Foo Fighters

Concrete and Gold (Sony)

Over their 23-year lifespan, Foo Fighters have turned into a juggernaut, rising from Nirvana’s ashes into arguably America’s biggest rock and roll band. Quite some feat. Yet there have been times when they’ve almost become a byword for corporate rock and roll; totally unfair, of course, but at times they’ve played it a little safe, a little too comfortable. Concrete and Gold doesn’t diverge greatly from the general Foo Fighters modus operandi of loud guitars, pop hooks and Dave Grohl’s excitable screams. But there’s something extra going on here. In a recent interview, Grohl said he was aiming for ‘‘Motorhead’s version of Sgt. Pepper’s… or something like that,’’ and while it’s not quite that out there he’s still put together something flowing, imaginative and powerful. The album’s changing shape is on display from the get-go. Gently fingerpicked opener T-Shirt — with Grohl’s refrain ‘‘I don’t wanna be king, I just wanna sing love songs’’ — explodes into classic Foos rocker Run. Make it Right chugs along with a delightfully sleazy groove, carrying over to La Dee Da and its fuzzy bass opening. Happily Ever After has shades of the Beatles (perhaps due to Paul McCartney’s guest appearance on the album), and the title track is reminiscent of Pink Floyd in their pomp. Highlight Dirty Water starts off as a melodic break in proceedings, but soon builds into a powerfully irresistible groove. Concrete and Gold is the raucous sound of a band cutting loose. And what a sound it is. – Jack Barlow