Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape (EMI) Don't be fooled by the bland title and artwork. The dreaded follow-up-flop syndrome plaguing many contemporary acts will not be afflicting Foo Fighters with this cacophonic but classy creation.
This eagerly-anticipated album from former Nirvana drummer-turned-band leader Dave Grohl has been well worth the wait - 13-tracks of bottom-kicking hard-rock delivered with a production punch even Jackie Chan would have difficulty deflecting.
The Fighters' first 'band effort' since their 1995 self-titled debut, Grohl's solo effort after the death of Kurt Cobain and demise of Nirvana, this record is musically colourful and at times striking.
Grohl has abandoned his punk roots in cheap production by hiring former Pixies soundman Gil Norton to man the decks, bringing in his trademark 'wall of guitar' sound.
The result is a startling and tasty mixture of clear and distorted tones, adding a much heavier thump to the Fighters' sound.
Grohl's music is often superb, but lacks the lyrical magic and imagination of his former poetic bandmate Cobain. Still, the infectious anthems and air-guitar riffing of Monkey Wrench, My Poor Brain and Wind Up highlight the brilliance not witnessed here since the band's show in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium last year - one which upstaged the headlining acts.