The Foo Fighters return with their twelfth album, coming out of the shadow of the passing of their former drummer and friend Taylor Hawkins. Fans wondered what the future held in store for the band after Taylor’s passing and the release of their previous album titled But Here We Are, which was a full album of expressive grief by the band and lead singer Dave Grohl, who mourned not only the passing of his best friend but his mother soon after. Some say this album was some of their best work.
When news came out that Foo Fighters had released a solo song called “Today’s Song”, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in this mega Foo Fighters fan. The song had heart; it was raw and it spoke honestly of the brokenness of Dave Grohl and how he was rebuilding his life back up from the many obstacles that he had faced.
Well, last Friday Foo Fighters released their long-awaited album called Your Favourite Toy. It feels like a sort of comeback to the top form of how the band used to be. They also have a new drummer replacing Josh Freese in the form of Ilan Rubin, known for his drumming in Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves, which really helps add to the freshness of the album.
The album begins with the energetic first song “Caught in the Echo”, giving reminiscent sparks of the album In Your Honour and specifically the song “DOA”. Dave Grohl’s screams remind the listener that he indeed can scream with the best, giving a youthful feel to the song and a delicious bluesy rhythm that makes you want to play the song on repeat. For me, the song was given extra layering and flavour in the bridge, which went to a simplistic breakdown with Dave Grohl singing and the guitars then rising up to tease a climatic rock ending. The harmonies of the band as the bridge rises up to a final climatic crescendo with Dave screaming makes this a rock song that would fit perfectly in a filled stadium.
The second song “Of All People” gives off a harder and almost punk sound, adding to the energetic feel of the first track. This song is about Dave’s encounter with a guy who used to deal drugs to the rockstars in the 90s. This song showcases Dave questioning why this guy is still alive when he was selling drugs that have killed most people he knew and yet the drug dealer is thriving. This gives a rather intimate look into Dave’s mind. The song has reminiscent aspects of punk bands like the Ramones, giving it a delicious youthful and rebellious feel that would be perfect for the mosh pits of their shows as their hard riffs sear into the ears of the listeners and Ilan Rubin’s hard-hitting drums add an extra element giving this song a bigger statement.
“Window” is the third song on the album and, if I’m honest, really should not work after the two energetic songs that opened the record. The song echoes a David Bowie sound that takes you back in time, transporting you away down memory lane. I personally experienced this walking down the road of where I live listening to this song, but yet for some reason the scene of Simon Pegg walking down the London street in Shaun of the Dead came to mind; the song would fit perfectly into that type of scene. The track has a certain funky, bluesy sound with an echoing guitar riff and a narrative about being in a depressive mindset and yet being freed, giving a sliver of hope with the lyrics “I saw your face, there in the window, you were a window cleaner letting in the sun”. Upon listening, I feel this may be Dave talking about the isolation of life through technology taking over and human interaction giving hope and light in a somewhat bleak world.
The self-titled song “Your Favourite Toy” boasts a somewhat Oasis sounding vibe that, if I’m honest, I found was a rather poor choice of first song to release out into the world to announce that the band had a new album. Upon a couple of listens, although it is possibly the weakest song on the album, it actually has become a catchy, fun earworm of a song. It gives a rebellious, youthful feel to the band, showcasing that they can still have fun like they did back in the day with such songs as “Breakout”. The bridge slips from the Oasis style to the Foo Fighters’ iconic rock sound with Dave singing and screaming “is the pressure hard enough”. If I am honest, if they had not added that bridge element, I would not have liked this song as much as I do now.
“If You Only Knew” adds another blasting range to the Foo Fighters catalogue, adding elements of bluesy guitar solo riffs and the growling rock and roll raspy voice of Dave Grohl and the sweeping chorus that kicks in with a slow yet effective pace. The feel of the song really matches with the energy and charisma of the album, telling a tale of their re-emergence and enjoyment of writing the standard of rock songs that the Foo Fighters are loved for.
