The Colour and the Shape [2-LP]

by Foo Fighters

Overview

Taking a cue from the old Blondie marketing slogan, the sophomore effort from Dave Grohl's post-Nirvana band was their "The Foo Fighters is a band" project -- well, at least it was intended that way, but Grohl pushed aside drummer William Goldsmith during the recording and played on the entire record. And who could blame him? When you're the greatest drummer in rock, it's hard to sit aside for someone else, no matter how good your intentions, and Grohl's drumming does give the Foos muscle underneath their glossy exterior. That slickness arrives via producer Gil Norton, hired based on his work with the Pixies, but he manages to give The Colour and the Shape almost too sleek a sheen, something that comes as a shock after the raggedness of the group's debut. Even the glossy final mix of Nevermind has nothing on the unapologetic arena rock of The Colour and the Shape -- it's all polished thunder, rock & roll that's about precision not abandon. Some may miss that raw aggression of Grohl's earlier work, but he's such a strong craftsman and musician that such exactness also suits him, highlighting his sense of melody and melodrama, elements abundantly in display on the album's two biggest hits, the brooding midtempo rockers "My Hero" and "Everlong." Elsewhere, the Foos grind out three-chord rockers with an aplomb that almost disguises just how slick Norton's production is, but everything here, from the powerful rush of the band to the big hooks and sleek surface, wound up defining the sound of post-grunge modern rock, and it remains as perhaps the best example of its kind. [Legacy's tenth anniversary edition of The Colour and the Shape was expanded by six bonus tracks, adding a clutch of non-LP B-sides, the highlight of which is a version of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/21/2011
Label:	Legacy / Rca
UPC:	0886979832213
Rank:	3905

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Doll
2. Monkey Wrench
3. Hey, Johnny Park!
4. My Poor Brain
5. Wind Up
6. Up in Arms
7. My Hero
8. See You

Disc 2

9. Enough Space
10. February Stars
11. Everlong
12. Walking After You
13. New Way Home

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Foo Fighters   Primary Artist
Taylor Hawkins   Drums
Pat Smear   Guitar
Dave Grohl   Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Ryan Boesch   Handclapping
Nate Mendel   Bass
William Goldsmith   Drums,Handclapping
Chris Bilheimer   Handclapping
Lance Bangs   Handclapping

Technical Credits

Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Killing Joke   Composer
Chris Sheldon   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Barrett Jones   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Pat Smear   Composer,Group Member
Dave Grohl   Composer,Group Member
Gary Numan   Composer
Foo Fighters   Composer,Producer,Art Direction
Geordie Walker   Composer
Geoff Turner   Composer,Engineer
Jaz Coleman   Composer
Ryan Boesch   Composer,Assistant Engineer
Ryan Hadlock   Assistant Engineer
Nate Mendel   Composer
Prince   Composer
Bradley Cook   Composer,Engineer,Recording Technician
Tommy Steele   Art Direction
Don Farwell   Assistant Engineer
Todd Burke   Composer,Assistant Engineer
Gil Norton   Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Simon Askew   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Pat Ruthensmear   Composer
Jamie Starr   Composer
Gerry Rafferty   Composer
William Goldsmith   Composer,Group Member
Paul Ferguson   Composer
Jason Mauza   Assistant Engineer
Josh Kessler   Photography
George Mimnaugh   Design
Jeff Turner   Engineer,Recording Technician
Giacomo Marchesi   Artwork
Susan Moonsie   Composer
Andy Engel   Logo Design
Jeffery Fey   Design,Art Direction
Lance Bangs   Composer
Martin Glover   Composer