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!
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!
Hi, I’m writing about every song that ever became a #1 hit, backwards chronologically, in the journey that is the Every Number One blog. I would really appreciate if you took a look around.
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I’m always delighted when I see the umlaut included when referencing Motörhead, to borrow Mike’s closing line, (attention to detail with accents) may be my kryptonite!
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Ha. Nice review. I have this (like Deke I got it free from iTunes, I think. Or their website. Or something. It was on the recommendation of a friend). Haven’t listened to it, though. Gave up on the Foos after the 2nd album (Hey, Johnny Park … man, I love that song) Might listen to Saviour Breath, though. See what all the fuss is about 😉
As for Grohl, I’m not a fan. The Sonic Highways thing was good, but it would have been better if he wasn’t in it. I find him insincere and, well, a wee bit unbearable these days.
As a drummer, though … aye.
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Yes that is indeed the story. I ordered one, was charged for one, and they sent me two. Wahoo! I was going to send the other to Scott, but then he threatened me with bodily harm. 😉
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And I am the happy and thankful recipient of copy #2!
Bodily harm? All the way from Glasgow? Wow, that Dude’s got an impressive reach! 🙂
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Well he’s the Heavy Metal OverloRd!
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It’s so true. All hail our Dark and Nefarious OverloRd!
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Mikey ditched Ya Today! Hahaha….your a solo act! Just like Aldo Nova!
Run with it dude!
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Nah he showed up. No worries! 🙂
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Was telling MIKEY a while back that ITunes made this EP Free for the download! Which I happily accepted as a freebie!
Still haven’t gotten around to listening to it ….
I like that the Fighters had it for free and you could choose whether to download or not U like those OL Corny Bastards U2 who just downloaded it everywhere and than some and by that annoyed my 3 daughters as it mucked up there phones .hahaha…
Nice write up…didn’t see Mikes in the Reader?
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Friggin’ Bono. Ugh.
Free Foos EP… hey now that sounds familiar to me! Haha only difference is you got MP3 and I got LP!
This is quite good. I’m glad they did it. Wonder why it wasn’t a full album, since they were already at full steam…
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I have a Grohl ban in the HMO Mission Control so haven’t heard this. The song title Saviour Breath did give me a chuckle though!
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I knew about your ban. Why is that, exactly?
Saviour Breath is a clever play on words, for sure. And it’s the best track on here!
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There are too many reasons to go into… but the short version is that I find him unbearable!
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Fair enough. You might be the only person I know for whom Dave makes you Grohl like a bear, though.
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Haha maybe! It’s just a small pocket of resistance!
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Did that joke make you Grohl your eyes?
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Tee hee you are the punmaster!
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Did I just make our HMO say ‘tee hee” like a little schoolgirl? DID I JUST? 🙂
Haha man I love puns. My lovely wife tolerates me, but even she has her limits with them…
So yeah, I’m pretty good at puns. Wanna play some FOOSball?
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*giggles behind hand*
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Like, ohmigod.
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Great present, nice review too.
The Foos bore me after their 2nd LP, I mean I love Dave Grohl (I mean that’s compulsory, isn’t it?) but …
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It’s a great gift! Mike rules like that. And thanks, I really enjoyed this one, so the writing of it was easy. Ha you got off the bus same time as me, the second LP… well, I mean, they were always just there, but I think I only bought one other of their records and that’s ‘cos it was a 2CD for $1.
Still, I probably should have been buying them all along, because everytime I hear them I like them. Silly me.
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By the way, your review is so much better than the one by that other doofus. Just saying.
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