Premier Rock Forum

Aquired this on DVD recently having only just discovered it.

Yes, it's largely a vehicle to promote the album of the same name, but the doc seems well made and has some interesting characters being interviewed.

Have only watched the first episode (Chicago) so far but thoroughly enjoyed it. It includes some stuff on Mr Albini and the EA studio.

There's a few episodes available online but I couldn't find the full series, hence the DVD. (+ 3hrs of extras).

It's great seeing familiar faces and friends in the Chicago episode, of course. I don't have personal connections to the other cities but it was cool seeing bits of Inner Ear or Rancho de la Luna and whatnot.

Watching FM Dave Grohl plagiarize lyric ideas in real time and then hearing a horrible song at the end of each episode, not so great.

I haven't watched it since it came out, and may have skipped a few towns.

I lived a few blocks from EA during this period. One night, my gf and I were driving past the studio and saw several huge trucks parked outside. My guess was Jack White was doing something there, and my gf guessed Foo Fighters, then texted Sowley to confirm and DAMN IT she was right!

While not a faithful superfan, I am something of a Grohl apologist, at least by the standards of the PRF.

The dude can write a riff. He's never been known as a great lyricist, and he must have had too many yes men around when he proposed writing city-themed lyrics for each song live, on camera, with a hard deadline. Many strong lyricists wouldn't be up to the task, and he's woefully under-equipped. There are some real embarrassing moments there.

In terms of being a good hang, and some earnest tributes to great rock scenes, I give it a NC.

Not a fan of Grohl in superstar/elder statesman/renaissance-douche mode. At this point I think the Pearl Jam guys are coming off much better. Here is "Man of Letters" Grohl, what a turkey.

losthighway wrote: Thu Nov 11, 2021 1:48 pm The dude can write a riff.

Eeeeehhhhh, like Prong, I beg to differ. One of the songs in this is a straight up rip of the riff to Dio's "Holy DIver", which wasn't exactly ground-breaking in the first place.

Not a fan of the Foos but I enjoyed this regardless, so it gets a NC.

I really have no interest in the Foo Fighters, but damn I love the studio porn.
I was also super curious to understand how Pat Smear fits into this group - that was an interesting dynamic to observe.

penningtron wrote: Watching FM Dave Grohl plagiarize lyric ideas in real time and then hearing a horrible song at the end of each episode, not so great.

Agreed - this made me kind of embarrassed for the band. These lyric videos just need a bouncing ball.

NC vote, with waffles for constant use of the mute button.

I don't know anything at all about recording, but I was slightly annoyed they interview legends of the industry and then fly in Butch Vig. Is it fair for me to be annoyed about this is or is there a technical recording reason why he should be there? Why can't I hear a Foo Fighters song with Don Zientara at the knobs? They interview people and frame them as being responsible for legendary sounds, and then out of the blue.. HELLO I AM BUTCH VIG.

Please call me on my shit if I am wrong here.

CRAP

eddymerckx wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:33 pm I don't know anything at all about recording, but I was slightly annoyed they interview legends of the industry and then fly in Butch Vig. Is it fair for me to be annoyed about this is or is there a technical recording reason why he should be there?

It's an irritating call for sure. Having each of the 8 songs exhibit some local character of the chosen studios would have been the most interesting aspect of the record. Instead Vig was brought in to homogenize things and then mix it all in one long LA session. There may be some faint ambient tails of the rooms left in the drums but otherwise the final recording is generic as hell.

penningtron wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:50 pm generic as hell.

I mean, that's the Food Fighters in a nutshell, yes?