The concept of death is something I’ve never really been comfortable with, and I often have a difficult time discussing the topic with others. The reality is that it’s a part of life, and when it comes, it can rip through the very fabric of our well-being. On the eleventh studio album from Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl found himself at an uncomfortable, but yet all-too-familiar crossroads where he would be faced with the death of a band member. He and his bandmates have crafted an incredible tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins with a record that he surely would have been proud of. The album was produced by the band and Greg Kurstin, who was at the helm of three other Foo Fighters records. But Here We Are tugs on all the right heartstrings and recognizes that the most important step after a tragedy is the one moving forward.
On the opening song and lead single, “Rescued,” Grohl sings still in utter shock with the lyrics of, “It came in a flash / It came out of nowhere / It happened so fast / And then it was over.” His ability to keep his composure through the comprehension of his enormous loss of a great friend makes this tragedy seem larger than life itself. The build up to the chorus is equally remarkable as Grohl admits, “We’re all free to some degree / To dance under the lights / I’m just waiting to be rescued / Bring me back to life.” The band rallies around their fallen drummer and makes a memorable opening statement.
”Under You” follows the emotional opener with a sound reminiscent of “Generator” from There Is Nothing Left To Lose, and gradually bleeds into anthemic chorus of, “There are times that I need someone / There are times I feel like no one / Sometimes I just don’t know what to do / There are days I can’t remember / There are days that last forever / Someday I’ll come out from under you.” The way that Grohl and his bandmates look back on their core memories while still moving the needle forward in their musical development cannot be understated. “Hearing Voices” on the other hand deals with this tragedy head on as Grohl sings with a more somber tone, “I’ve been hearing voices / None of them are you / I’ve been hearing voices /
None of them are you / Late at night, I tell myself / Nothing this good could last forever.” The haunting mid-tempo track is another standout that showcases the reason why this band has so many faithful fans that stuck around through thick and thin.
The title track is another remarkable achievement in the band’s discography as Grohl remarks, “I gave you my heart, but here we are / Saved you my heart, but here we are.” The crunchy guitar riffs pair well with Grohl’s wordplay and brief lyrical statements to keep the momentum gained early on in tact. One of the most emotional songs on the record is “The Glass,” as Grohl pours his heart and soul all over the recording. The heart-wrenching chorus of, “Waiting for this storm to pass / Waiting on this side of the glass / But I see my reflection in you / See your reflection in me / How could it be?” got me a little choked up on my first, and subsequent, listens to the song as I reflected on the people who are no longer with me.
”Nothing At All” closes out the front half of the record with more haunting lyrics like, “Need a new superstition / One I’ll never forget / Put your book in my pocket / Put your chain on my neck / Wouldn’t it be dangerous / If nothing was restraining us?” The song lends itself well to inviting the listener to go further down the path of recovery on the back half of the LP.
”Show Me How” is a dreamy, Pink Floyd-esque ballad that kicks off things for the next chapter, and features some breathy vocals from Grohl and his daughter Violet, who harmonize beautifully over the dreamscape instrumentation. The pre-chorus of “I’ll take care of everything from now on” I found to be particularly powerful, as I thought about the concept of mortality and picking up the pieces for those whose story ended much too soon.
”Beyond Me” might just be the most emotional song Grohl has ever written in his illustrious career, and that’s not hyperbole. It’s really hard to not hear this song and feel some sort of emotive response to the thunderous piano-laced ballad that is dripping with profound purpose. “Everything we love must grow old / Or, so I’m told / Or, so I’m told / You must release what you hold dear / Or, so I fear / Or, so I fear,” is the best advice that Grohl can give for others going through a similar tragedy.
The sprawling “The Teacher” may just be one of the best Foo Fighter songs of all time, as it locks into a new gear the possibilities that exist for this ultra-talented group of musicians. By the time you’ve come to the closing song of “Rest,” it seems as if Foo Fighters have at least come to terms with the loss of Hawkins, even if it seems too hard to believe. The lyrics of “Love and trust / Life is just a game of luck / All this time escaping us / Until our time is through,” is a fitting way of trying to make sense of what has happened, and yet the band leaves room for imagining what the path ahead could look like. As daunting as that task may have originally seemed, Foo Fighters have done the near-impossible: make a fitting tribute to Taylor Hawkins, while still living up to the legacy of this timeless band.