Colour And The Shape, The (10th Anniversary Edition/Remastered & Expanded) [Digipak] - Foo Fighters

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==Track 19: Colour and the Shape==

Screeching describes this track to a T, it's not good, it's not pleasant to listen to and it's just a damn mess.

==My Opinion==

Now that was a weird review I have to say, did I enjoy writing it? The answer is yes, it's nice to write about a band I feel quite passionate about I have to say, I will do a special section below on someone who I thought was one ...
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==The Colour and the Shape vs. Extra Tracks==

I got the 10th Anniversary special with extra tracks of Amazon for just under £5 however if you want to get the one without the extra tracks like I would suggest you do, you are looking to pay about £2 more than the more recent release. I would however buy the album without the extra tracks on, I'm sure you can get it cheap off EBay because the extra tracks are just awful. ... more

As there are 19 tracks on the album and I don't want this review to become too long, I might limit how much I write for the weaker songs, maybe just put the final opinion, I hope this is alright.

Who Are Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters are an American alternative rock band, who were formed by Dave Grohl after his original band Nirvana broke up after the death of lead singer Kurt Kobain. With three other members, Nate Mendel, William Goldsmith & Pat Smear they have become of the best bands around.

The Tracks
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Track 1- Doll

This is a very short song by the band, but it is pretty good, it's a very slow song, the start of the song Grohl's voice is very much in the background, but when the drums join in his voice becomes the main part of the song and it makes for quite a nice song. Something I didn't expect to come from the Foo's but it is an enjoyable song to listen to and it's like an introduction to the rest of the album. A good start as it goes into the next track...

Final Opinion: 8/10 (I can't give it too much as it's only a ½ of the other songs but it still rocks)

Track 2: Monkey Wrench

This song has caused me great pain and aggravation on Guitar Hero 2 or 3 on the PS2, but I still love it. It's typical Foo Fighters and it really sounds absolutely brilliant, the guitars and the drums are heavy, the whole song is fast paced and if you attempt to play this on expert on Guitar Hero you are in for a world of pain.

It's an exceptional piece of music, I really think this is one of the best songs I have heard from this band, heavy to say the least and it sounds great on a great pair of speakers, the thing with Foo Fighters that I find is that every time you hear their music you find yourself smiling as they are great musician and they really keep everything on the positive and you never have songs that make you want to cut your wrists, well unless you hate Foo Fighters.

Final Opinion: 10/10 (A fantastic track from the band, this is what the Foo's are all about, heavy music and heavy vocals)

"What have we done with innocence?
It disappeared with time,
It never made much sense,
Adolescent Resident,
Wasting another night on planning my revenge"

Track 3: Hey Johnny Park

The intro to this song is very heavy, heavy drums and heavy guitar, but they disappear when Grohl's voice joins in to create quite a slow voice, the guitars a toned down and the drum beat is heavy but quieter, it makes for a great song in my opinion. The chorus is just as brilliant, it gets a bit heavier and it makes for great listening.

It's a very different kind of song that I expected to come from the Foo's, it's slowed down and it really does sound very well produced. This is something I have always noticed with the Foo Fighters, they always know when to go quiet and when to use their power, I think this song is one of the best I have heard from the Foo Fighters and I have to say for some great reasons, it really is a beautiful track, one to check out.

Final Opinion: 10/10 (One of the best from the Foo Fighters, brilliantly produced)

"Your eyes still remind me of angels that hover above,
Eyes that can change from blind to blue"

Track 4: My Poor Brain

Like Hey Johnny Park the intro is very loud, as it the chorus, but the verse is sung quietly a bit too quietly in my opinion, he's singing behind the music not over the music like he does in the chorus, he's kept his rock voice for the chorus and used some lame voice for the verse which really doesn't appeal to me.

I'm not too keen on the beat I have to say as well, it's an okay song, I could never call it painful and I probably wouldn't skip it if I was listening to it in the car, but in my opinion it sounds better when he uses his full voice not like he's singing in this track.

Final Opinion: 6/10 (Weakest track on the album so far, it's alright but the verses let it down a lot)

"Real life is so hard; we hid in the stars,
That's where our heads are, my head and your heart"

Track 5: Wind Up

Another great start to a track, heavy as hell and Dave Grohl's voice is very good, there are better songs on the album by far, a lot more catchier and for me you have to be able to hear the vocalists voice properly and he has a thing with hiding behind the guitars and drums, and with his vocals he really should be in the forefront all the time.

I think this could have been a lot better track if Grohl had let loose a bit, I know his vocal range (check out Monkey Wrench) but you don't really get to see it here, which is a shame.

Final Opinion: 5/10 (Weakest on the album so far, I'm not a fan of screeching or vocals being hidden)

"My only promise is that I'll never tell,
Keep you at a distance from the things that I felt,
I'll bite the bullet, Take the beating,
Until I take it all back anyway"

Track 6: Up in Arms

It stars off very slow, and Grohl's voice is quiet, it sounds a bit weird but it's pleasant and it goes with the music, I think he really doesn't know how to sing softly with his proper voice, he puts on a different voice when singing like this. The drums then hit in and then Grohl's voice gets heavier and it creates quite a pleasant song to listen to, this is the song of vocals that I love, he's singing over the instruments and it sounds very good.

The start was quite disappointing compared to the rest of the song, which is just brilliant, a heavy track which is good, but not brilliant as some of the others on the track.

Final Opinion: 7/10 (A good track, there has been better on the album and his voice is not on par at the beginning)

"The rain is here and you my dear are still my friend,
It's true the two of us are back as one again,
I was the one, who left you always coming back,
I could not forget you girl, now I am up in arms again"

Track 7: My Hero (prefer acoustic version)

I have never heard this track done like this, I have the acoustic version from a talk show which is just amazing but I have never heard it done with all of the instruments and all of that. I have to say I think I do prefer the acoustic version, I'll try and put a link at the end, but this is very good, I think it should have been one of those tracks that are begging to be done acoustically, but the instruments are heavy and they do work with the song.

For me the strongest point of this song are the lyrics which are just beautiful, I have heard that they may be talking about Kurt Kobain (lead singer in Grohl's first band Nirvana who died), they are some brilliant lyrics within this track and they pretty much carry the song in my opinion, I do prefer the acoustic version and I will rate the song on both this and that one.

Final Opinion: 9/10 (A fantastic track, the acoustic version of the song deserves 10/10 but I think the music here is just too heavy for my liking with the beautiful lyrics)

"There goes my hero,
Watch him as he goes,
There goes my hero,
He's ordinary"

Track 8: See You

This is a very different Foo Fighter song, it's more country and bluesy, I have to say I'm not a fan though however, as I think with Grohl's rocky voice it just doesn't work, and on an album like this one it sounds out of place and not something that I like to listen to. The song is probably the weakest on the album so far.

Final Opinion: 2/10 (Weakest track on the album, sounds really out of place and not good)

Track 9: Enough Space

I'm not too keen on the start of this album, it sounds good but it's missing the Foo Fighters heaviness, it kind of gets there part way through the track, when Grohl's voice joins in it slows down and then gets louder for the chorus, this is another weak song, it doesn't sound like a lot of time was spent in creating this track, it is just alright, not as bad as See You but just not brilliant either.

Final Opinion: 4/10 (An okay track but not brilliant)

Track 10: February Stars

From the first beat you can hear this is going to be a soft track, and it is, very quiet and very nice to listen to, I think Grohl could have put a bit more behind his voice but other than that it is a very nice track to listen to, it's just the right amount of quiet and it's a great difference from the other tracks on the album, I think the only downside to it, is when Grohl goes quiet he almost whispers, he doesn't sing quietly, it doesn't sound like it is the brilliant Dave Grohl singing. There is a nice bit about 1 minute from the end where they sing the chorus part where it gets very louder, it's still a ballad and still slow, but the music is heavy and it really does sound good.

A nice track, one of the best on the album, I think Grohl's vocals could have been better but other than that it is a very pleasant track to listen to.

Final Opinion: 8/10 (A nice track to listen to, it's very different from their other work but it's pleasant to listen to)

"You ask for walls I'll build them higher, we'll lie in shadows of them all,
I'd stand but there much too tall, and I fall"

Track 11: Everlong

Like My Hero this is one of the songs that I already have on my IPod and this track I just love, I love the soft riff in the start and then it gets heavier and heavier, I think I have the track without all the guitars on my IPod but it sounds very good either way, like My Hero this is a beautiful lyric track, it's sung greatly by Grohl and it really does sound brilliant.

I'm having a great time listening to this track; it really is a masterpiece and definitely one of their best tracks I have heard in a long time, brilliant.

Final Opinion: 10/10 (Probably THE best on the album, it sounds good without the heavy music and with it, beautiful lyrics)

"And I wonder, when I sing along with you,
If everything cold even feel 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"

Track 12: Walking After You

This is a romantic sort of track which is weird for this band, it is a nice track, apparently it has something to do with the X Files movie or TV show, but I'm listening to it of the album and I have to say it's a nice song, but Grohl's voice does bother me when he sings low, I don't think he's able to do it, I know amazing right, Grohl not being able to do something.

He whispers his way through this song, I don't know if there is a word for this, but in my opinion it doesn't sound like Grohl which makes it sound quite weak, it's a pleasant song to listen to but it's amazing how weak it sounds compared to when he actually uses his voice.

Final Opinion: 7/10 (A nice song, but Grohl's voice disappointed me)

"I cannot be without you, matter of fact,
I'm on your back"

Track 13: New Way Home

This track is not even worth talking about, probably the weakest track on the album by far, it's an awful track it starts off heavy, Grohl's voice is not goo and it is just quite a disappointing track in my opinion. Not the weakest on the album but not the best. His voice gets very quiet in the middle which just annoys the hell out of me, as there seems like no point for it.

Final Opinion: 4/10 (Another weak track, its' alright but nowhere near good)

Track 14: Requiem

There's not many lyrics to this track at all however it does last for over 3 minutes which makes it painful, it's not a good song, I didn't even know that there was lyrics until I read them on the internet, I have to say it's more of an instrumental track than anything, the music is good but the lyrics you can barely hear it just sounds like humming or something like that. Not worth wasting your time over.

Final Opinion: 1/10 (Weakest track on the album by a long way, not good, can't even hear the lyrics)

Track 15: Drive Me Wild

Again another song with few lyrics and again the vocals are barely nonexistent, I'm actually wishing that I hadn't got the extra tracks version of this as I have paid more for it and it seems to be awful, not a fan so far, not a Foo fighter song, not very good and you can't even hear whose singing.

Final Opinion: 1/10 (Another extra track and it really is awful)

Track 16: Down in the Park

Is this extra as bad as the other two, it starts off alright, but that's it, the beat is the only good thing of this song, Grohl's voice is just awful, plain and simple. This is another badly produced, badly sung extra song, I know I got this album cheap off Amazon but this track is not something I want to listen to.

Track 17: Baker Street

I'm really not looking forward to reviewing this track, all of the other extras have been painful to listen to and have just been a waste of time, and guess what it's weak as I thought it would be, Grohl really must have been drunk when creating these extra tracks as they are badly sung, badly produced and just sound awful compared to the rest of the album. A waste of time.

Track 18: Dear Lover

See review on tracks 14- 17 as there just the same for this one.

Track 19: Colour and the Shape

Screeching describes this track to a T, it's not good, it's not pleasant to listen to and it's just a damn mess.

My Opinion

Now that was a weird review I have to say, did I enjoy writing it? The answer is yes, it's nice to write about a band I feel quite passionate about I have to say, I will do a special section below on someone who I thought was one of the greatest singers and musicians in the world, but I was proved wrong with this album.

I brought the 10th Anniversary special with extra tracks of this album, which now I wish I never did as the extra tracks were just god damn awful, but the rest of the album was a mixed bag to say the least.

I have been a fan of the Foo Fighters for as long as I can remember, it was Nirvana (Dave Grohl's first band) that I first fell in love with and when I hear Foo Fighters I just fell in love as well, it wasn't until around about 2002 that I first heard about the Foo's, it was Dave's portrayal of the Devil in the Tenacious D video Tribute that got me and my mates talking and voila, I found Foo Fighters.

For me this album has some brilliant tracks, a lot of my favourite tracks on the album like My Hero and Everlong and even Monkey Wrench I had heard before countless times and adored, but as I had only heard Everlong and My Hero on YouTube I went for the stripped version of the song and fell in love with the acoustic version of each song so it was nice to hear them with all of the instruments etc.

Other songs like Hey Johnny Park and Doll shocked me, I had never heard of them before and they were brilliant. I have to say that most of the album is just alright, I think those tracks that I have just mentioned are the best but the rest of the album either features some awful music, or just alright songs, the main problem I have with the album falls upon the hands of Dave Grohl's whose voice does not like to sing low in some of the songs, in songs like Everlong is sounds good however in other tracks I found myself getting quite annoyed.

Dave Grohl

This man is a magician, he is the king of alternative rock and I have always loved his music, however he is what made this album have only 3 stars, in heavier tracks where he uses the full powerful pipes he has, his voice sounds amazing, however, with the exception of Everlong, when he sings low he sings almost with a whisper and for me this doesn't make for good sounding music, in some tracks it becomes quite boring and not something you come to expect from the king of alternative rock.

The Colour and the Shape vs. Extra Tracks

I got the 10th Anniversary special with extra tracks of Amazon for just under £5 however if you want to get the one without the extra tracks like I would suggest you do, you are looking to pay about £2 more than the more recent release. I would however buy the album without the extra tracks on, I'm sure you can get it cheap off EBay because the extra tracks are just awful.

Should You Buy The Album?

If you buy the version without the extra tracks then yes as it is a masterpiece, some of the Foo's finest work, however if you want to risk it and get the cheaper but longer version then go for it, but get some ear plugs as well.

Hope this review helped. Thank you for all of my rates on my other reviews.

Kirsty (C) 2009

I have to give a speech about this band in my Key Skills lesson this week, think if I gave her this review she'll let me off talking to the whole class? Wish me luck, and keep your eyes peeled as I'm looking to buy their Greatest Hits album when it comes out in March.

Everlong Acoustic YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO_15bcZTq8&feature=related

My Hero Acoustic YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkogKAZGm_g&feature=related 

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