The Foo Fighters Are Turning 25, So I Decided To Look Back On Every Album They’ve Released

Posted On July 3, 2020

Samantha Colleran, July 2020

Shortly after the death of Nirvana’s lead singer Kurt Cobain in 1994, drummer Dave Grohl started what was originally intended to be a one-man project. People had their doubts, but nevertheless, Dave Grohl trekked on with this project. Twenty five years later, the one man project is still around and is more commonly known by the name Foo Fighters. The current lineup consists of Dave Grohl on lead vocals and guitar, Chris Schiflett on guitar, Pat Smear on guitar, Taylor Hawkins on drums, Nate Mendel on bass, and most recently Rami Jaffee on keyboard and piano.

To mark the incredible milestone of 25 years since the release of their first album, I wanted to take a deep dive into their discography and listen to every album from their debut in 1995 to their most recent release in 2017, in complete tracklist order. This will only focus on full length studio albums, but please do go back and listen to their EPs and live albums because they’re all amazing! I know this post is long, but I hope you’ll take some time to read through the whole thing because the Foos certainly deserve recognition for turning 25!

1. Foo Fighters (1995)

The first album starts off with “This Is A Call”, beginning slow and then kicking into an immediate, hard hitting guitar and drum driven track. It establishes the roots for the original sound that the Foo Fighters are known for, and it certainly shows just how talented Dave is. Dave actually recorded all of the instrumental parts on this album, except for one guitar solo which was done by Greg Duhli of The Afghan Whigs. One of the most notable songs on this album is “Big Me”, which is famous for its music video with Mentos (the band had to stop playing the song live for a while because fans threw Mentos on stage and hit members of the band). It’s a rather therapeutic album, Dave letting out his frustrations and anger over the course of the six day recording session and delivering a completely raw album. Little did Dave know, his therapeutic one man recording session would turn into a full fledged band that still tours today. 

Sam’s Song Selection: “Alone + Easy Target”. I can’t really put my finger why I love this one so much, but when I went back and analyzed the tracklist this title stood out to me the most, and actually listening to it solidified it as my favorite on the album. It has an insanely amazing drum solo that shows any doubters of Dave’s solo endeavors that he’s more than just the Nirvana drummer. 

2. The Colour And The Shape (1997)

With this album we hear some more of the sounds the Foo Fighters are known for, but at the same time it’s a lot different from the debut album. There’s the heavier singles such as “Everlong” (definitely their most popular song), there’s also some softer moments like “Doll” and “Walking After You” that even out the album and make it as awesome as it is. The one thing I love about this album is how perfectly the songs flow from one to the next without you even realizing it, they all fit together like puzzle pieces and create the beautiful work of The Colour and The Shape. This album is one of my favorites to listen to with headphones because of the stereo sound (where the music bounces from one headphone to the other), especially on songs like “Hey, Johnny Park!” and “Enough Space”. It’s among my favorite Foo Fighters albums, it’s 50 minutes of excellence and I love every second of it.  

Sam’s Song Selection: “My Hero”. This will forever be my favorite song by the Foos and I don’t think anything will ever be able to top this incredible masterpiece. It reminds me of the people in my life I admire and look up to, and I think myself lucky to have such wonderful role models in life. Having the privilege to see this song performed live twice is something I can’t wrap my head around despite the fact my concerts were years ago at this point. Once with a very broken legged Dave Grohl hobbling across the Citi Field stage and belting this song out acoustically, the second time on “f-cking Gilligan’s Island” (Jones Beach) where it started off slow and kicked into the heavier version that I love so much. (And before you ask, yes, I did in fact cry both times. How can you expect me to keep it together? Hearing the band play it and hearing Dave sing with such strong emotions in person is such an overwhelming feeling and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully process how special this song is.)

3. There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1999)

First note, the cover of this album is so cool because it’s actually Dave Grohl’s neck with the Foo Fighters logo tattooed. Second note, this album just further proves how talented the Foo Fighters are. “Stacked Actors” introduces this album, with a powerful message about how much Dave truly hates the fake and phony aspects of Hollywood. A little too harsh? Maybe so, but the Foo Fighters never hold back in their music styles or messages, so it’s not shocking that they started with such a bold statement. Well known for “Breakout” and “Learn To Fly”, There Is Nothing Left To Lose sees a bit more of a turn into their staple sound, and it introduces the incredible drumming of Taylor Hawkins. The lyrics are more honest, establishing the band as a credible group full of talented musicians. There Is Nothing Left To Lose made it clear the Foo Fighters were in the industry to stay. 

