The Best Fucking Collaboration Week Ever, Pt.2: Foo Fighters – Saint Cecilia EP

Hey folks! It’s The Best Fucking Collaboration Week Ever, Pt. 2! Just like last time, Mike and Aaron will be doing simultaneous daily reviews of albums. This time, they’re covering stuff these two intrepid music reporters have sent to each other. Buckle up, buttercups, it’s gonna be a blast!

Mike knows way more about the Foos’ career than I do. You’ve gotta go read Mike’s post about this. Go! Go! GO!

This EP arrived at my house courtesy of Mike (see KMA Sunday Service Week 26). If I have the story correct, he’d ordered one and received two, but was only billed for one? So the AAAA got the freebie copy? I’m sure his post today will tell us more about that, because my memory of it may be faulty. Anyway, it’s here, and it’s lovely. I don’t own too many vinyl EPs, so it’s kind of a neat addition to my collection in that way, too.

Now, the Foos. Last time I was hugely into them would have been The Colour And The Shape. Looking that up now, I realize that that was a lot longer ago than I should probably be admitting (1997), but I’ve typed it now and I can’t be arsed to delete it. Don’t get me wrong, I like this band. I just never bought their stuff along the way. But I did see the Sonic Highways DVD set (thanks heaps, James!) so I feel like I kinda know where they’re at recently? Maybe a little? Or maybe not at all, what do I know.

The internet tells me that this EP was named after the hotel in Austin in which it was recorded. Apparently they blew the dust off a bunch of old ideas from years past, and the end result is this EP.

Saint Cecilia heavy rocks along poppily, full of hooks and sounding like so many other great Foos songs I’ve ever heard before. Ben Kweller sang backing vocals on this one. Sean is a strong power pop punk happy bouncy fun way to spend 2:11. I like the guitar breakdowns (with cowbell)! And then we have Saviour Breath, which goes full on Motörhead fuckin’ rock freak out. Now THIS is more like it! Hells yes, this is my fave track here so far! Go go go!! Goddamn that’s the best song I’ve heard by these guys in forever.

Iron Rooster sucks away all of Saviour Breath’s energy as it prettily plods along. I probably would’ve liked this song so much better if it was placed differently in another mix, but as I was set to destroy by the last track (hell, the last three), this one made me stop mid-stomp and go whuh? Talk about shifting gears without a clutch! And finally, The Neverending Sigh would’ve been a better title for Iron Rooster. Anyway, thankfully it builds into another bread and butter Foos rocker, packed to the gills with great lines and hooks and heavy playing that is ultimately satisfying.

IN SUM:

If this short (18 minute) EP had been released in the mid-90s, it would’ve been huge. Honestly, if they had left out Iron Rooster for another time and another project, and replaced it with some other Foos rocker instead, this thing would have hit hard top to bottom and been pure killer. Don’t get me wrong, Iron Rooster is an OK song, it just doesn’t fit here. But the rest of this project was really well done. Especially Saviour Breath. I’m gonna go crank that track again!

Thanks heaps, Mike!