Popdose - Latest Comments in You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Paul Henderson — Mon, 31 May 2010 17:26:31 -0000

Foreigner and Styx with special guest Kansas
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Morrison, CO

Kansas a band 35 years in the making, and what seemed to be a good start to a great evening, instead I saw a bunch of middle-aged guys all seeming to suffer from an ex-alcoholics' lack of energy run through an uninspiring set.

It was such a shame that they opened for Foreigner and Styx.

When Styx came on I was feeling somewhat lackluster "Influence and Innovation" Styx didn't show it, Foreigner, Styx and Kansas. Don't put them in the same bag ever again. They may have had many hits, had a lot of good songs, but that doesn't matter. Musical talent doesn't even matter. The only thing that matters with the hall is "Influence and Innovation", and Styx didn't do anything new, nor did they influence anyone. They won't get in; I’m a sorry Styx fan.

Foreigner Which is why I can't understand the popularity of the recent 'dinotour' trend of ancient rockers dusting off their decades old hits and walking through them for the thousandth time, AND PEOPLE PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH TO SEE THEM, the lead singer was no more than a Mick Jaeger copy resurrected from the 60's but a very poor copy. Foreigner's new songs failed to even raise a toe tap.

Over all this was one of the worst Rock Concerts I had attended in decades

Sadly disappointed

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Keith — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:50:51 -0000

"Hot Blooded" doesn't come close to the inanity of "Love Hurts".

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

BB — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:15:31 -0000

If you like Foreigner in the 70's and 80's you'll love this new CD. The first song will rock you! The second song, a beautiful mid-tempo, ballad/rocker, might almost make you cry. It sounds to me like they carefully crafted these songs to make you feel good. Worth ever cent.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

bkharmony — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:27:14 -0000

Wow. I never thought of it like that. Thank you.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

what the what — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:14:42 -0000

Ah, this explains why I'll be seeing them before the NASCAR race on Sunday. (I have got to read Popdose more frequently!) I'll be there about 3 hours before Foreigner is set to play, so I should be able to stake out an area on the grass (no seats) to enjoy it all. Should be entertaining with the NASCAR crowd.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

SteveA — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:19:19 -0000

I am a huge fan of Foreigner and saw them in concert years ago! My brother saw them in the 70's - anywho - I am no big fan of Walmart or comebacks - I think I will just remember Foreigner as that 70/80's band that had some great rock songs and ballads. But since you have recommended the album - I am now intrigued.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Name — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:27:47 -0000

Because Amazon hasn't helped to put any independent record stores out of business?

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

mojo — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:54:49 -0000

Was it Ritchie Havens or Richie Valens that was in By Jovi?

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Michael — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:31:10 -0000

If you are going to make an example you should probably have chosen more obscure bands because I'm pretty sure even my mother knows who Billy Corgan and Chris Cornell are.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Matt — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:55:31 -0000

Eric, as a fellow fan of the Foreigner albums that you mention, let me urge you to take the plunge and buy the new album. It's worthy.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Eric S. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:49:58 -0000

I think I have every song on the first four Foreigner albums committed to memory. After that, it gets a little foggy beyond the hits (Although, I will nominate "All I Need To Know" from "Mr. Moonlight" as one of the best AOR songs that no one has ever heard).

I haven't paid much attention to the "new" Foreigner since it was Mick Jones and a bunch of hired hands. I thought it would depress me as much as Lou Gramm's now barely recognizable voice. However, I do find myself hoping that the new album doesn't suck. I know there won't be a hit or radio play, but hopefully it comes off as something more than a desperate grab for cash.

I recently picked up a $5 copy of Foreigner's remastered "Double Vision" CD at WalMart. At $12, it's likely the new album set will be a similar impulse purchase. If it reminds me of their glory days, I'll be pleasantly surprised. If it doesn't, it will reinforce my feelings about a music industry that has abandoned developing new artists in favor of trying to squeeze another buck out of boomer nostalgia.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Matt — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:21:58 -0000

One more thing - I almost didn't want to listen to this album based on how awful the song titles were. Thankfully, the music delivers.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Matt — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:20:47 -0000

I actually like the remake of "Fool" which suggests that they might have thought about going the Journey route to re-record the hits for the Wal-Mart package, and perhaps had second thoughts. What a great tune.

