The Colour and The Shape Review

Date Of Release: May 20, 1997

Lineup for The Colour and The Shape:

• Dave Grohl (Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Drums)
• Pat Smear (Rhythm Guitarist)
• Nate Mendel (Bass)

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The Colour and The Shape is the 2nd studio album from alternative rock band Foo Fighters. It marked their official debut as a full band, as their previous self titled debut album was primarily recorded by Dave Grohl himself. Following the major success of the debut album, Dave Grohl recruited ex Nirvana touring band mate Pat Smear as Rhythm Guitarist, Nate Mendel as bassist, and William Goldsmith as the drummer.

The band got together in 1996 to start the recording sessions. During this time they brought in producer Gil Norton to establish a more pop sound to the tracks.

Recording and production was a hellish experience, as described by Nate Mendel. Budget problems, deadlines, two fallen marriages, a lost band mate, and someone nearly going to jail, just about sums up what was going on behind the scenes. Throughout this time, Dave and William were butting heads over the drumming on the album. Dave wasn't satisfied with it, and instead of telling William about it he secretly rerecorded nearly all of the drum tracks himself. Nate eventually told William about what was happening and because of this William left the band.

The Colour and The Shape is a lot more musically developed than their previous album. It was partly inspired by Dave's divorce from photographer Jennifer Youngblood. Because of this a lot of the lyrics deal with one's own emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Tying in with that, the tracklisting was designed to resemble a therapy session. Splitting the album between upbeat, fast tracks and slow ballads to reflect conflicting emotions, a concept I find genius and cool.

Despite everything that was going on during the recording sessions, The Colour and The Shape is the band's best selling album. Selling about 2 million in the U.S alone. Critical response was positive and many fans to this day regard it as their best album. It was also nominated for a Grammy award in 1998 for best rock album.

This review will mark the first time I go back to a band I've already covered and talk about another one of their albums. As listening to new albums is kinda difficult at the moment. Regardless, I've noticed that I've been listening to this album an awful lot lately, and figured "hey, why not talk about it for the next review?"

The Colour and The Shape is another one of my favorite albums of all time. It contains some of the band's biggest hits like Everlong, My Hero, and Money Wrench. It also has the perfect balance between fast, upbeat songs and slow, rich ballads. Like the album Dirt by Alice In Chains this album holds a very special place in my heart. With that said though, let's get started.

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Songs

Doll
The starting "song" off the album. This is more of a interlude intro for the album. This song is one of two songs that feature William Goldsmith's drumming. The light strumming of the electric guitar creates this dreamy atmosphere that makes you want to sway side to side. Really, this song doesn't blow you away but is still a nice way to start the album off. It's mostly used to let your guard down for the upcoming track.

Monkey Wrench
Shooting out like a bullet, this song wastes no time and hits you full force with speed and aggression. I love how distorted and angry the guitars sound. Nate's bass line is very catchy and has a lot going on. As expected Dave's drumming is top notch on here, you can really feel how hard he's striking away at the drums. A little bit after the halfway point, there's a part in the song where Dave is continuously shouting the lyrics as if he's doing it all in one breath and ends it off with an awesome yell.

This song is very catchy and one of the most memorable from the Foo Fighter's discography. After all these months I still never grow tired from listening to Monkey Wrench. It's also a great song that displays the band's more polished and tighter sound as opposed to the debut album. Overall it's a kickass song and the true opener of the album.

Hey, Johnny Park!
Reeling back from the fast tempo, Hey, Johnny Park! kicks off the song with an awesome intro. A drum roll, followed by aggressive electric guitars, and booming bass, sucker punches you before settling down to a calm pace. The drumming on this track has got to be one of the best off the album. Pat Smear absolutely kills it with the main riff! As well as with the simple yet cool guitar solo. This also has to be one of their most underrated songs ever. The highlight on this track has got to be Dave's vocals. It's a perfect mix between clean and aggressive, all while still retaining a beautiful melody.

My Poor Brain
Hey, Johnny Park!'s ending bleeds over and is the intro to this song (you guys know how much I love when albums do that). Because of that you have a chaotic mess of distortion as the intro before settling down to a calm bass, light guitar strumming, and light percussion.