Sam’s Song Selection: Hands down “Aurora”. I looked at the tracklist and the name stood out to me, similar to what happened with “Alone + Easy Target” from their first album. It’s also the longest track on the album, which is always a bonus. Ever since I heard this song I literally have not been able to stop thinking of the lyric “I just kind of died for you/ You just kind of stared at me”. There’s something about it that just makes you think. I actually stopped listening to the album in order and repeated this song a couple of times before listening completely through (that’s how powerful this song is, I never break the order of an album when listening top to bottom). Whoever Dave is singing about means so much to him that he lays his life down for them, and they don’t even seem to care. Speaking about the song, Grohl said “‘Aurora’ is definitely one of my favourite songs that we’ve ever come up with. Lyrically, it’s just kind of a big question mark, but the words sound good and it’s a nostalgic look back at Seattle and the life I once had. That song actually questions the meaning of life, probably. It’s probably the heaviest thing I’ve ever written.” Heavy indeed, Dave. 

4. One By One (2002)

This album is longer than most, which means there’s more Foo Fighters songs to love and appreciate. The expanded version is about 1 hour and 18 minutes long and includes live versions of “For All The Cows” and “Monkey Wrench” as well as deep tracks; covers of The Ramones’ “Danny Says” sung by newcomer Chris Shiflett, Joe Walsh’s “Life of Illusions” with Taylor Hawkins on lead vocals, and The Psychedelic Furs’ “Sister Europe”. This album includes “Times Like These” and “All My Life”, two Foos classics. One By One has its headbanging rock moments, with some slightly softer moments such as “Tired Of You”. This album is a bit heavier in terms of sound and lyrical content, it truly channels their energy of live shows into a studio album (seriously, listen to a live version of “Times Like These” and the studio version back to back, it’s insane how close in sound they are). 

Sam’s Song Selection: I was honestly conflicted with choosing a favorite from this album, but I ultimately ended up going with “Disenchanted Lullaby”. Dave’s vocals in the chorus are super gritty and gravelly and it sounds so sick. Also, the lines “No one has a fit like I do/ I’m the only one that fits you” are so creative with the double meaning of the word ‘fit’. It’s such a great song and one that I connected with the most when listening to the album. 

5. In Your Honor (2005)

We have another hefty Foos album, and that’s due to the fact that this is a double disc album that’s nearly an hour and twenty five minutes long! Both discs consist of ten tracks; the first covers the classic rock anthem sound that the Foo Fighters have down to a science (I mean, this is their fifth go around at creating an album, obviously they know what they’re doing), the second disc covers a softer, acoustic sound that shows how versatile the Foo Fighters can be in their sound. The two discs can stand alone as separate works, but when they’re put together and you can hear the flow from heavy rock to softer acoustic work, you’re able to fully understand not only how talented the Foo Fighters are in their songwriting and performance abilities, but they can do just about anything musically. It’s genius, I was truly blown away by this album listening all the way through. 

Sam’s Song Selection: “In Your Honor”. I love the lyric “In your honor/ I would die tonight/ For you to feel alive”, it makes me think of music in an odd way. This sense that a performer will give everything for their audience to feel something from their art. The song overall provides a sense of community, “Mine is yours and yours is mine/ There is no divide” and brings people closer together. Speaking to Kerrang! in May of 2005, it’s noted that this song was inspired by John Kerry’s presidential campaign. Although the song  isn’t politically driven, Dave explains, “The song itself was just inspired by going out on the campaign trail and experiencing such a strong sense of devotion and belief. People were getting together to make a difference, for the sake of something honourable. It’s that overwhelming feeling of connection with something. It could be love, it could be football, it could be music, it could be anything. I’m trying to keep it general so people don’t focus on one specific thing. It’s not a political record at all.”

6. Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace (2007)

This is my personal favorite Foo Fighters record. It’s their most diverse in terms of sound. “The Pretender” may fool you into thinking you’re listening to a typical sounding Foo Fighters record, but once you take a full dive in you’ll realize this record is truly a unique one. There’s incredible buildup tracks such as “Come Alive”, softer moments which can be best heard in “Statues”, the heavy tracks like “Erase/Replace”, classics such as “Long Road To Ruin”, and even an instrumental track called “Battle Of The Beaconsfield Miners”. Each track stands out in its own way and sounds so different, putting them together in a cohesive album may seem like an outlandish idea. Listening to the album proves this idea to be just the right amount of crazy. Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace is an incredible album, and if you take anything away from this post I hope it’s the following: LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM! 

Sam’s Song Selection: “Home”. A perfect way to end the album, and such an emotional ballad about missing home and the ones you love. It’s out of the ordinary for the typical Foo Fighters rock and roll sound, but it shows how versatile and emotional they can be. Dave has said that they can’t perform this one live often because it reminds him of home and it makes him too emotional. It’s simple lyrically and in its musical delivery (it’s piano driven with an introduction of a few other instruments near the end), but it’s one of those hard hitting songs you wouldn’t expect the album to end with, but it’s perfect. The album also gets its name from lyrics in the second verse of this song. 

