Wasting Light marks the official return of Pat Smear, who rejoined Foo Fighters' touring lineup in 2006 but hasn't played on the band's studio albums since 1997. It also features a cameo by Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl's former Nirvana bandmate. Rather than focus on the personnel, though, Wasted Light shines a light on the band's melodic hard rock, which is captured in analog sound by Butch Vig.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.93) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Eleven tracks of fuzz-box brawn, mosh-pit-hurrah choruses and iron-horse momentum, WASTING LIGHT is the best Foos album since the first two..."
Rolling Stone (p.70) - Ranked #20 in Rolling Stone's '50 Best Albums Of 2011' -- "The result is their most inspired LP in a decade..."
Spin (p.78) - "Three-guitar riff bombs, like 'Bridge Is Burning' and 'White Limo,' brandish real heavy-metal muscle, while the insanely catchy 'Back and Forth' summons some of NEVERMIND's poisoned-pop frenzy."
Entertainment Weekly (p.57) - "LIGHT is a muscular rock & roll throwdown, featuring the Foos delivering exactly the kind of catchy, pummeling anthems they're known for..." -- Grade: A-
Billboard (p.32) - "[T]he 11-song set is an explosive, high-octane burst of rock energy from a 16-year-old band that is tightly honed and righteously raw."
Record Collector (magazine) (p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[The album] sees the Foos return to their raw, real roots, with songs that largely hark back to grunge's early days and the scene they grew out of."
