Released as a symbol of gratitude to their fans, the Foo Fighters' "Saint Cecilia" EP was dedicated to the terrorist attacks in Paris. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Dave Grohl stressed that the EP serves as a message that music will give light to combat darkness in the world. Grohl hopes the EP reminds people that "music is life, and that hope and healing go hand and hand with song."
It is a little taste of everything from the Foo Fighters. Known for their heavy sound and Grohl's grunge vocals, the Foo their new EP features "Saint Cecilia," which sounds similar to that of Foo Fighters’ "Walk" from 2011. Another track, "Sean," includes an upbeat tempo that is similar to "Monkey Wrench" from 1997.
Of course, we're talking about the Foo Fighters — they have to have at least one song that doesn't make any sense. "Savior Breath," the third track on the EP, is that song. Although the song is full of Foo Fighters’ sound, the lyrics do not make a bit of sense, at least not to me. I guess you can say whatever you want in a song as long as the sound is good and the audience likes it, but this song in particular has absolutely no underlying meaning.
"Iron Rooster," on the other hand, is not one of those songs. This slow-rock tune is about growing up being held down by the people around you, and not being able to say what you want to say. It provides a chance for the listeners to pause, take a breath and enjoy a song that makes them think — one that the listeners did not expect from the album.
The final track on the album is "The Neverending Sigh." Although the song may seem never-ending, it is a good finale to the EP. However, again, the lyrics were not clear. I think the Foo Fighters were focusing too much on the sound of the music and letting the lyrics take a backseat during production.
Although most fans and listeners will agree that they listen to music just for the music, there are some that listen for the words and try to find a message in the music. I do not think that this song, and ultimately this album, allows listeners to do that.
Overall, the music is amazing and it takes the listeners back to the Foo Fighters' old days. I love the dedication of the EP to the victims of the Paris attacks as an added bonus, but I think that those two focal points cloud the third element that contributes to many great albums — the lyrics.