Following 2023's stellar 'But Here We Are', Foo Fighters are back with a new band member and a no-frills, back-to-basics sound. Where does 'Your Favorite Toy' land in their discography?
Foo Fighters have had a lot of ups and downs during their three-decade run, but their last album – 2023's ‘But Here We Are’ – was a late career highlight.
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It was the rockers' first release since the sudden death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl’s mother, leading the remaining Fighters to channel their heartbreak and grief into a cathartic record that continues to impress. It was certainly one which dispelled the “middle-of-the-road dad-rock" label many naysayers have been quick to dish out.
Now, for the band’s 12th album, Grohl promised a record that “feels new” - a fresh chapter in the aftermath of loss.
What’s immediately striking when listening to ‘Your Favorite Toy’ is that it sounds... well, like nothing new. It’s certainly high-energy, with some muscular riffs and Grohl rediscovering his gruff growl. However, there’s a familiarity to this album that feels like a let-down compared to its predecessor.
Aiming to recreate what they achieved with 2011’s ‘Wasting Light’ (a rejuvenating back-to-basics rock slap recorded on tape), ‘Your Favorite Toy’ does impress when it comes to its scrappy feel. ‘Caught In The Echo’ is high-voltage; ‘Of All People’ is wonderfully punk-inflected; and album-highlight ‘Spit Shine’ showcases the stellar work of new drummer Ilan Rubin (formerly of Nine Inch Nails), who shines throughout the album.
Themes of confession and self-flagellation abound – which is hardly surprising as Grohl's admission of infidelity and the firing of Hawkins' replacement, Josh Freese, has kept the band in the headlines prior to the release of ‘Your Favorite Toy’. The snag is that while these controversies could have been creative Viagra, the clumsy lyricism throughout the album undermines the intent. Lyrics like “I move in complication / Waiting for intersection / I wanna take it back / Nobody here is truly free”, “You know you should be dead / But you’re alive instead”, or “Was it ever good enough? / Anything to be the person you want” come off as shallow rather than candid stabs at confronting one’s demons.
Granted, considering the band’s longevity and their capacity to weather all kinds of storms, it’s tough to ask for complete renewal this late in the game. ‘Your Favorite Toy’ does function as a 36-minute jolt of energy, which satisfies on the spot and easily outshines the likes of 2017’s 'Concrete And Gold' and 2021’s 'Medicine At Midnight'. It doesn’t feel like it has too much lasting power though, and it may have fans fighting once more to defend the Foos from accusations of now being dependable rather than essential.
Speaking of which (seamless transition, thank you), here’s a rundown of the band’s essential albums – so the uninitiated needn’t feel lost too much longer, and the fans are reminded what gems we have been privy to over the years.
Here are the best Foo Fighters albums every collection should have – ranked:
The Colour And The Shape (1997)
If you have to own one Foo Fighters album, make it this one. 'The Colour And The Shape' is the band’s second outing and it has it all: riffs ('Monkey Wrench'), anthems ('Everlong'), ballads ('Walking After You'), ear worms ('See You'), passion ('Hey, Johnny Park'), massive drums ('Up In Arms') and a perfect album closer ('New Way Home')... It’s a skipless record and one of the defining rock albums of the 90s. Nearly 30 years on, it’s still their most cohesive and powerful album to date. And if your vocal chords have never threatened to hand in a resignation letter after you’ve attempted to scream “One last thing before I quit / I never wanted any more / Than I could fit into my head / I still remember every single word you said / And all the shit that somehow came along with it / Still there’s one thing that comforts me / Since I was always caged and now I’m freeeeeeeeeee...” on 'Monkey Wrench', you’re not a true card-carrying Foo fan.
There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1999)
Compared to 'The Colour And The Shape', the band’s third album felt a wee bit more radio-friendly, making it a divisive one for early-day fans. Still, it’s a merited runner-up on the podium, as the poppier tracks (‘Learn To Fly’, ‘Next Year’) are perfectly balanced out by more hard-hitting gems, specifically the Courtney Love-baiting ‘Stacked Actors’ and the punchy ‘Breakout’. Then there’s the ballad ‘Aurora’, a wistful and perfect song which embodies the honesty and perfection of 'There Is Nothing Left To Lose'. So, yes, this was the sound of punchy pop-rock and a departure from the established sound of ‘Foo Fighters’ and ‘The Colour And The Shape’. But it worked.
Wasting Light (2011)
In the second half of the Foos' career, 'Wasting Light' remains their strongest. At the time of its release, it was something of a return to form – a back-to-rockier-basics approach which had some of the band’s heaviest recordings in over a decade. From the abrasive ‘Rope’ and ‘White Limo’ to the anthemic ‘Arlandria’ and stadium-built highlight ‘Walk’, this reset had Dave Grohl and his scrappy bunch recording in the frontman’s garage, using analog equipment for the tracking. The result? Fierce riffs, catchy choruses, and five Grammy nominations – including a win for Album of the Year.
Foo Fighters (1995)
The debut album so low? Yeah, it’s a classic, but choices had to be made. Essentially a solo project, with Dave Grohl playing every note himself in the space of six days, 'Foo Fighters' was his way of recovering from the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994. It was a powerful statement of intent – a cathartic exercise which saw one of the best rock drummers around graduate to bona fide leading man. Energetic tracks like ‘This Is A Call’, ‘Big Me’ and ‘I’ll Stick Around’ showed there was life post-Nirvana, and they still hit hard to this day.
But Here We Are (2023)
As with the first Foo Fighters album, 'But Here We Are' was born out of heartache. After a string of disappointing albums, the band’s eleventh LP was released in the wake of the sudden death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died at the age of 50 in March 2022. The pain of loss was compounded when Grohl’s mother died months later. 'But Here We Are' is the sound of Foo Fighters facing death and grief head on. It’s not a perfect album, but it’s certainly one of the band’s most important and emotionally charged releases – as well as the high bar to clear for upcoming releases. 'Your Favorite Toy' doesn’t clear that bar, but at least its artwork isn’t as monochromic.
Foo Fighters’ ‘Your Favorite Toy’ is out now.
