Song of the Week: Foo Fighters Cry Out to Be “Rescued”

Paolo Ragusa and Consequence Staff

April 21, 2023 at 3:21 PM·7 min read

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The post Song of the Week: Foo Fighters Cry Out to Be “Rescued” appeared first on Consequence.

Song of the Week delves into the fresh songs we just can’t get out of our heads. Find these tracks and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist, and for our favorite new songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Foo Fighters make their grand return after a period of mourning with “Rescued.”

It almost seemed too soon. Around the one year anniversary mark of Taylor Hawkins’ untimely death, Foo Fighters announced brand new headlining dates and began teasing new material. Now, they’ve revealed the title of their forthcoming album, But Here We Are, out on June 2nd, and shared the LP’s lead single, “Rescued.” It’s clear that the band arrives again with a much heavier weight on them than usual, sharing in a statement that these songs represent “the first chapter of the band’s new life,” after a process that “was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life.”

“Rescued,” then, is appropriately anthemic — but if fans were expecting a “life-affirming” Foo Fighters return that trades the band’s grief-addled anguish for blind positivity, then they’d be wrong. Instead, “Rescued” feels like Foo Fighters at their most weathered. It’s miles away from the hybrid dance-rock of their most recent album, Medicine at Midnight; though some fans have posited that “Rescued” is a hearkening back to Foo Fighters’ first two albums, it’s more closely aligned with the sour chords and explosive numbers off the band’s 2005 album, In Your Honor.

From its opening verse, the band sounds bewildered, fraught, angry, and confused. Grohl is instantly at his grated hard rock best, escalating as he cries “It happened so fast/ and then it was over” atop a furious groove. The pre-chorus follows suit, until the refrain levels the song and Grohl is back to his warm lower register. He sings of wanting to be saved and brought back to life, like the past year’s grief has dimmed his light and rendered him hopeless.

But “Rescued” as a whole is far from hopeless. If anything, Foo Fighters have never sounded more vital. As they launch into the song’s blistering post-chorus, there is an intoxicating power in the band’s open-hearted delivery — the same one that has characterized the band’s biggest hits, like “Best of You,” “The Pretender,” and “Everlong.” When processing such a devastating loss, it’d be easy for a band with a 25+ year history to ask themselves, “What do we do now?,” and come up with something solemn and introverted. But as Foo Fighters wisely foretold on the title of their third album, there is nothing left to lose. So, the band wants to rail against the absorbing pain of grief, huddle close together, and play like it could be their final outing.

This tormented and unity-driven spirit is what guides “Rescued.” It’s also fascinating to once again hear Dave Grohl ruminate on death. He’s dealt with this feeling before — but he’s no longer a 25 year old drummer coming off the biggest spotlight he’d ever seen. Now, he’s the frontman of the very coping mechanism that brought him out of those depths nearly 30 years ago. That pillar of stability and structure feels less certain; the band must find a new way to survive together after all this time.

They’re waiting to be rescued not by some unknown or unseen force. They’re asking their fans. They’re asking each other. And against all odds, they sound truly, unequivocally alive.

— Paolo Ragusa
Associate Editor

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Honorable Mentions

Sam Austins – “Oatmeal Pancakes”

Sam Austins shows as many sides to his artistry as he can on his new single “Oatmeal Pancakes.” The young indie R&B artist thrives in a hybrid format; the song’s thumping first half shows off his vulnerable falsetto before giving way to a dreamy, guitar-addled outro. He wrote the song about a memorable night of intimacy, and the second half switch feels like the hazy emotions that linger and persist. “Can I hold you?” goes his final request as he drifts off into bliss, turning the confident swagger of the song’s initial groove on its head. With more music to come, Sam Austins is ready to break even more rules, and he’s certainly one to watch in 2023. — P.R.

Lost Stars – “Devil on My Shoulder”

Nashville-based duo Lost Stars have dropped the perfect lead-in to summer with “Devil on My Shoulder,” a bright, bouncy pop track that feels in line with the current era of music from the Jonas Brothers. The idea of “covert lovers” is a perpetually rich topic to mine when it comes to music, but Lost Stars’ optimistic take — complete with flashy guitar riffs and a bop-worthy backing beat — feels fresh. The band is a perfect example of the kind of exciting stuff coming out of Music City that people might not expect, and a great reminder that Nashville is as bright of a breeding ground for pop music as it is its other famed genres. — Mary Siroky

Militarie Gun – “Very High”

The second single from their upcoming debut album, Life Under the Gun, Militarie Gun’s “Very High” is short, sweet, and instantly memorable. Like “Do It Faster” before it, the song clocks in at just under two minutes, leaving little room for dilly-dallying. The result is a lean power punk bop with enough forward momentum to solve the energy crisis. Come for the sticky melodies and energetic performances, and stay for yet another exciting tune from these post-hardcore up-and-comers. — Jonah Krueger

Dream Wife – “Orbit”

For anyone who is new to the wacky, wonderful world of Dream Wife, “Orbit” is a great place to start. “In our past lives, we definitely knew each other,” growls vocalist Rakel Mjöll. The release of the energetic single is accompanied by a new slew of US tour dates — anyone lucky enough to have caught the group at SXSW this year know how electrifying of a show this trio puts on. With a great balance of addictive hooks and cathartic angst, Dream Wife deserve to be on your radar if they haven’t been already. — M. Siroky

Sara James – “Hula Hoop”

Fresh, rhythmic, and entirely danceable, “Hula Hoop” is the perfect introduction for anyone new to Sara James. The rising artist represented Poland at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 and has spent the time since then establishing her own sound, leading with her enchanting vocals as a starting point. Following the release of similarly bouncy single “Bloodline” earlier in 2023, which also matches her fluid voice with a heart-pounding beat, James is shaping up to be an artist worth keeping an eye on. — M. Siroky

Bully – “Hard to Love”

Bully’s “Hard to Love” is, unsurprisingly, pretty damn easy to love. Taken from the upcoming Lucky for You, the track cranks up the distortion, finds Alicia Bognanno at her most tuneful, and features a genuinely explosive chorus. The ever-present, driving bass line alone gives “Hard to Love” an unmatched level of swagger, making it the perfect song to strut to – just in time for the warmer weather too! — J.K.

Alaska Reid – “She Wonders”

Alaska Reid is back with the second single off her upcoming album Disenchanter, a track that feels simultaneously vulnerable, low-key, and gritty. An upbeat energy drives the song as Reid’s vocals hover over it, contemplating her memories of past tours — the people, the dive bars, the motel rooms, and all. As we get to the chorus, the soft harmonies and tones grow punchy and fuzzy, her delivery a gentle power that is reminiscent of Emily Haines at her most melodic, and Kim Gordon at her most nonchalant. Reid combines all these sounds into a visceral package that feels wholly unique. — André Heizer

Sue Clayton – “Palm Springs Cemetery”

Back when Consequence spoke to producer Butch Walker for our Behind the Boards series, he was itching to talk about his collaborative work on Morgan Kibby’s new character-driven project, Sue Clayton. Now, with her second batch of singles, “Palm Springs Cemetery” and “Buttermilk Sky,” we can see why — the former M83 keyboardist is building out an even more dramatic experience for her upcoming debut, Rookie. “Palm Springs Cemetery” brings the stakes to a 10, and the escalating strings in the chorus add to the song’s power-ballad intensity. With just a few songs out, it’s already becoming clear that Sue Clayton is a game-changing project for Kibby, and she’s never sounded so radiant. — P.R.