all began
Send in your skeletons
Sing as their bones go marching in...again
The need you bury deep
The secrets that you keep are at the ready
Are you ready?
I'm finished making sense
Done pleading ignorance
That whole...defense
Spinning infinity, boy
The wheel is spinning me
It's never-ending, never-ending
Same old story
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I’ll never surrender?
In time or so I’m told
I'm just another soul for sale...oh, well
The page is out of print
We are not permanent
We're temporary, temporary
Same old story
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I'll never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirrored in your stare
I'm what's left, I'm what's right
I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that’ll take you down
And bring you to your knees
So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I’ll never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
(You know they all)
You're the pretender
(Pretend)
What if I say I will never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
(You know they all)
You're the pretender
(Pretend)
What if I say I will never surrender?
So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
02 Let It Die (04:05)
A heart of gold but it lost its pride
Beautiful veins and bloodshot eyes
I've seen your face in another light
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Why'd you have to go and let it die
In too deep and out of time
Why'd you have to go and let it die
A simple man and his blushing bride
(Why'd you have to go and let it die)
Intravenous, intertwined
(Why'd you have to go and let it die)
Heart's gone cold, your hands were tied
(Why'd you have to go and let it die)
Why'd you have to go and let it die
(Why'd you have to go and let it die)
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Why'd you have to go and let it die
In too deep and out of time
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Do you ever think of me
You're so considerate
Did you ever think of me
Oh, so considerate
In too deep and lost in time
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Beautiful veins and bloodshot eyes
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Heart's gone cold and hands are tied
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Do you ever think of me
You're so considerate
Did you ever think of me
Oh, so considerate
In too deep and lost in time
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Beautiful veins and bloodshot eyes
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Heart's gone cold and hands are tied
Why'd you have to go and let it die
Why'd you have to go and let this die
Why'd you have to go and let this die
Why'd you have to go and let this die
Why'd you have to go and let this die
Why'd you have to go and let it die
03 Erase/Replace (04:13)
Attention.
Pay attention!
No mention; The sickest array
Omission; An admission
Ignition; Detonate.
Oh no, don't talk about it
No, please don't talk about it
Oh no, don't talk about it
Not one more word about it!
Oh no, don't think about it
No, please don't think about it
Oh please, don't think about it
It goes away..
Who made these promises?
You made these promises.
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
We'll make more promises,
We'll wait for promises.
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
A vision; Division
Revision; Regulate
Inaction; A reaction
Distraction; Question of fate
Oh no, don't talk about it
No, please don't talk about it
Oh no, don't talk about it
It goes away...
Who made these promises?
You made these promises.
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
We'll make more promises,
We'll wait for promises.
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
Oh, are we better off now?
One thing left said
Meant for you
Oh, are we better off now?
One thing left said
Meant for you
Who'll make these promises?
You'll make these promises.
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
We'll wait for promises,
We'll make more promises.
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
Erase/Replace
04 Long Road to Ruin (03:44)
Here now, don't make a sound
Say, have you heard the news today?
One flag was taken down
To raise another in its place
A heavy cross you bear
A stubborn heart remains unchanged
No harm, no life, no love
No stranger singin' in your name
But maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Dear God, I've sealed my fate
Runnin' through hell, heaven can wait
Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead end in sight
Let's say we take this town
No king or queen of any state
Get up to shut it down
Open the streets and raise the gates
I know a wall to scale
I know a field without a name
Head on without a care
Before it's way too late
Maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Oh God, I've sealed my fate
Runnin' through hell, heaven can wait
Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead end
Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead end in sight
For every piece to fall in place
Forever gone without a trace
Your horizon takes its shape
No turnin' back, don't turn that page
Come now, I'm leavin' here tonight
Come now, let's leave it all behind
Is that the price you pay
Runnin' through hell, heaven can wait
Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead ends
Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead ends
Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead end in sight
05 Come Alive (05:10)
Seems like only yesterday
Life belonged to runaways
Nothing here to see
No looking back
Every sound monotone
Every color monochrome
Life began to fade into the black
Such a simple animal
Sterilized with alcohol
I could hardly feel me anymore
Desperate and meaningless
All filled up with emptiness
Felt like everything was said and done
I lay there in the dark
And I close my eyes
You saved me the day you came alive
Still I tried to find my way
Spinning hours into days
Burning like a flame behind my eyes
Drown it out
Drink it in
Crown the king of suffering
Prisoner; a slave to the disguise
Disappear the only thing
Bittersweet surrendering
Knew that it was time to say goodbye
I lay there in the dark
And I close my eyes
You saved me the day you came alive
No reason left for me to survive
You saved me the day you came alive
Come alive
Come alive...
(16x)
I lay there in the dark
And I close my eyes
You saved me the day you came alive
Come alive
Come alive...