The bridge 40 seconds into "Ready" is totally signature Gramm/Jones stuff (er, minus Gramm) and it's one of many tunes on the album that could have come straight off of any of the classic Foreigner albums from back in the day.

Hansen impressed me when I saw him live with Foreigner, and I'm glad to finally hear an album of material with him singing - I had a feeling that Jones might have one more classic Foreigner album in him, and also felt that Hansen might be the guy to deliver that album - I guess I might have been right on both counts.

"Unusual Heat" however, might be one of the worst albums released with a replacement singer, and I'm really happy that "Can't Slow Down" isn't the awful sequel to that time period that it could have been.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

jefito — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:14:01 -0000

The one and only!

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

David_E — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:44:46 -0000

Wait wait -- Kelly Hansen from HURRICANE?

He was a good singer back when he was tissue-tracing Dokken.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Kurt's Krap — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:11:27 -0000

Cmon, who can name any of the anonymous members of Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Everclear, Sublime or any other 90s or even 2000 rockers?

But we can all still name the Beatles, Zep, Van Halen or even more than one member of Bon Jovi (3 if you're from Jersey).

Just sayin', rock is as corporate as it ever was.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

jefito — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:28:54 -0000

I think you should be able to order it from Amazon soon -- if you click on the album artwork or the link in the album title, you should get to it.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

sneezebag — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:13:20 -0000

Recently, just for fun I did a memory exercise and tried to come up with the names of all of Foreigner's members (I do this kind of thing a lot - to assuage my fears of getting old and forgetful). I was amazed that in less than a minute I remembered all six of the originals as well as Rick Wills. I'm not sure what that says about me but I believe I had a stronger connection to the favorites of my youth than my current ones. I cannot name all the members of Spoon, for instance...shit, I can't name all three (three?) Jonas brothers, but I have a good excuse for that.
So, I don't feel that the band is anonymous, but they made a name for themselves before the video age and that's commendable. C'mon, the music is the important thing, and even though it's totally meat-and-potatoes in Foreigner's case, sometimes that's what I want.
That said, I must admit I laugh out loud when I hear the album version of "Hot Blooded" (nearly every damned day on the classic rock station on the radio I have no control of at work). Those lyrics that are edited out of the single version are possibly the most stupifyingly inane words ever to come out of Lou Gramm's mouth. That's quite an achievement in the classsic rock world. The first time I heard them I stopped dead and wondered "are these dummy lyrics for the demo that they accidentally forgot to replace?" No. It almost sounds improvised - possibly while alcoholically impaired. Hats off to the genius who edited down the 45. I mean it.
I'd be willing to try the new album if I were not so unwilling to go to Wal-Mart to get it. They helped put so many of my favorite stores out of business that I just don't feel like giving them my money. Maybe I'll hire some yo-yo-yo caphead to go in and steal it. Then he'll probably run out and toss me the Drake cd instead. Fucker. Imaginary fucker.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

jefito — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:19:38 -0000

Only to you, Kurt. Only to you.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

DwDunphy — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:12:09 -0000

True, but every band since 1992 has been in complete denial about their utter anonymity.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

DwDunphy — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:10:57 -0000

It's pretty good. I have my qualms, specifically with the remake of "Fool For You Anyway" which doesn't have the charm of the original, what with the hip-hop beat track and all. However, "Give Me A Sign" is the very first of these Wal-Mart or Best Buy exclusives to sound like it could be a real hit.

That cover art is still a baboon's armpit though.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

Kurt's Krap — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:03:36 -0000

Says Jeff: "On the other hand, Foreigner — like a lot of other so-called corporate rock bands — had the advantage of being utterly anonymous; they may have been radio mainstays for decades, but only the most dedicated rock nerd could pick any random member of any random version of Foreigner out of a lineup. "

Doesn't that basically describe EVERY band since about 1992?

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

DavidMedsker — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:45:58 -0000

Being snotty is easy. It takes guts to admit that something terribly uncool also happens to be good.

Wow, that guy does an uncanny Gramm impression.

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

David_E — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:09:54 -0000

(giggles)

Re: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”

jefito — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:01:03 -0000

I believe you're looking for Pitchfork. They're down the road a bit.