Album Reviews

Foo Fighters

`Greatest Hits'

(SonyBMG)

It's been 15 years since former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters. The band's pop rock sound helped Grohl move away from the shadow of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, and helped turn Foo Fighters into a commercial and critical success.

This Greatest Hits album offers 16 songs, including ``All My Life,'' ``Learning to Fly,'' ``Breakout'' and ``This is a Call.'' While the compilation makes a great introduction to their music for new listeners, long-time Foo Fighters fans will feel shortchanged with only two new songs ``The Wheels'' and ``Word Forward'' plus an acoustic version of ``Everlong.'' Grohl injects some humor in the liner notes by including a ``how to multi-track at home'' guide.

―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

`The Twilight Saga: New Moon'

Original Soundtrack

(Warner Korea)

The much-anticipated film ``New Moon'' hits theaters in Korea on Dec. 3, but the soundtrack will help fans endure the wait. The album features brooding songs by both established and rising alternative and rock acts. Death Cab for Cutie sets the mood with ``Meet You at the Equinox,'' followed by the darkly electronic ``Hearing Damage'' by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and the solemn ``A White Demon Love Song'' by The Killers.

There's also some lovely, slow tracks, Anya Marina's ``Satellite Heart,'' and Lykke Li's ``Possibility.'' The soundtrack wouldn't be complete without a track from Twilight author Stephenie Meyer's favorite British rockers Muse, who contributed a remix of ``I Belong to You.'' Fans of ``New Moon'' star Robert Pattinson will be disappointed the actor chose not to contribute any song on the soundtrack, unlike with ``Twilight.''

Jack Johnson

`En Concert' (CD & DVD)

(Universal Music Korea)

American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson's laid back folk songs have gained him fans all over the world. ``En Concert'' shows the former pro surfer at his best, giving heartfelt, intimate performances. The ``En Concert'' CD features 19 live tracks from Johnson's ``2008 Sleep Through the Static World Tour.'' It includes favorites ``Banana Pancakes,'' ``Better Together'' and rare duets, ``Constellations'' with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and ``Country Road'' with Paula Fuga.

The DVD offers artfully shot concert performances and behind-the-scenes footage of Johnson and his band having fun backstage, sight-seeing in Europe and even surfing. This beautifully shot film, directed by Emmett Malloy, captures the joyous atmosphere at Johnson's concerts. All the proceeds from the album and DVD will go to the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation to support environmental, art and music education.