Not every artist has to endorse every creation. Many people agree with your evaluation of their work if something doesn’t hold up over time, despite putting on a happy face during the press junket and doing their best to sell whatever they became associated with. Sometimes things just don’t work out the way they should. Dave Grohl wasn’t exactly excited about Foo Fighters releasing a greatest hits album when the time came.
When you come right down to it, greatest hits compilations are usually a sensitive topic for musicians. They have amassed a solid catalogue of hits that have carried them this far. However, putting out a compilation of all the hits typically feels like the beginning of the end for their brand.
The label sees dollar signs where the artists may see nothing more than a petty cash grab. Having a one-stop shop for all the hits is, after all, a great way to appeal to the masses. It’s not like it hasn’t succeeded either, as evidenced by the fact that Elton John and the Eagles’ greatest hits compilations rank among their best-selling albums.
Assigning Dave Grohl to compile the Foo Fighters’ greatest hits album seemed a little premature. It felt a little premature to release a retrospective that suggests the band’s best years have already passed, considering they had only been together for 15 years.
Remembering that “it still seems premature because we’re still a functioning, active band,” Dave Grohl wasn’t exactly overjoyed at first. Those items may resemble an obituary. People have been requesting this from us for a very long time. It’s how it works. We put it in a deal a long time ago.It resembles a condensed version of the fifteen years of work that we have been doing. There are, in my opinion, better songs than some of those.
You would notice some notable exclusions if you were to pick up the actual disc. Even though the compilation covers the biggest hits like “Everlong” and “Monkey Wrench,” omitting a song like “Next Year” tends to throw off the record’s flow. Furthermore, even though it’s commendable to include the acoustic version of “Skin and Bones” on the track listing, it does come across as a little snarky considering that practically the whole acoustic portion of “In Your Honour” is left out.
Furthermore, the songs originally recorded for the album aren’t the best the band has ever produced—to put it mildly. The song “Wheels” gained popularity for a valid reason. However, its hook doesn’t hold as much weight as other iconic tracks from the group’s greatest hits.
Though it appeared that Foo Fighters had reached their peak, they made a significant correction on Wasting Light. It returned to their era of performing live in a dilapidated garage. Greatest Hits may be a useful starting point for understanding Foo Fighters. However, if you stop there, you’re still not listening to their best songs.
