Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Saint Cecilia (EP)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Recorded
  
October 1–11, 2015

Artist
  
Foo Fighters

Label
  
RCA Records

Length
  
18:00

Release date
  
23 November 2015

Saint Cecilia (EP) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen449Foo

Released
  
Digital download: November 23, 2015 12-inch vinyl: February 19, 2016

Studio
  
Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas

Genres
  
Post-grunge, Post-hardcore, Southern rock

Foo fighters saint cecilia


Saint Cecilia is an EP by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was released as a free download on November 23, 2015. Initially intended as a sign of gratitude to the group's fans, the EP was also dedicated to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Contents

Foo fighters saint cecilia ep full


Release and reception

Recorded at the Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas, Saint Cecilia was released on November 23rd, which is the day after the Roman Catholic feast day of Saint Cecilia, a patron saint of musicians.

Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic described "Saint Cecilia" as Foo Fighters' "statement on how they are the biggest rock band in the world". Novoselic also said that "Saint Cecilia is more straight-ahead rock that is done really well", and went on to say that "I went to the Foo’s last gig at the Moda Center in Portland and they rocked a packed house. I love the drummer Matt Sorum. However, he is so wrong in his statement about danger and the Foo’s somehow lacking it. First off all, I know about danger in rock. I was the bassist in Flipper — and survived! Look at a band like Queen, who totally rocked. They were way more dandy than danger. Queen knows how to rock a stadium. So do the Foo Fighters and you’ll hear big rock on Saint Cecilia".

In a review of the Saint Cecilia EP, NME stated that "Quite aside from the sad circumstances of its release, if 'Saint Cecilia' is foreshadowing the Foo Fighters' next move, the omens look good. Spin stated that "It's the one consistent blessing of stardom. With Saint Cecilia, the Foos are trying to acknowledge that blessing in the best way possible: being themselves".

Consequence of Sound stated that whereas last year's Sonic Highways album was arguably their weakest effort to date, "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. Revisiting the past, Foo Fighters have always been at their best when they don’t overthink things and just be themselves — it’s why Grohl's 1995 debut will forever be the band's watermark, and why 2011's Wasting Light managed to be such a late-career gem. That's not to say that this EP checks into that upper echelon of Foo Fighters accomplishments, but it’s certainly cut from the same cloth. There’s an energy to these songs that feels very nostalgic".

Pitchfork said of the EP's title track "Saint Cecilia" that "It's the most immediately pleasing thing they've done this decade and also the most instantly familiar, with a robust chorus built on a progression of straight-strummed barre chords, stacked harmonies and broad lyrics that express a general sense of yearning, but nothing that puts Grohl's personal life on the spot. In other words, it's not terribly different than "Learn to Fly" or "Times Like These" or "Next Year", proof that Foo Fighters are modern day, power-pop workhorses in their natural state rather than a rawk band". Pitchfork also said of the other songs on the EP that "Whenever that reputation threatens to stick, Grohl always draws on a Northern Virginia upbringing that put him within driving distance of DC's hardcore scene. "Sean" and "Savior Breath" are punk Foo Fighters, or as punk as they can sound in 2015—infinitely more energetic than anything on Sonic Highways, but only incrementally edgier, Wasting Light without Butch Vig's glossy overlay".

The "Saint Cecilia" single marked Foo Fighters' 29th song to reach the Alternative Songs top 20, slotting the Foo Fighters into a tie with the Red Hot Chili Peppers for second-most top 20 entries in the chart's history. Only U2 has more, with 31. "Saint Cecilia" is also the Foo Fighters' twenty-second song to make to the Top 10 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, in which they are tied with Godsmack for the most Top 10's on that chart since August 1995 when Foo Fighters had their first Top 10 with "This Is a Call".

The vinyl version of the Saint Cecilia EP was released on February 19, 2016.

Track listing

All tracks written by Foo Fighters.

Credits

Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.

Foo Fighters

  • Dave Grohl – guitar, vocals, percussion on "Saint Cecilia", piano on "Iron Rooster"
  • Chris Shiflett – guitar
  • Pat Smear – guitar
  • Nate Mendel – bass
  • Rami Jaffee – keyboard except on "Savior Breath" and "Iron Rooster"
  • Taylor Hawkins – drums, backing vocals on "Sean" and "Iron Rooster", percussion on "Iron Rooster", piano on "Iron Rooster"
  • Additional musicians

  • Ben Kweller – backing vocals on "Saint Cecilia"
  • John Lousteau – percussion on "Iron Rooster"
  • Production

  • Kevin Szymanski – recording tracks 1–3,5
  • John Ross Silva – Second Engineer tracks 1–3,5
  • John Lousteau – recording for "Iron Rooster", mixing assistant
  • James Brown – mixing
  • Emily Lazar – mastering
  • Chris Allgood – mastering assistant
  • Visual art

  • Xavier Schipani – cover art
  • Sandra Luk – design
  • Studios

  • St. Cecilia Hotel – recording
  • Studio 606 – recording
  • The Lodge, New York City, NY, USA – mastering
  • Songs

    1Saint Cecilia3:42
    2Sean2:11
    3Savior Breath3:11

    References

    Saint Cecilia (EP) Wikipedia