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“Spit Shine”, the next song on this energetic album, showcases that the band can make what I call mosh pit songs. The song is fast-paced with ripping riffs and fast drumming, giving a feel to the listener that they want to jump into the pit and lose their mind for a few minutes. Dave Grohl is massively showcasing his iconic screaming vocals that roar with attitude, and the standout lyric section of him roaring “the honeymoon is over” really emphasises that he and the band have something to say, and that is that they are back with a bang. Upon listening to the song a bit more, the meaning really comes into focus. Throughout, the band take the listener on a journey about how in life you learn from mistakes and rise above them. It’s about leaving the pain of the past and shadows of mistakes behind to focus on the future. The song ends with charming light guitar riffs that emphasise a sense of moving forwards and how, in a world that seems to be constantly out for blood in the form of judgement, there is a way forward.
“Unconditional” then breaks away from the fast-paced rock and roll that was themed through the album, replacing it with a more mellow and sombre sound, full of bluesy country-sounding riffs and a clear drumming track from Ilan Rubin that feels like he is giving his signature to the band. Dave and Nate Mendel’s vocals mingle together in the chorus to add an even deeper element to a song that may be about depression and the fragility of the mind and the struggles that mental health can bring, adding hope through the lyrics sung like “there are better days awaiting its true”. This song feels personal, giving the listener an insight into where Dave and the band have been along this journey.
The song “Child Actor” is the most emotional song on the album. Although the record has so many heartfelt songs, this one really packs a hypnotic, heartfelt feel to it. It showcases what I believe to be a remarkable insight into the life of a celebrity and the isolation and pressures of growing up in the public eye; it feels like this song gives a personal insight into this life that non-celebrities will ever understand. The chorus, as repetitive as it is, gives off a pleading feel to “turn the cameras off” that most celebrities must feel for the need for privacy. Maybe this was how Dave felt recently? The song adds to the mellow mid-section of the album with a heavy growling bass and echoing guitar riffs that really help set the tone, ending the song in a grand rock finale.
“Amen, Cameraman” is the penultimate song of the album and gives off a disco beat with plenty of snare slapping on the drums from Ilan Rubin, and yet it is a hard-rocking track that has a punk element and a massive growling vocal showcase that every Foo Fighters fan loves Dave Grohl for. There is no vocal bridge near the end of the song but a beautiful soaring guitar riff that sends you away in your mind, and the track ends with a triumphant headbanger of a finale. The song is an expression of how this current world is in the hostility of its conditioning in the news, emphasising the fast-paced events that hit hard and pass suddenly, leaving people with whiplash. There is a sense of Dave’s struggle with the modern-day aspects of the fast-paced life and the need to slow down and catch his breath.
The final song on the album is the incredible, hard-hitting “Asking for a Friend”. Echoing the feel and energy of “Monkey Wrench” and “Something From Nothing”, this song is a total banger and a true, decent way to end a great album. This song feels like a true statement that they are fully back and they mean war. The energy envelopes the listener, making them want more to the point that I have listened to this on repeat many times. The sweeping guitar riffs and impactful drumming to the massive chorus and roaring vocals of Dave Grohl really show that the band actually didn’t go anywhere; they were just sleeping and regrouping.
The full album Your Favourite Toy is not perfect, but it is a testament that the Foo Fighters have plenty of life in them yet. The heartfelt songs they have made on this album show that this is a band of heart and has made me look forward to seeing them live when they come to the UK next. This album slots perfectly in place as one of their best, alongside great albums such as Wasting Light and In Your Honour, and yet holds its own as a fresh new chapter for the band, giving the listener hope for many more years to come of decent rock and roll music.
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Fantastic and insightful review of this new album from the Foo’s. Having now heard the album I agree with everything Dan said !! Neil
Can’t go wrong with a Foos album, and Dan’s a mad fan!
Awesome review Dan with some great takes thank you, really enjoying this album, which is a cool addition to their discography.