New Foo more than an 'Honor'able mention

Since their self-titled debut, released a decade ago, the Foo Fighters have always combined elements of grunge and alternative rock to create a unique blend of unmistakable "Foo" sound. But the band turned over a new leaf with its latest release, In Your Honor. \nThe double-disc set gives listeners something they have come to expect and something more unpredictable. The first disc contains all the usual hard-rocking tracks, and it may be the heaviest disc the band has put forward to date. On the second disc, however, they unplug the amps and deliver an astounding acoustic line-up. A little known fact about the Foo Fighters, however, is that they initially write most of their songs acoustically. \nThe band really grabbed the reins and took control over the direction for In Your Honor. In a little less than a year, they built a new 8,000 square-foot studio, wrote the material and hit the rehearsing room every day. The result was a meaningful production that could be the band's watershed mark of its career. \nThe first disc hits hard right from the get-go when front man David Grohl turns up the reverb on his amp and cranks out what sounds like a rock symphony on the title track. There are plenty of other rumbling guitar riffs and heart-pounding drum beats in songs like "No Way Back" and "Free Me." The gem of the first disc, however, is "Resolve." It gives listeners a chance to catch a breather from the onslaught of the first seven fast-paced songs. \nContrary to what any traditional die-hard Foo Fighter fan may think, the second disc is a highly listenable piece of work, probably more than the first disc. With the help of some very unsuspecting guests, the acoustic disc proves to be very memorable and demonstrates how the band has evolved. Former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones made Grohl's dreams come true when he played piano on "Miracle" and mandolin on "Another Round." Norah Jones jazzes things up in her appearance on "Virginia Moon" -- a song that an average fan may not even recognize to be the Foo Fighters. \nThe lyrics suggest that the band has weathered the vices of the storm of success, and in the wake the members have now pinpointed and stressed the finer qualities of their career. With lines like "Always was the lucky one" in "Still" and "Mine is yours and yours is mine" in the title track, the Foo Fighters have gained a sense of appreciation for the fans and anyone else who has nurtured their career.\nWith the few exceptions of "DOA" and "The Last Song" on the first disc and "Friend of a Friend" on the second disc, In Your Honor is a very satisfying album. Like any great band, the Foo Fighters have gone out on a limb by making music they usually don't make, and now they should have the confidence to embark in other directions as well.