To say the last few years have been some of the most painful and tumultuous for Foo Fighters would be quite the understatement. The band's long term drummer, Taylor Hawkins, passed away in 2022, followed only a few months later by the passing of band leader Dave Grohl’s mother. Understandably, the band needed time to process and adjust.
What followed in 2023, was previous album But Here We Are, arguably some of the most nuanced work yet from the band. Here, Grohl and co worked through all stages of their grief and excised their pain by breathlessly sharing it with the world. With Josh Freese behind the drumkit on the following tour, it seemed the band were ready and equipped for the next chapter. However, 2024 followed with very abrupt revelations regarding Grohl’s personal life along with the sudden departure of Freese.
As a result, it puts latest album, Your Favorite Toy, into an interesting place for such a longstanding act. With Ilan Rubin recruited from Nine Inch Nails to helm the drums, this is another new start. But while the previous album was deeply emotive, pained, and poignant; recorded in only nine days, Your Favorite Toy fizzes with energy. The title track opens with layers and layers of hasty, distorted guitars while Grohl sing-screams some carefree, raspy “na-na-na”s. It is immediate, and upfront, a clear sign that Your Favorite Toy is a more playful tone overall.
Opener “Caught in the Echo” again features hefty layering of guitars, and this is recurring across the album – this is some of the best work from lead guitarist, Chris Shiflett, balanced with Grohl and Pat Smear on rhythm guitars. However, here and there lie some disappointing mix and production choices – a solo mixed a little too low there, or some drum fills missing some fullness and power.
Overall, the carefree attitude is a welcoming change, yet at the same time, opportunities to really discover and develop interesting ideas, such as the moody “Child Actor” and prog-esque “Asking for a Friend”, leave with a sense something has been left on the table. In all, Your Favorite Toy is charming but flatters to deceive.
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