“But Here We Are” has a back-to-basics immediacy and intensity that was missing from the last few Foo Fighters albums. (As a companion piece, they also released a cheeky collection of Bee Gees covers.) The undercurrent holding all of “But Here We Are” together is not an idea so much as raw emotion. Grohl’s melodies are as soaring and anthemic as they’ve sounded in years; his vocals are freshly impassioned and heartfelt. The towering title track layers intricate guitar work atop skittering percussion before a chorus comes along and sweeps everything into a tidal wave of sound.

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Persons: Grohl, ”, “, ” Grohl, Violet, Hawkins Organizations: Foo, “, Bee Gees, Highways, Roswell Records, RCA