There is also a DualDisc version of the album. The DD version is more expensive (as it is essentially a 2-CD set with DVD content). I have had success ripping the CD side of DDs to my iPod. I understand others have not. You have been warned.
Back to the album. “Still” was a very good song. “What if I Do?” is good but I am not liking it quite as much as I liked “Still.” “Miracle” is in the same league as “What if I Do?” which is to say not quite as strong as Disc 2-opener “Still.” “Miracle” does mix in a nice string arrangement. “Friend of a Friend” is just Grohl and an acoustic guitar and I am liking this one almost as much as “Still.” Grohl’s vocals are easy on the ear and the melody is a good one.
My first impression: I like enough of these songs enough to want to have a second impression.
First Impression: B
Article comments
1 - Lono
I bought the disc yesterday. Having long been a fan of Dave Grohl (and after downloading countless material) I felt this was the album to make the leap.
Problem is, I haven't heard it yet. They did some stuff to protect against piracy (like loading the CDs with their own media player... stupid) and I can't get it onto my iPod. This is a major problem, as I don't use CDs anymore... everything goes into the iPod.
It's not like I am borrowing a friends copy and dropping onto iTunes. the CD is staring at me right now in fact to give it another go. The problem is iTunes (which is the program that houses and loads all of the iPod stuff from your computer) reads the tracks funny.
I have total confidence this is an amazing CD, but this bullshit copyright protection is costing consumers problems. No wonder why I steal music from Kazaa, because the industry does stupid shit like this.
2 - Lono
ok, I am majorly cheesed off. I spent another hour trying to get the new Foo discs onto iTunes. It didn't work so I went to the company's website and found out that
THEIR CDS DON'T PLAY ON IPODS
here is their verbiage:
Can I transfer MediaMax digital audio files to my iPod?
Apple's proprietary technology doesn't support secure music formats other than their own, and therefore the secure music file formats on this disc can't be directly imported into iTunes or iPods.
Motherfucker I am so pissed. I have two great CDs now that are purposely useless. I am going to return them tomorrow. Fuck this, this is what I get for trying to give the artists money. I guess I will have to what every other iPodder must do (there are about 8 million of us) and steal it online.
Great plan, RCA - I will be extremely careful to NEVER buy one of your products again.
3 - DJRadiohead
Lono, I am currently listening to "In Your Honor" on my iPod. This copy protection (while indeed being bullshit) can be beat.
A) turn off your autorun feature or B) hold the SHIFT key down when you insert the disc.
Or check this out: http://www.epirate.net/mediamax.htm
I, too, paid good money for my disc and simply wanted the portability option. I agree this is absolute rubbish. I refused to open the discs until I was sure a workaround existed.
It can be done. I hate you are having this problem. I went through it with this and the new DMB. I love it when they just assume you are criminal from the word 'go.'
The new album continues to grow on me.
4 - sam
Hi.
Two things. Okay three. First, I don't work for RCA.
Second. There is nothing wrong with the artist making money here. If you try to return the cd based on the fact that you can't copy it, you're essentially admitting
a) you don't give a shit about breaking the law. Neither do I, just sayin.
b) you'd rather return the disc and get your precious $11.00 (if you bought it at BB this week) than support Dave and Co and (god forbid) occasionally play a cd versus use your iPod. I don't have an ipod and granted, maybe I'm just jealous or my opinion would change if I did....lol...still, I don't think there is anything wrong with shelling the money for the disc so that you can download or rip off from Kazaa or whatever without worrying about whether or not you're cheating the artist. Call me crazy, I still think the boys need to make a living, if not get wealthier, from the fact that their fanbase has grown, and the fact that you want to listen to their cd, in whatever format. They are, after all, in the "music business." Art ain't free. Never has been.
Third. I agree with most of the comments thus far about the quality. Unlike RS (wow, big surprise...I very rarely agree with them anyway), I don't feel that Dave "sings better than he screams" ("One last thing before I quit..." or even "Best of You" here...), or that Color and the Shape "exhausted the 'soft then loud' dynamic.' " IMO, Color and the Shape is still the best FF album. I spend most of my time wanting to hear that or TINLTL. Those two were the pinnacle, when it was more song oriented and less atmospheric....more "hook" oriented, cause that's what Dave is good at. (Among other things, be cool...)
Finally, no one will ever stop comparing FF to Nirvana. It's Dave's curse. As a former associate of both bands (from a long, long time ago), I think I can say that no one would be prouder of or a bigger fan of Dave/FF than Kurt. Yes, FF have--musically, not culturally--far, far, far eclipsed Nirvana's best moments. Did it early and did it easily. As for critics' comments about the lyrics dodging "who Dave really is," y'know what? That's okay. Cryptic or vague lyrics, if they're well written, protect the anonimity of the artist and, when combined with interviews, stage banter, etc it makes for an intriguing persona, speaking just as a google eyed fan. I'll always enjoy Dave's comments, in whatever setting, as an added bonus and added insight, nothing he "owes" us. He is, it's true, more of a songsmith and tradesman than a tortured artist...I doubt anyone would argue that, and yet when he lets loose with either end of the emotional spectrum, he commands your attention more strongly than anyone since...well, Kurt.
right, blast away. but pay for the fucking disc and move on, pod people, or at least pay for one download and then as far as some of us are concerned, you paid your dues to rip anything you want from the discs...
5 - DJRadiohead
I am not going to get involved in silly flame things either, but I am going to respond just a little.
I do not understand how/why it is breaking the law to want to transfer the music I PAID FOR to my iPod. I gave Dave his money. I paid for the music. Where I listen to it or the device I use (CD player/iPod) is none of his motherfucking business (IMO). He recorded an album and I paid him for it. The law (as currently written and to my understanding) has established a concept of Fair Use. For example, I am allowed to tape a show using my VCR so I can watch it at a more convenient time (as long as I don't try and make money off it). Taping a TV show and transferring legally purchased music to an iPod are very similar acts and I do believe they are protected under the concept of Fair Use (again, my opinion).
As to the idea that Dave needs 'more money'... I don't give a flying fuck how much money Dave has or gets. I paid for the CD. Dave's financial well-being really is not a major concern of mine. I wish the guy no harm and I like a lot of his music. But we ain't brothers, we ain't partners, and we ain't friends. He is not doing me any favors - he is charging me. I am entitled to a little ROI (return on investment).
If someone chooses to return the CD for being denied Fair Use of it... they are not cheating Dave out of shit. It is, as you say, a business which means a good or service is exchanged for money. If Dave (or any other artist) is not providing a good or service that meets my needs at a price I am willing to pay... I owe him exactly dick. No one is entitled to my money but me (and I guess the IRS).
Now I know my wording is a bit terse and I do apologize for that, Sam. I respect your opinion and I understand what you are saying. I respect your devotion to an artist whose work you enjoy and your defense of his work. I like the album. I am still a fan of the debut and I think it will always be my favorite. "IYO" is a very good album and will be one of the better releases in a year that has seen many good ones.
6 - DJRadiohead
First, thanks to EO for fixing my runaway underlining.
Second... "IYO?" I am a moron. I think I was trying to mix "IMO" and "IYH." This typing thing is killing me.
7 - jim
I too purchased the new Foo album and was very disappointed to find that I was unable to rip it to mp3. I have found this site very helpful in working around the B.S. Thanks to all and piss on Sunncomm.
8 - jim
and o yeah thanks to DJRadiohead for the link to epirate.net which made it extremely easy to rip those tunes for transfer.