7. Wasting Light (2011)

Wasting Light is easily the most well known Foo Fighters record with hits “Walk”, “Rope”, and “These Days”. It’s surprisingly the band’s first Billboard #1 album and the album that earned them five Grammy nominations and four wins, which proves to the eyes of the music business that this album is beyond successful. Big choruses, stereo sound filling your headphones and immersing you in a musical journey, this album delivers a lot in terms of sound. It may shock most to know that this entire album was recorded in Dave’s garage in LA. Pretty impressive that it sounds as epic as it does, right? Teaming up with Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and producer Butch Vig, the album was recorded on tape instead of on computer editing software, another thing that makes this album so incredibly raw. The band also worked on a documentary during this time, highlighting the 16 year history of the band leading up to and through the creation of this album called Foo Fighters: Back and Forth. I have yet to watch it, but anything they touch turns into gold so I can safely assume it’s awesome. 

Sam’s Song Selection: This album was a bit tricky to pick a favorite from, I had to really listen a few times to make a solid choice. I ultimately went with “Bridge Burning”, the album opener. I mean, come on! The harmonies in the chorus are awesome, the drums completely drive the track and make it what it is. It’s a powerful rock anthem, a bold choice to open an album with, and there’s something truly so badass about opening an album with the lyric “These are my famous last words”, it sets you up for everything you’re about to experience when listening to this album. 

8. Sonic Highways (2014)

This album only has eight tracks, but it’s a standout in the Foo Fighters discography. I’m forever kicking myself because I never got around to watching the Sonic Highways documentary, but I will give you a very quick rundown of what I know about it. Each song was written and recorded in a different famous music city including New Orleans, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, among others. In each episode, the band meets with famous musicians from these cities such as Joe Walsh, Dolly Parton, Nancy Wilson, and Gary Clark Jr. These musicians collaborate with the Foos and add a little touch of the inspirations of their hometown in this Foos record, making it extra special. Each episode also gives a history of the music that became popular or originated from the given location. The cover art also includes famous landmarks from each city the album was recorded in, apart from the infinity building in the middle which could also be seen as a tilted eight due to the fact it’s the band’s eighth studio album. For an album consisting of only eight tracks, it packs a powerful musical punch that keeps you wanting more, yet leaves you so satisfied with the music you’ve listened to. You’re not sure if it could get any better, but you almost wish there was just one more track to see what else the Foo Fighters could whip up.

Sam’s Song Selection: This may sound a bit biased because it was recorded in NYC and I live in New York, but “I Am A River” is my favorite from this album. The overall message of the lyrics talks about how all musicians are connected by music. This song is one of the more interesting ones lyrically in my opinion, it’s metaphorical and the musical buildup at the end of the song is so beautiful it brought me to tears listening to it for the first time in a few years (I remember listening to this album when it first came out, but now that I have a greater appreciation for the history of music, hearing it again made me emotional). You can listen to a very brief overview of the meaning and inspiration behind the song from an interview for The Tonight Show in 2014 here. 

9. Concrete and Gold (2017)

Our final Foo Fighters album for today is one that’s full of surprises. Justin Timberlake sings backing vocals on “Make It Right”, Paul McCartney plays drums on “Sunday Rain”, Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men sings backing vocals on closing track “Concrete and Gold”, this album is truly a musical adventure. Concrete and Gold takes elements of modern music and older music but still somehow manages to capture that specific Foos sound, it’s truly a unique work. Full of an insane amount of harmonies and tons of layered guitar tracks, this album can only be described in one word: huge. It’s epic, there’s so many twists and turns; it’s hard to properly explain how complex this album is, you just have to listen for yourself. Some of the ideas and lyrics expressed throughout the album were inspired by the political climate during 2016 (see Tracks 2 and 5, “Run” and “La Dee Da”), Dave Grohl openly expressing his dislike for Donald Trump and the turn of events in American culture, but the album isn’t totally politically charged. The songs all flow perfectly with one another, and this album shows how much the band has matured lyrically and stylistically since their first album released in 1995. 

Sam’s Song Selection: I debated between a number of tracks from this album, but I ultimately ended up going with the title track. Described by Dave as a song combining musical elements of Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, “Concrete and Gold” is the perfect way to end the album. It’s an excellent resolution, and the layered vocal chorus is absolutely insane. It’s a bit slower than most tracks, but it’s lyrics such as “Our roots are stronger than you know/ Up through the concrete, they will grow” make this track such a standout on this album. Just when you think this song is over, the last second of the song ends with “F-ck you Darryl!”, screamed by producer Greg Kurstin, as explained by the band in an interview. A very Foo Fighters way to end an album, if I do say so myself. 

You can find my song selection from each album in the YouTube playlist below, but please do take the time to listen to some (or all) of their albums in full (and in tracklist order, obviously!) if you’ve never listened to the Foo Fighters! Congrats on 25 years and nine albums, Foo Fighters, I can’t wait to see what the next years bring.