(16x)
Nothing more to give
I can finally live
Come alive
You're not killing me
I can finally breathe
Come alive
I lay there in the dark
Open my eyes
You saved me the day you came alive
Come alive
Come alive
(16x)
06 Stranger Things Have Happened (05:21)
Goddamn this dusty room
This hazy afternoon
I'm breathing in this silence
Like never before
This feeling that I get
This one last cigarette
As I lay awake
And wait for you to come through the door
Oh maybe maybe maybe
I can share it with you
I behave I behave I behave
So I can share it with you
You were not alone
Dear loneliness
You forgot
But I remember this
Oh stranger stranger
Stranger things have happened, I know
I am not alone
Dear loneliness
I forgot
That I remember this
Oh stranger stranger
Stranger things have happened, I know
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
We'll dream about somewhere
Our smoke will fill the air
As I lay awake and wait
For you to walk out that door
I can change I can change I can change
But who do you want me to be
I'm the same I'm the same I'm the same
Oh do you want me to be
You were not alone
Dear loneliness
You forgot
But I remember this
Oh stranger stranger
Stranger things have happened, I know
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
I'm not alone
Dear loneliness
I forgot
That I remember this
You were not alone
Dear loneliness
You forgot
But I remember this
Oh stranger stranger
Stranger things have happened, I know
I'm not alone
Dear loneliness
I forgot
That I remember this
Oh stranger stranger
Stranger things have happened, I know
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
07 Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running) (03:41)
It was meant to be
But all along, it never meant a thing
Never stopped to ask you why
You didn't pass me by
Did you see me in your life
Flash before your eyes?
Was it just that I wasn't hard enough
Hard enough for you?
(Stop, stop, stop...)
Stop using my
Confusion
Wait, wait
There's a world out there (There's a world out there)
Don't you deny me (Don't you deny me)
Give me one last wish (Give me one last wish)
There's a world out there
Elementary, I solved them all
All your mysteries
Settle down and in good time
We can solve all mine
Tell me lies or tell me when
Tear me up again
And I will let you know
When I've had enough
Had enough of you
(Stop, stop, stop...)
Stop using my
Confusion
Wait, wait
There's a world out there (There's a world out there)
Don't you deny me (Don't you deny me)
Give me one last wish (There's a world out there)
There's a world out there (Don't you deny me)
I know you've got your reasons
Hey, let's call it even
Turn out all the lights and go to bed
Still, I get this feeling
No one will believe me
When I let these ghosts outside my head
There's a world out there (There's a world out there)
Don't you deny me (Don't you deny me)
Give me one last wish (Give me one last wish)
Don't you deny me (Don't you deny me)
There's a world out there (There's a world out there)
Don't you deny me (Don't you deny me)
Give me one last wish (There's a world out there)
There's a world out there (Don't you deny me).
10 Statues (03:47)
You and I were two old and tortured souls
Repaired by our love of broken things
In a life, just some bodies growing old
No fear of the end, of anything
We're just ordinary people, you and me
Time will turn us into statues, eventually
We got by, though we never needed much
A sliver of hope, no diamond rings
We got high, it was heaven, it was hell
Fly over them with broken wings
We're just ordinary people, you and me
Time will turn us into statues, eventually
Ohhh, ohh...
Just two ordinary people, you and me
Time will turn us into statues, eventually
Our bones forever in stone
A monumental life
To dust, as everything must
We'll fade away in time
Ohhh ohh ohh oh...
We're just ordinary people, you and me
Time will turn us into statues, eventually
Ohhh, ohh...
Just two ordinary people, you and me
Ohhh, ohh...
Time will turn us into statues, eventually.
11 But, Honestly (04:35)
Where are you off to with that head of yours?
Is there somewhere you should be?
Was it something that I said the time I held you down
And told you it's not you, it's only me?
Maybe
Don't take what I don't need (Give me back my peace of mind)
Don't say what I don't mean (Give my back my precious time)
No way you'll silence me
You'll see
What you up to now your mirror's gone?
Is there someone you should be?
Did you think I was just fooling 'round with you?
But honestly
But honestly
But honestly
Don't take what I don't need (Give me back my peace of mind)
Don't say what I don't mean (Give me back my precious time)
No way you'll silence me (Give me back my peace of mind)
Nowhere to hide from me
You'll see
And tonight, I thank the stars
As I count my lucky scars
For everything you've given me
And all the words I gave to you
Something borrowed, something blue
If you want them back
I'll give it to you
Give it to you...
I don't want one thing that I gave to you...
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By Trimalchione
"The Pretender is an excellent first single and, at least in the opinion of the writer, the best track in the lineup."
"To be fully appreciated it requires at least a couple of listens."
By Bonzo89
Dave Grohl is indeed a living legend of rock'n'roll, so after all, we can forgive them.
Very enjoyable, but perhaps a bit flat: trying to redo Led Zeppelin III, nowadays, is not exactly ideal.
By theJOKE
With Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace the Foo take a step too far, inserting songs that on a first listen seem challenging, but after three, four listens are already memorized and feel familiar.
I highlight as the best songs 'Let it Die'; 'Come Alive' and the stunning (I must admit) 'Home' very sentimental and intimate played with the piano and accompanied by violins.
By Sofy
"To survive in the music business all these years, the Foo Fighters must have something special."
"The gem of the album is in the finale, 'Home.' A track that Grohl has been trying to write since he was eight years old."