This is another underrated gem that I absolutely love. The way this song toys around with volume always amazes me. At the beginning Dave is almost whispering the lyrics out, meanwhile the band is playing this soft and bright instrumental. But during the chorus and thereafter, you're quickly hit by Dave and Pat's buzzing electric guitars, Nate's booming bass, and some absolutely disgusting drums, there's even some awesome feedback thrown in there as well.

Wind Up
Moving on, Wind up is up next and is a pretty solid and heavy rock tune. The little solo that's played sounds very nice, as does the bass and drums. Overall it's pretty average, but there's a section towards the end that's definitely my favorite. Dave Grohl unleashes his demons as he delivers his lyrics by emitting this absolutely sick scream. Overall a very fun song.

Up In Arms
A total change up from the previous 4 songs. Up In Arms is a short and sweet song. You're left in awe at the song's soft, almost lullaby-esque mood. This song serves as a kind of break from all the chaos the album has been putting out till this point, untill it doesn't... A bit before the halfway point the song switches gears fast and picks up the tempo. It leads you to believe the rest of the song will sound the way it does and then proceeds to slap you in the face, a technique I've always loved in music. The guitar solo included is short but cool nonetheless.

My Hero
Another one of the Foo Fighter's heavy hitters. Words fail to describe how much I love this song. For one, Dave absolutely kills it on the drums! Pat Smear's feedback infested guitar work on this song is flawless and beautiful, especially at the chorus. Nate's bass while simple, is very catchy. Dave's vocals fill you up with determination and hope, it makes you want to sing along. Don't even get me started on the halfway point where all the instruments die down, but steadily, the drumming creeps it's way from the depths and revives the song by going absolutely nuts towards the end of it's section.

This song is about every day heroes. Everything from your parents, teachers, police officers, firefighters, doctors, etc. Ordinary people who do whatever they can for others and never even expecting anything back. They go unnoticed for the most part and is something that is rarely ever talked about or thought about. It's a song with a beautiful message and is still as amazing as the first time I listened to it.

See You
Up next is See you, a fun, campy, and upbeat song. This song uses an acoustic guitar and Nate's bass as the main driving force, really the MVP's of the track. It's a great pop song that deals with the topic of love.

Enough Space
This is one of the heavier songs Foo Fighters have ever made. It's loud, in your face, and I especially love the unpolished sound this song has. The riff for this song is fucking awesome, it wouldn't sound out of place if put on a Nirvana album. Dave Grohl's screams kick ass and drives the song home.

This song was especially made for the audience. as while on tour the Foo Fighters realized that instead of moshing, people would instead jump around and bounce to their heavier songs. Enough Space was created for the audience to do just that. Overall this is another hidden gem from the band.

February Stars
Taking a step back, February Stars gives us another break from the previous energetic songs. The soft and hush beginning fills you up with a sense of melancholy, especially once you take a look at the lyrics. Dave's vocals are simply just beautiful on here. The dynamic of this song is also epic, starting off soft and quiet. Eventually building up to this ultimate climax towards the end, buzzing guitars and all. The way the ending is just guitar feedback sends shivers down my spine, this song it's just beautiful.

Dave Grohl described this song as, "Just a song about hanging on by the tips of your fingers and hoping you don't slip and fall". Taking a look at the lyrics you immediately see what he means. Lyrics like, "Hanging on, here until I'm gone. Right where I belong, just hanging on. Even though, watched you come and go. How was I to know? You'd steal the show". Paint a picture of, at least to me, a person recovering from a heartbreak.

Everlong
We have arrived at the Foo Fighter's most popular song to date. If I remember correctly this was the first song I ever listened to from them. There's a certain kind of magic to this song, it's truly unique. I've listened to all of their albums and yet, there isn't another song they've made that captures the magic of this song. This is one of my favorite songs ever, so much so I know the lyrics by heart.

The guitar riff gives the whole song a dark but uplifting tone all throughout, truly one of my favorite riffs of all time. Dave Grohl uses double track vocals which leaves you in awe. The drums for this song especially kick ass, it makes you kinda want to get up and dance in the middle of your room. Nate's bass line is simple but catchy, and it's fun to play as well.

