Sonic Highways
by Foo Fighters
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Nov 10, 2014
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 148 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 148
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 148
  3. Negative: 14 out of 148
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. KingofKaraoke
    Nov 10, 2014
    6
    The Foo Fighters set the bar so high with Wasting Light, it was inevitable there would be a bit of a letdown I their follow up to that record. That being said, Sonic Highways is a solid effort. The first two songs are the strongest though, which makes the rest of the record a rocky listen with some very un-Foo Fighters-like moments. If this record was supposed to be a bridge to expandingThe Foo Fighters set the bar so high with Wasting Light, it was inevitable there would be a bit of a letdown I their follow up to that record. That being said, Sonic Highways is a solid effort. The first two songs are the strongest though, which makes the rest of the record a rocky listen with some very un-Foo Fighters-like moments. If this record was supposed to be a bridge to expanding their sound across the board, it will take a while and further recordings to assess as to wnether it worked.… Expand
  2. vikesh2206
    Nov 20, 2014
    6
    "Sonic Highways" plays like a perpetual song with almost all tracks indistinguishable from the other, yet sometimes the strongest riffs and most sentimental vocals lift this album past the tediousness that risks to overwhelm.
  3. BrunoTeixeira17
    Nov 10, 2014
    6
    For me, the album is an experiment that failed. Foo Fighters made a change in their sound on this album, the songs are meant to give you the feeling of having already heard the songs (as in What Did I Do ?, reminiscent of Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd). The purpose of the album is very good but for me it was poorly executed. The album began with potent Something From Nothing, butFor me, the album is an experiment that failed. Foo Fighters made a change in their sound on this album, the songs are meant to give you the feeling of having already heard the songs (as in What Did I Do ?, reminiscent of Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd). The purpose of the album is very good but for me it was poorly executed. The album began with potent Something From Nothing, but after this track the album started to be boring for me, which is a shame because I'm a big fan of Foo Fighters and I was disappointed, I understand that they worked hard to make a great experience for her fans but did not please my ears, it was not like Pink Floyd, Swans, the Flaming Lips, or whatever, was generic ... Still, I think the album was saved from a "failure" when he arrived at Subterranean, the Foo Fighters got the experience they wanted in the last two tracks, making I Am a River was the perfect ending for the album and exciting, unfortunately I do not think the album has turned into a big deal and I dare say that this is the weakest album from Foo Fighters until then ...… Expand
  4. Brickfaced
    Nov 21, 2014
    4
    When you have to be told it was an experiment you know it didn't quite have the desired effect.

    Something From Nothing opens with something really quite well built (even if borrowing from Dio, and even Biffy Clyro), only to be followed by generic cookie cutter rock that only sounds mildly more intelligent that the kind of trash Nickelback churns out nowadays. I think the most    When you have to be told it was an experiment you know it didn't quite have the desired effect.

    Something From Nothing opens with something really quite well built (even if borrowing from Dio, and even Biffy Clyro), only to be followed by generic cookie cutter rock that only sounds mildly more intelligent that the kind of trash Nickelback churns out nowadays.

    I think the most concerning thing is the lack of immediacy each track after the first one has. There is no direction to the energy produced, and any sense of passion is hard to locate.    … Expand
  5. ConnJack
    Dec 16, 2014
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There is a point in a band’s career where they go back to their roots or decide to take a new direction with a record. But Sonic Highways, the new album from Foo Fighters stretches 20 years of their career by shaking up their music and record in eight cities across America from Nashville to Seattle and Chicago which left singer Dave Grohl to write songs based on the surroundings and experiences from those cities that are presented to us on the HBO documentary series of the same name and incorporate some new musical elements. In the end, this record is both admirable and disappointingly flawed in some ways by not leading into something new. ‘Something for Nothing’, first song off Sonic Highways is a disappointing opener that doesn’t provide anything new both lyrically and rhythmically, by having Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, it creates a funky side with the guitar line which does some good for this song. But I have to mention one of the best track on the album, ‘The Feast and the Famine’; featuring RDGLDGRN, this track is an otherwise great example of dynamic rhythms and harmony combined with awesome guitar riffs that provides the right melody and great sense of song writing from their other albums which unremarkable fits with the lyrics on this one. Most of the other songs on Sonic Highways like ‘Congregation’ and ‘Outside’ are being forced down and hammered down and are not heard as creative perfection for the song writing; even though Grohl’s vocals capture a great essence to his voice, the rhythms and guitar lines don’t do anything to make both songs. Most of the new listeners would feel confused by ‘In the Clear’ because with a little help from The New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band, it takes a new melodic twist by adding horns. Some of the better songs on this one include ‘Subterranean’ with Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, this track provides a great melodic vibe and guitar lines that is memorable as well as beautiful and ‘Where Did I Go?/God As My Witness’ with Gary Clark Jr. which sorts of plays out like a rock opera. Overall, the new record is not their best work and will disappoint fans that were expecting something new out if it but provides some good songs that are sometimes enjoyable.… Expand
  6. eagleeyeviking
    Jul 16, 2016
    6
    "Sonic Highways" plays like a perpetual song with almost all tracks indistinguishable from the other, yet sometimes the strongest riffs and most sentimental vocals lift this album past the tediousness that risks to overwhelm.
  7. harrisonjr98
    Aug 16, 2015
    4
    A thoroughly unoriginal set of songs to accompany a fascinating mini-documentary series. This is to be expected from Foo Fighters, though- it's not unlistenable by any means but the spit-shine production and big-budget trickery adds a certain level of perceived dishonesty to even the more emotional cuts from Sonic Highways.
  8. LeoDiCaprioFan
    Apr 25, 2016
    6
    This album was kinda a little disappointing, because some of the songs are a bit hard to listen because it's boring. The only 2 songs I probably like is "Something From Nothing and "Feast and the Famine. When I got this album for Christmas, I was hoping it will be great as their last awesome album, Wasting Light. But this album doesn't seem to keep up their good work from their lastThis album was kinda a little disappointing, because some of the songs are a bit hard to listen because it's boring. The only 2 songs I probably like is "Something From Nothing and "Feast and the Famine. When I got this album for Christmas, I was hoping it will be great as their last awesome album, Wasting Light. But this album doesn't seem to keep up their good work from their last albums. I'm sorry Foo Fighters, but you did a great effort on this album to be honest. But this is kinda a disappointment.… Expand
  9. WhiskeyStories
    Jun 27, 2017
    6
    While listening to Sonic Highways is easy on the ears, because Dave Grohl's vocals are still as great as ever, the instrumentation is quite monotone and lacks imagination. The album as a whole is just too tame and bland to really be a stand out record in Foo Fighters' discography. Favourite tracks "Something from Nothing" and "The Feast and the Famine".

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Most Discussed Album of 2014
92
#92 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 16, 2014
    80
    Even dislocated from the TV show, Sonic Highways remains among the most concise and powerful Foo albums yet. [Dec 2014, p.102]
  2. Kerrang!
    Dec 16, 2014
    80
    It's a collection of eight good and great Foo Fighters songs. [15 Nov 2014, p.52]
  3. NOW Magazine
    Dec 4, 2014
    40
    It's a cool premise, but despite the ambition and guest musicians on each song, Sonic Highways sounds like every other Foo Fighters record.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »