Summary:The five-track free EP from the rock band was recorded during the Austin City Limits Festival at Hotel Saint Cecilia was originally made as a thank you for fans but on release also dedicated to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015.
Saint Cecilia feels like a new turn, or rather, a much-needed step back. It’s simple, back-to-basics rock ‘n’ roll that reaches for the heart and not the last fan in the back of the crowd.
['Savior Breath' is] such terrific fun, you can't quite fathom how the same band could be responsible for something like 'Iron Rooster', which moseys on far too long and a little too close to Neil Young's 'Old Man' for comfort, but normal service is thankfully resumed with 'The Neverending Sigh', ensuring the record ends on a fittingly-thunderous note.
The tunes on Saint Cecilia--the patron saint of music, as any Art Garfunkel fan will tell you--were largely assembled from past albums’ cutting floors. The title track crawls towards wholeness on the lovely vocal meld of Grohl and Kweller.... Meanwhile, “Iron Rooster” is a bone-tired dragger that’s probably of recent vintage but could date back to Down on the Upside.
The songs, some of which date back decades ("The Neverending Sigh" is 20 years old!), sound surprisingly consistent considering the recording session would be a rush job for any other big-time rocker.
Sure, Saint Cecilia fills itself with all inclusive lyrics that Grohl has become known for. Yes, there are some midtempo shifts that you wish you could skip over. But out of five songs, four are solid.
This is one of the best releases the Foos have ever made. They still have the energy of making an ep feel like an album. With special guestsThis is one of the best releases the Foos have ever made. They still have the energy of making an ep feel like an album. With special guests like Gary Clark Jr. on Iron Rooster helps out.…Expand
I've always been a fan of the Foo Fighters, and this EP reminds me of why I am. Every track on this record makes you feel the heavy influenceI've always been a fan of the Foo Fighters, and this EP reminds me of why I am. Every track on this record makes you feel the heavy influence on the place it was recorded in. While not every track on the EP is golden, the foos have clearly knocked another one out of the park.…Expand
This is the first EP I've ever heard by the Foo Fighters. The first song was really good!, the other songs on this EP is not that bad, it'sThis is the first EP I've ever heard by the Foo Fighters. The first song was really good!, the other songs on this EP is not that bad, it's OK. Not bad EP!…Expand
To be honest, I personally enjoyed the album a lot. It ranges in style from the heavier songs like Savior Breath to lighter songs like SaintTo be honest, I personally enjoyed the album a lot. It ranges in style from the heavier songs like Savior Breath to lighter songs like Saint Cecilia and Iron Rooster. However, I personally was only a big fan of 4/5 of the songs. I could stand the 1/5 but it just wasn't really my thing. That is why I will give the album an 80%…Expand
Originally a thank you to the group's loyal fanbase, and now since dedicated to the victims of the Paris attacks, “Saint Cecilia” is a fiveOriginally a thank you to the group's loyal fanbase, and now since dedicated to the victims of the Paris attacks, “Saint Cecilia” is a five track extended play and their first release since the ambitious “Sonic Highways” last year. While the group don't tread into new territory, they reassert why they've become (and remain) one of modern rock's most consistent bands. In short, any of these songs could be placed in the 1990's and be a hit, particularly “Sean”, which almost sounds like an out-take from “The Colour and the Shape”. The title track and the closer, “The Neverending Sigh” are relentless and venomous in almost equal measure, the latter with the very raw sounding production that helped “Wasting Light” become one of the Foo's best releases. On the flip side, “Iron Rooster” reeks of Neil Young's influence, but serves as a good contrast and change of dynamic on an otherwise, pretty relentless eighteen minute EP. On a whole, it is a very good EP which draws on the group's past sounds very well. A step up (quality wise) on “Sonic Highways”.
EP Highlights: “Saint Cecilia”, “Sean” and “The Neverending Sigh”.…Expand
This EP does not have a stand out song. Although I do not know the back story of this EP (why, out of the blue it was released) Foo FightersThis EP does not have a stand out song. Although I do not know the back story of this EP (why, out of the blue it was released) Foo Fighters stick to what their fans like-melodies, with guitar riffs and some strained vocal cords. That being said, there is nothing new here. Nothing pushing any envelope or new direction. Matter of fact, I really didn't like any of the songs either.…Expand
I've never understood why this EP gained any respect. Sean and Savior Breath are both frustratingly mediocre, Iron Rooster (whileI've never understood why this EP gained any respect. Sean and Savior Breath are both frustratingly mediocre, Iron Rooster (while thought-provoking) is the definition of a 6/10 song, and the only songs I really like are Saint Cecilia and The Neverending Sigh. That being said, Saint Cecilia is still too generic rock single for me to care, and The Neverending Sigh is really only notable for the chorus, and everything else falls flat. Sean directly rips off a riff from Sonic Highways, and then is ripped off by Love Dies Young, making it one of the most worthless Foo Fighters tracks to date. It's disposably enjoyable, it starts and ends on high notes, and since it's free and short I could probably recommend it to someone, but it's baffling to me that it has a higher score than Sonic Highways by this wide of a margin.…Expand
