Foo Fighters’ "But Here We Are" Tackles Grief and Tragedy in a Moving Tribute Album
Foo Fighters eleventh studio album, But Here We Are, was born out of tragedy following the death of their drummer Taylor Hawkins last March. Dedicated to the late, great Taylor Hawkins, and Virginia Grohl, frontman Dave Grohl’s mother, who passed shortly afterward, the album is a cathartic expression of grief, exploring many heavy themes throughout the record. Filled with disorientation and shifting rhythms, the tracklist reflects the process of trauma and grief the band has experienced, resulting in a beautiful tribute. One must be warned that at points this is not an easy listen, even if it is a great one.
Photo by: Danny Clinch
The record opens with “Rescued” which is reminiscent of the sound on their earlier records like The Colour and The Shape with the guitar-led melody and heavy drumming as it transitions from states of reflection to sorrow to acceptance.
“Under You” is vibrant and upbeat, despite having the most explicit references to the loss of Taylor Hawkins. Lyrics Someone said I’ll never see your face again / part of me just can’t believe it’s true / pictures of us sharing songs and cigarettes / this is how I’ll always picture you reflect the difficulty of comprehending the loss. “Hearing Voices” continues the theme of coping with loss, backed by heavy guitar melodies and wicked drums.
The title track, “But Here We Are”, is a heavy rocker with a sound that Foo Fans are quite familiar with; delving into their promise to continue sharing music as a means of healing. Followed by “The Glass”, Grohl is at his best vocally, starting accompanied by a soft acoustic guitar before exploding into the full band. One of the most emotional songs on the album, lyrics such as I had a person I loved / and just like that / I was left to live without him offer a staggering description of the emptiness of loss.
The distortion on “Nothing At All” makes it stand out from the rest of the album, a heavy screamer that bluntly states never mind love and hate / peace of mind, it’s a bit too late. In contrast, “Show Me How” slows down the record; acting as a family affair, Dave harmonizes with his daughter Violet Grohl in a light and airy melodic track that reflects on the burden of having to carry on after tremendous loss. “Beyond Me” maintains the previous slower pace as it deals with the fleeting nature of life; the idea that we can attempt to build our lives as we want but ultimately fate is out of our control.
“The Teacher” takes its namesake from Virginia Grohl, Dave Grohl’s mother and biggest supporter, who initially encouraged him to drop out of high school to pursue music, despite being a teacher herself. Clocking in at an astounding 10 minutes long, the power ballad sounds like two different songs, and two different emotions, fighting for control before delving into an almost psychedelic breakdown followed by screaming Goodbye’s and distortion that makes your speakers rattle.
“Rest” acts as a final goodbye and an attempt to make peace with loss, turning grief into an appreciation for the memories of the ones we love the most.
In its entirety, the record is a tale of perseverance amidst great loss, knowing one must continue even when the world is seemingly coming apart around you. While this is an album the Foo Fighters never expected to have to make, they preserve their rocker status while providing some of their most gut-wrenching and emotional songs to date.