Dave Grohl wrote this song shortly after his marriage with Jennifer Youngblood started falling apart. Lyrically this song is about being in a new relationship and not wanting it to ever end. It's about being in such a perfect place that you want to stay there forever. Yet you realize that it can't be this way and everything comes to an end eventually. The chorus perfectly captures the theme of the song. It goes, "If everything could ever be this real forever. If anything could ever be this good again. The only thing I'll ever ask of you. You've got to promise not to stop when I say when, she sang"

Walking After You
This is the only song off the album that features an acoustic guitar all throughout, electric guitars are completely absent. This is song is just beautiful and honestly it sometimes gets to me a few times. This song is pretty uneventful but that's completely okay! I just adore the atmosphere this song brings, it's dream-like, relaxing, and sad. Dave sings in a whisper-esque way and never once raises his voice throughout the song. The light percussion and Nate's bass really nails everything down.

This song features some very touching lyrics, as it's about being in a breakup but still having feelings for the other person. The chorus, "If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you" really sums up what the song is about. I also love the verse, "Tonight I'm tangled in my blanket of clouds. Dreaming aloud. Things just won't do without you, matter of fact"

New Way Home
The final track off the album and what a way to go out! Right from the get go this song is loud and exciting, I love how the guitar riff goes up on octaves. They also swap out power chords in favor of full on chords, which gives the song a more brighter and larger sound.

The main highlight of the song though is at the halfway point. Everything dies down and it's just Dave's whisper singing and palm muted guitar strums. This whole section is a long build up, the song gets louder and faster. You're left in anxiety wondering when the climax will come. When it does though, everything just fucking explodes into this awesome chorus. Dave is yelling, the guitars are aggressive and so are the drums. Everybody is fighting for their life at the finale. The repeating phrase, "I felt like this on my way home, I'm not scared" drives you to chant along. Overall a phenomenal way to close the album and one of their best closers on an album in general.

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Bonus: The Final Song!

Okay, so originally when the album first released in 1997 New Way Home was the final song off the album. But in 2007 they reissued the album for it's 10th anniversary and added one more song at the end of the album. The 10 anniversary version of the album is the only version available on all streaming platforms as well. So I thought "why not throw it in there?"

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

The Colour and The Shape
The title track of this album, The Colour and The Shape was originally a B-Side for the single Monkey Wrench. This is without a doubt the heaviest Foo Fighters have ever been. This song is like Endless, Nameless off the album Nevermind by Nirvana.

For starters, Dave Grohl screams all of the lyrics. The lyrics don't have any rhyme or reason to them, and honestly for the type of song this is, it doesn't matter! This song has heavily distorted electric guitars infested with feedback. The drums on this track are one of the best out of all the Foo Fighter's discography, there's even a drum solo at the halfway point that just leaves you speechless. The bassline is thick and chugging all throughout. This song is just pure adrenaline, rage, and chaos, I wish they did more songs like this. This is easily one of my favorite songs from them.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

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Final Thoughts
To end things off, The Colour and The Shape is one of the best albums I've ever listened to. It's the album that completely defined what their signature sound would be in the future. I love how loud and aggressive it can be yet it still has it's fair share of pop melodies and beautiful, touching, songs. Both types of songs excell in what they do. Not to mention, this album has aged well. It definitely sounds like it could've been recorded and released today.

Despite all the hell the band went through when recording the album, it was well worth it. They managed to produce what is in my opinion, a near perfect album. So with that out of the way, I cannot recommend this album enough, listen to it! You won't regret it!

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If I Had To Rate It Out Of 10: 10/10

Songs I liked:

• Monkey Wrench
• Hey, Johnny Park!
• My Poor Brain
• Wind Up
• Up In Arms
• My Hero
• See You
• Enough Space
• February Stars
• Everlong
• Walking After You
• New Way Home
• The Colour and The Shape

Songs I Disliked:

• None!

My Favorites:

• Monkey Wrench
• Hey, Johnny Park!
• My Poor Brain
• Wind Up
• My Hero
• Enough Space
• February Stars
• Everlong
• Walking After You
• New Way Home
• The Colour and The Shape

For Those Interested In Checking It Out Here's A Preview Song: