The Foo Fighters keeping the rock alive

Hip-hop and its brood like rap, dance and beat-heavy EDM have taken over the world. I find it so amazing that this type of music, once so focused on a definite market is now heard and liked a lot everywhere. So thanks to hip-hop for keeping the music business afloat during these difficult times.

Sad to say though, the major casualty in this development is rock music. It is not really dead but rock, once the dominant form of popular music for over 50 years has ceased to matter in the hit charts. The major acts are still around, their classic recordings classified under catalogue sales, but hot new albums have become a rarity.

Well, you might find one or two releases in the hit lists. Nowadays, these are by Imagine Dragons or Twenty One Pilots or from Metallica. And nothing more. This is why the arrival and success of Concrete And Gold by the Foo Fighters is a huge event. Rock is alive anew, thanks to this band led by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, who has given it a massive shot in the arm.

Born out of the death of Kurt Cobain, Foo Fighters has emerged as one of the most important bands today. Grohl is vocalist, plays guitars and drums, and is also the lead songwriter. Nate Mendel is on bass; Taylor Hawkins on drums and percussion; Pat Smear on lead and rhythm guitars; Chris Shiflett on lead guitar and backing vocals; and Rami Jaffee on keyboards and organ.

Concrete And Gold is Grohl’s lament over an America facing a bleak future. But he has clothed this sentiment with the bright regalia that great rock music offers. As always, the songs have easy-on-the-ears melodies but with powerful arrangements. There is metal, Neighborhood, strong arena standouts, Run and T-shirt, Beatles-influenced ballads, Sunday Rain.

And guess who played the drums for Sunday Rain? Paul McCartney himself. Concrete And Gold is not just another great Foo Fighters album. It is also star-studded. That voice layered over layers of back-up vocals in the title track belongs to Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men. Sax wiz Dave Koz plays in La Dee Da with vocals by Allison Mosshart of The Kills. Inara George sings in Dirty Water. And would you believe, that is Justin Timberlake in Make It.

The Foo Fighters is expected to take over the No. 1 slot in Billboard’s Top 200 albums list any day now. You can’t keep good rockers down. Note that producer is Greg Kurstin who did Adele’s Hello album.

In the Hot 100, it is a sure thing that Taylor Swift will be giving up her top berth to fast-rising rapper Cardi B. There is also the formidable Sam Smith who entered the list at No. 5 but is expected to climb higher. Swift may have dethroned Despacito but her Look What You Made Me Do spent only three weeks at No. 1.

Swift’s other single Ready For It, came in at No. 18 but is now down to 21. I guess this proves that people do not really enjoy listening to tirades and recriminations by others, even if done musically by somebody like Swift.

The Top 20 titles in the Top 200 albums chart are: Life Changes by Thomas Rhett; Sleep Well Beast by The Nationals; A Moment Apart by ODESZA; Luv Is Rage 2 by Lil Uzi Vert; All The Light Above It Too by Jack Johnson; 17 by XXXTentacion; Current Mood by Dustin Lynch; DAMN by Kendrick Lamar; American Teen by Khalid; Slowheart by Kip Moore.

Southern Blood by Gregg Allman; Everybody by Logic; EvoIve by Imagine Dragons; Project Baby Two by Kodak Black; Ctrl by SZA; Divide by Ed Sheeran; Stoney by Post Malone; Issa Album by 21 Savage; More Life by Drake; and Hitchhiker by Neil Young.

The Top 20 tunes in the Hot 100 this week are: Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift; Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) by Cardi B.; 1-800-273-8255 by Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid; Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber; Too Good At Goodbyes by Sam Smith; Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller; Unforgettable by French Montana feat. Swae Lee; Attention by Charlie Puth; Believer by Imagine Dragons; There’s Nothing Holding Me Back by Shawn Mendes.

Slow Hands by Niall Horan; Strip That Down by Liam Payne feat. Quavo; Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato; Feel It Still by Portugal: The Man; Bank Account by 21 Savage; Rake It Up by Yo Gotti feat. Nicki Minaj; Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran; That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars; Mi Gente by J. Balvin feat. Willy William; and XO TOUR Llif3 by Lil Uzi Vert.