You could probably trick the typical, everyday music fan into believing the Foo Fighters latest album Concrete and Gold was culled from a dusty basement filled with records from the 1970s.

Out today (Sept. 15), Concrete and Gold marks Foo Fighters’ ninth studio album and its in June came as a surprise since the band was thought to be on extended hiatus but instead busy working in the studio.

And yes, lots of bellowing 70s guitar fills comprise the record, a reasonable continuation from their 2014 release Sonic Highways which illustrated a snippet or two form that era. Concrete and Gold isn’t necessarily innovative but certainly shows singer and guitarist Dave Grohl and his band trying new things and succeeding. It’s mostly satisfying, sometimes completely delectable, and continues to cement the Foo Fighters as one of the premier rock bands today. Listen closely and you’ll hear some Styx, Eagles, Steve Miller Band and Pink Floyd scattered on some songs but all intertwined inside sapid Foo Fighters melodies.

Foo Fighters Concrete and Gold Album Review

Concrete and Gold opens with “T-Shirt” the shortest cut which you might want to turn the volume up, albeit briefly, as the band jumps in heavy about 30 seconds in. “Run,” the first glimpse of the new album released a few months ago, follows which by now everyone already knows is an exceptional song. The video is just as cool but it definitely takes a departure from the band’s earlier works with the vicious screamo used on certain sections of the lyrics.

“Run” like a number of songs on Concrete take you on an entirely different musical path than where you start. “The Sky Is A Neighborhood” is heavy and loud and deliberate and totally draws you in. “La Dee Da” first comes across like silly fun, (seriously it’s called “La Dee Da” what else would you expect) but is totally catchy and takes a run for the album’s best song. Oh, do yourself a favor –  check it out using headphones. Expect it on the setlist for the upcoming tour. Also, give “Dirty Water” a chance if you crinkle an eyebrow for the first few minutes. It gets rocking and is pretty awesome.

“Arrows” continues that more delicate opening before turning into classic hard rocking Foo while “Make it Right” the third track, kicks from the start. By the time you get to “Happily Ever After (Zero Hour)” you’re expecting the band-plunge halfway in but indeed this song retains its softer edge through to the end. “Sunday Rain” the longest song coming in more than six minutes long, is more like a Sunday stroll at times but prances between a casual tone and some driving guitar chords.

Not all rocks along as  “The Line” the album’s penultimate and the third and final pre-release rolls up just OK. It’s got some solid guitar and rhythmic melodies  but sounds like something the band already did a decade or so ago. That drawn-out /Like You/ secondary chorus feels a bit indolent for the band and really is a bit irritating. Finally the album closes with the title track and a brief sojourn in psychedelic rock. Oh, and if you have children in the car you might want to shut it off once the guitars fade. Haha.

Grade: B

Foo Fighters  Concrete and Gold Songs:

1. T-Shirt
2. Run
3. Make It Right
4. The Sky Is A Neighborhood
5. La Dee Da
6. Dirty Water
7. Arrows
8. Happy Ever After (Zero Hour)
9. Sunday Rain
10. The Line
11. Concrete and Gold