Musical Thesis: Foo Fighters “Concrete and Gold”

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At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.

With “Concrete and Gold,” Foo Fighters produce another pure rock album with a decent amount of experimentation in an effort to display some progression, and as a welcome mat for new fans. Beyond its sound and production, it feels angry, introspective, and slightly focused on death. Taken together, this is a giant thesis to explore void of easy answers about legacy, perspective, and art. Foo Fighters do not answer all the questions they pose in this album, which is more than fine. Since the beginning of time, man has been wrestling with God, the universe, and what happens when this all fades to black. For the attempt, they should not be faulted. Sometimes, merely asking the question is enough.

Be good to each other,

Nathan