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October 28, 2009

New Foo Fighters - "Word Forward"

thumbnail icon: New Foo Fighters - "Word Forward"

There's no doubt that, of the bands who hadn't yet had a greatest hits release, Foo Fighters' was among the more overdue. They've constantly cranked out awesome modern rock songs and topped the radio charts! Even back when people knew what a radio was! There are myriad reasons for this sort of package: to celebrate the hits, to reframe an artist's catalog for critical reevaluation, to make all the money. As for adding new bonus tracks? At their best, they're incentive to completists to shell out the cash again. In the case of "Wheels," maybe to prove just how "all-American" a band is by rewriting a Tom Petty song. What they're not meant to be, however, is junk filler with self-conscious swears that essentially parody the idea of a "rock song." Whoops, too bad "Word Forward" exists. Although there is something beautifully ironic in a song about the power of words being so limply lyricized. Word for word for word for word for word. Just fucking words, everybody. Warning: this stream cuts off prematurely. Or maybe it doesn't cut off soon enough.

Word for word for word for word for word. Foo Fighters' Greatest Hits is out 11/2. Also don't miss the video for "Wheels," which has the Foos in a practice space so expensive looking that you really shouldn't feel compelled to spend any more money on them.

Posted at 12:51 PM by amrit
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18 Comments

do you guys ever get tired of being snarky?

Posted by: longing for quality writing at 10/28/09 1:11 PM  | Reply
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i don't like the tone of a lot of stereogum posts either. but i go here for the updates, not for the tone of the writing. but i guess they're just pandering to the market, because it seems like most popular indie music blogs (w/ a few exceptions) assume the tone of an inane 17 year old.

Posted by: norovirus profile link  in reply to longing for quality writing's comment at 10/28/09 7:12 PM  | Reply
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it's just tough to like a band when they can actually feed themselves is all

Posted by: grover profile link  in reply to norovirus's comment at 10/28/09 10:37 PM  | Reply
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I think that's part of the appeal?

Posted by: Bakes at 10/28/09 1:25 PM  | Reply
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My girlfriend is coming over tonight. I think tonight's the night I officially become a man. What does everyone think of playing "Everlong" in the background while its happening?

Posted by: Gabel at 10/28/09 1:38 PM  | Reply
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I think you should go with "This Was A Call", nothing more romantic that Dave singing Ritalin is pretty Ritalin is good

Posted by: Ian at 10/28/09 2:07 PM  | Reply
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Or Big Me. Either would work.

Posted by: Spicy Weiners at 10/28/09 2:10 PM  | Reply
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Virgin Moon

Posted by: that's mr. poopypants at 10/28/09 3:24 PM  | Reply
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If she puts on "The Pretender" after we're finished, should I take it as a hint?

Posted by: Gabel at 10/28/09 4:23 PM  | Reply
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Why take the time to write this post if you have no real interest in this song or the band. Your sarcasm was noted and failed miserably.

Posted by: HightowerAndJones profile link at 10/28/09 10:14 PM  | Reply
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Well everyone, its nearly 2:30am, she just left my place and I can officially say I am a man. Thanks Dave Grohl!

Posted by: Gabel at 10/29/09 2:23 AM  | Reply
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That is awesome. Did you go with Everlong?

Posted by: HightowerAndJones profile link  in reply to Gabel's comment at 10/29/09 2:53 AM  | Reply
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Yeah, but also threw in some Sigur Ros to get the mood right.

Posted by: Gabel  in reply to HightowerAndJones's comment at 10/29/09 9:57 AM  | Reply
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That's awesome. Radiohead's Kid A works as well.

Posted by: HightowerAndJones profile link  in reply to Gabel's comment at 10/29/09 3:05 PM  | Reply
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Lets not mention Foo Fighters in the same breath as greats like Sigur Ros and Radiohead.

Posted by: no no  in reply to HightowerAndJones's comment at 11/01/09 2:32 PM  | Reply
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Even though it's just a greatest hits, my instant reaction to seeing it was "something new from the Foo Fighters means it automatically sucks"

Posted by: Shea at 10/29/09 4:10 PM  | Reply
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this greatest hits collection blows balls...where's "Exhausted", "For All the Cows", "Oh George" "Hey, Johnny Park!" "Walking After You" "Up in Arms" "I'll Stick Around"- what a generic-ass comp. - cause rhyming pretender with surrender is just fucking genius, right?

Posted by: Fuckhead at 10/31/09 1:23 PM  | Reply
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The Foos have made some great music in the past, but I think we can all agree that this song is instantly forgettable (though slightly less awful than Wheels). Still, Stereogum, maybe if you didn't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't have said anything at all.

Posted by: Heather profile link at 11/03/09 4:08 AM  | Reply
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