• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Foo Fighters' Sonic Highways

48thStreetCustom

48thStreetCustom

Inactive
Nov 30, 2005
3,236
15,651
57
Colorado
#1
This was discussed in another Foo Fighters thread, but it's probably worth it's own place to discuss each episode.

I really liked Episode 3 in Nashville, but I had a nagging thought in my head that Dave Grohl missed a golden opportunity. He could have recorded at the old RCA studio which is about to be turned in to condos. He could have documented history and been the last artist to record there.

But don't get me wrong... the episode was great.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: twocargar
#2
I don't know, it's hard to beat the concept of the Opry being the "mother church" of country music and recording in a very storied and famous Nashville studio built in a former church. That it was saved from the wrecking ball by a Nashville outsider with a huge respect for the roots of country music just added to the cachet of the concept of outsiders coming to the home of the "mother church" of country to record a pop/rock/punk inspired tune.

The true irony, at least for me is the huge number of punks who were raised on/inspired by country, or have made the shift from punk to a rootsy country style.

A lot of people think Neil Young is the original inspiration for punk, but what is more punk than setting the "mother church" of country music on it's ear with your music, then getting kicked out because you thumbed your nose at the conventions and unwritten rules by standing in the alley behind the "church" for a drink of liquor before taking the stage?

If punk is an attitude, then Hank Sr. would get my vote as the original punk.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TinIndian and 47th Street
#5
I thought the Nashville episode was really good. Hard to argue with Willie, Dolly, Emmylou, Steve Earle and Tony Joe White as choices, although Dan Auerbach didn't add much. Zac Brown was alright. I'm trying to think of another country music "outsider", so to speak, who lives in Nashville that they could have teamed up with for the recording, but I'm drawing a blank. (Rockers like Auerbach or Jack White would have been cheating, IMO, but it's a fine line.) I liked the criticism of modern country-pop.
 
#6
GregC said:
I thought the Nashville episode was really good. Hard to argue with Willie, Dolly, Emmylou, Steve Earle and Tony Joe White as choices, although Dan Auerbach didn't add much. Zac Brown was alright. I'm trying to think of another country music "outsider", so to speak, who lives in Nashville that they could have teamed up with for the recording, but I'm drawing a blank. (Rockers like Auerbach or Jack White would have been cheating, IMO, but it's a fine line.) I liked the criticism of modern country-pop.
Click to expand...
Billy Joe Shaver or Guy Clark would've been cool
 
#7
48thStreetCustom said:
I hear ya, but RCA Studio A is about to get the wrecking ball. Dolly recorded Jolene there. Elvis recorded there.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...


It has been saved (or at least given a temporary reprieve)
http://tasteofcountry.com/rca-studio-saved-demolition/
http://tasteofcountry.com/rca-studio-saved-demolition/
A trust has a contract to purchase the property to stop the wrecking ball. However, they are trying to find a buyer for the property who is "preservation minded".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tbone76, 48thStreetCustom and 10cc
#8
#9
While I like the show, and I think it's a great way to introduce people to time music of these areas, I wish the music was more influenced by the areas they record in. While they say that it is the introduction, it all sounds like standard foo fighters pop. I'm not dissing their music (well kinda) but It's a little disappointing.
 
#10
I'd like Dave no matter what his music sounds like. He's the kind of guy who had both the talent AND good luck to make his dreams come true while also making fat stacks of cash, and still remains appreciative and humbled by that fact.

I saw him on TV one night when Lars was making such a fuss about NAPSTER bilking musicians, and Dave's take was he could see it if it was happening to people who really needed the money, but he had a hard time understanding why a millionaire would be carping over a few nickles and dimes.
 
#12
The last 2 episodes were my favorite, thus far. The New Orleans episode was great, and the last episode in Seattle was another home run. The Seattle episode in particular, I really related to. That was the music that hit home for me in my high school years, and it was cool how they explained why the Seattle music scene evolved the way it did.
 
#13
Don't have HBO...Loved Dave Grohl and Jeff Lynn et al doing "Hey, Bulldog" on that '50th anniversary of The Beatles doing the Ed Sullivan Show' from earlier this year...what a great pick!
Just tonight I saw him on The Daily Show. My humble opinion of him is reinforced.
 
#14
Pardon the thread necrophilia, but I got the Sonic Highways series on blue ray yesterday. Watched the first 4 episodes, and I am loving it. It's a really well produced show, really digging the music, not just the Foo Fighters songs but everything else featured in the show. The special features have some extra interview footage and footage from the recording of each song. Awesome stuff!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tbone76, GregC and 48thStreetCustom
#15
crucislancer said:
Pardon the thread necrophilia, but I got the Sonic Highways series on blue ray yesterday. Watched the first 4 episodes, and I am loving it. It's a really well produced show, really digging the music, not just the Foo Fighters songs but everything else featured in the show. The special features have some extra interview footage and footage from the recording of each song. Awesome stuff!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not really a Foos fan, just not my kind of music. But I think Dave must have signed a pact with the devil. Everything he touches turns to gold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crucislancer
#16
48thStreetCustom said:
Yeah, I'm not really a Foos fan, just not my kind of music. But I think Dave must have signed a pact with the devil. Everything he touches turns to gold.
Click to expand...

I wasn't much of a Foo Fighters fan either but i am digging the new album. I agree, Grohl has something awesome going, and for me it's hard not to be infected by his enthusiasm for music.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 48thStreetCustom
#17
Please don't take this as a hate post, only sharing my opinion. Everything changes. The world continues to spin. Personally, (long time FF fan, but...) I like Sonic Highways the least of all Grohl's work. I, personally, doubt the recording venue would have improved anything sonically (no pun). IMO; his song writing is way tired out. He seems to get a long way with only charisma and looks. Not sure in anyone under age 35 listens to FF fwiw. :bassist:
 
Last edited:
#18
Dash Lashes said:
Please don't take this as a hate post, only sharing my opinion. Everything changes. The world continues to spin. Personally, (long time FF fan, but...) I like Sonic Highways the least of all Grohl's work. I, personally, doubt the recording venue would have improved anything sonically (no pun). IMO; his song writing is way tired out. He seems to get a long way with only charisma and looks. Not sure in anyone under age 35 listens to FF fwiw. :bassist:
Click to expand...

Not a hate post at all, just your opinion with some honest critiques.

I wasn't much of a Foo Fighters fan before I heard about this project, liked the songs I heard on the radio but not enough to buy one of their older albums. I'll be changing that soon, I'll start picking up their older albums soon. I enjoyed the Sonic Highways album quite a bit, so they've gained a new fan. I'll be looking to get their back catalog soon :)

I don't think the recording venues were meant to improve anything sonically, and even Grohl has said that it wasn't meant for the songs to sound different because of the place, or the album wouldn't have been a Foo Fighters record. I think the idea to record in those places just added to the documentary as some of those places have decades of history behind them.

As far as not being sure that anyone under 35 listens to them now, does that matter? Us folks over 35 have to listen to something, right? ;)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back