Foo Fighters “Your Favorite Toy”
The Foo Fighters return with their twelfth studio album Your Favorite Toy and at this stage of their career this is arguably considered by many as their most important release. The scandals and personal challenges of the last couple of years have been well documented lighting the emotional fire inside to deliver their most vital in years. There are no quantum leaps forward in experimentation, not they need to do that, but this album is a reaffirmation proving they still have plenty to say and why this band still matters three decades in.
There is a touch of irony with the album title with that air of familiarity and not straying from what fans have grown to love about this band. Dave Grohl sounds reinvigorated and that immediacy is definitely a nod to their garage rock roots with ten songs clocking in at thirty-six minutes. Running rampant right throughout are the emotional undercurrents which gives an insight to what Grohl continues to work through yet deliver an album full of anthemic arena rock bangers. Even the ones who have jumped off the Grohellercoaster might be jumping back on when they play this one.
This is the first album to feature drummer Ilan Rubiun whose impact and influence is significant. Caught In The Echo channels that urgency and rawness right from the outset (think In Your Honor) with the likes of Spit Shine and Amen, Caveman that hit hard and fast. All the hallmarks of becoming staples in their live set. I really like the energy and directness of the album and again that sense of familiarity is what really works for the Fooies. Whether that is intentional or by design they have made a powerful statement.
Window is a gem, it’s melodic, it has this warm inner glow and that at track three loses none of the intensity built on the previous two. The emotional centre piece of the album is Child Actor and peeling back the layers there is more here than meets the eye lyrically. The emotional weight in Grohl’s voice hits those heart strings hard. This album bats deep and album closer Asking For A Friend is evidence of that. Big sound, interestingly positioned with the final line “Or Is This End?” leaving the listener to draw their own conclusion.
The Foo Fighters album Your Favorite Toy could of gone a number of different ways but they have successfully steered the ship back on course delivering their most important one to date. The fire in the belly is very much a light having been knocked off the perch they have got the validation they are looking for.
Album Review By Rob Lyon
