Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape

Published in 1997

Wikipedia

I got some advice recently.  You see, if you go down to the bottom of this page, you'll notice that this blog has had something like 7,000 page views at this point.  While I wish this was because I was just that awesome, there is a more explainable reason.  

You see, on these here tubes, there is something called Google image search.  While I, myself, am not familiar with it, apparently, it collects images throughout the internets, and posts them to a convenient place to find them. I recently wrote about Radiohead's first two albums, with the intention of reaching the 30 or so of you a day who read my posts, and coincidentally (I swear), Radiohead put out a new album.  When Radiohead puts out a new album, searches for the old album go up.  And since I was a recent blog post with a large picture, Radiohead - The Bends is the most popular post of all time.

And yet, I figure that of the 2000 people who found the album art by my link, just a handful at most have read my posts.  So, I guess.  I don't really know, because no matter how much I labor the point, even those who do read these don't leave comments.  Which is fine with me, because I really write these for me.

But, since there is a page view count, and that count matters a little to me, I'm going to try to be more cognizant of the music world, and try to connect in a bit more.  This week, an album came out that I have not heard, but it is by a band that I quite enjoy.  As you can see from the title, it is the Foo Fighters.  I decided that since I am not some sort of criminal, I will wait for legal methods to listen to their new album, but in the meantime, I can review my favorite Foo Fighters Album.

That album is The Colour and The Shape.  I have several reasons for this.  One, the album start out with a bang, moving from the quiet Doll to the poundingly awesome Monkey Wrench, which is the first in a combo of six great fucking songs.  Two, Monkey Wrench is on this album, and it is the best non-Everlong song that the Foo Fighters came up with.  Three, I never got into the other ones as much.  Oh, Four, Everlong.

Let's talk about Everlong, which is one of the quintessential songs of the late 90's in my opinion.  Yes, I was eleven when it came out, but I remember that being one of the first songs that I listened to over and over, and I made sure that I sang along to in the car.  It was so much fun to sing, and I now realize that it's because it is a fucking great song, that just knocks it out of the park.  I don't think I want to live in a world where Everlong wasn't a huge success.

It is a dark, scary song.  It sounds very deep.  It is so much fun to sing along, and scream and shout.  Man, I want to go to a Norebang (a Korean Singing Room) that has it right now, just to belt it out.  AND IIIIIIIIIIII WONDER...

This is a band in the middle of figuring out where it is going.  It was a pretty "standard" rock act on it's first album, and this one has the inklings of the melodic and acoustic experiments that are coming in the future for them.  But really, it is a great rock album.

If you owned a radio, and listened to a station like the long lamented, much beloved, 99.1 HFS, and you are the same age as me, you probably remember listening to a ton of Foo Fighters.  They are a band that grows on you, and since they seem like genuinely good guys, it's a ton of fun rooting for them.  Also, they are just down the I-95 corridor, and if you're from near me, you're a hometown boy doing good.  

Dave Grohl has a vocal presence that just cannot be beat, and his ability to belt out these songs is great.  The drums are spectacular, the guitar is nuanced, and the bass holds the whole thing together.  I cannot really point to a misfire on the album, but the quieter songs (not including Doll) don't enchant me as much as the pounding rock songs.

If you haven't heard this album, it's a great one to pick up, and it will make you a fan of the Foo Fighters.  Your whole being will be suffused with the awesomeness of the songs, and you'll just like it.  It's a fun album, and it makes me glad to be writing about music.

So, if this one is shorter than most, it's because I wanted to get something out that was timely, and I don't have much more to say about this album.  You should be listening to it already if you have any sense, and I hope that you comment and tell me how much you enjoy it, or why you don't like it and use some really horrible slurs against me.

I love you guys,

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. " (Thanks to Zach for reminding me of the quote)

Matt

PS. Comments!  Do you like this idea?  Do you think I should not do this?  Am I placating the man? Is this what selling out feels like, or is it just boredom?

PPS. Five Give Phil!