Foo Fighters
Skin And Bones
SonyBMG

I was lucky enough to, in October this year, head over to Sydney to see the Foo Fighters live and acoustic at the Sydney Opera House, an experience that can only be described as surreal and unforgettable. Jealous? Yeah, well, I'm a bigger Foo Fighters fan than you are. "But, Matt," I hear you say, "you don't even know me." Yeah, well, trust me. I am.

'Skin And Bones' captures the unplugged Foo Fighters in California earlier this year and does so amazingly well. Recorded by Nick Raskulinecz, who did a pretty poor job of producing the last couple of Foo Fighters albums, the disc sounds full, rich and crystal clear, picking up every subtle nuance of performance that made those Sydney shows so memorable. Dave Grohl proves that he can really sing, the band prove that they can really play and the songs are supported by four extra Foo Fighters; a keyboardist, a violinist, a percussionist and ex-'Foo Pat Smear on guitar. The tracks from the acoustic 'In Your Honor' disc achieve an extra complexity and atmosphere with the additions, while the 'Foos also trawl their back catalogue for mellower gems; Walking After You soars, while Nirvana B-side Marigold rocks along, unabated by its acoustic nature. The best parts, however, are the re-workings of the rock hits; Times Like These could be a completely different (and equally exhilarating) song, while on Everlong, Grohl begins solo, drawing every ounce of poignancy from the anthem, before being joined by the full band for the final chorus, which crashes out of the speakers with strings and rumbling percussion. My personal highlight, however, is a hilarious re-jigging of Best Of You; despite being on stage by himself with an acoustic guitar, Grohl still rocks out like his life depends on it.

The Foo Fighters will always be, to me, a rock band first and foremost and an unplugged setting can never really capture their magic. It can, however, prove that they are a band with more than one trick up their sleeve. I just wish that woman would stop yelling out "I love you, Dave!" in the middle of Everlong. Show some respect, dammit.

Matt Ves1ey