The Foos long ago abandoned humor for a more grown up, morose view of life. Echoes is overflowing with that grown up attitude. A maturing group of Fighters is certainly not bad. If anything, it has added focus and consistency to their music. On record, they just are not that much fun anymore.

Producer Gil Norton rejoins the Foo Fighters for the first time since The Colour and the Shape. Norton's presence did not appear to alter what the band is doing, but probably just helped Grohl bounce his ideas off someone with a fresh set of ears. As with In Your Honor, the mellower, acoustic tracks stand out from the rest. Thankfully, the band has added some dramatics to separate their paint-by-numbers rock songs.

Leadoff single, "The Pretender," is a welcome departure from typical Foo Fighter rock tracks, with a few left curves here and there. The Foo Fighter sound has modified over the years into a darker, dirgy type of music. Where early hits were bright, metallic guitar anthems, the proceedings are no longer as neatly defined anymore.

The Foo Fighters are in need of some drastic changes to become a fresh sounding band again. In the meantime, they can tour the world and make everyone's eardrums bleed with the best brand of mainstream rock rolling right now.

Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
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