The first two Foo Fighters albums, “Foo Fighters” and “The Colour and The Shape,” are widely regarded as having no bad songs. “Foo Fighters” marked a departure for Dave Grohl from his Nirvana influences and allowed him to establish his own musical style.
“The Colour and The Shape” was the first Foo Fighters album featuring the full band, providing a glimpse into their future direction. It employs youthful energy and offers a diverse array of songs with unique chord progressions. While Dave Grohl continued to play drums on this album, Nate’s bass work was filled with amazing tones.
The lead single from the album, “Monkey Wrench,” delves into themes of dysfunctional relationships. Grohl’s lyrics suggest a refusal to change oneself to fit another’s expectations.
In interviews, Grohl described “Monkey Wrench” as a song about “realizing that you are the source of all the problems in a relationship. You love the other person so much, you want to free them from the problem, which is actually yourself.”
“Monkey Wrench” holds particular significance as Grohl was going through a divorce during the making of “The Colour and The Shape”.
“My Hero” debuted in concert before the album’s release. Prior to “The Colour and The Shape,” Foo Fighters’ concert sets mainly featured songs from their first album, occasionally interspersed with covers. On July 20th, 1995, Grohl introduced the new song by saying, “We’re the Foo Fighters… and we’re going to do a song we wrote three days ago. It’s called My Hero.”
Despite speculation, Grohl has consistently denied that the song was about his former bandmate Kurt Cobain. He explained that the song is written from the perspective of a child, celebrating the common man and the potential of ordinary individuals.
“Everlong,” the album’s second single, captures the essence of real love and the excitement of newfound romance, tempered with an acknowledgment of life’s impermanence.
Grohl penned “Everlong” about his former girlfriend Louise Post of Veruca Salt, following his separation from his first wife. He described it as a song about being deeply connected to someone, where singing together feels like perfect harmony.
“The Colour and The Shape” marked a pivotal moment for the Foo Fighters, proving their ability to stand on their own and distance themselves from Grohl’s past with Nirvana. The album exudes a deeply personal vibe, making it a timeless gem worth rediscovering for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Must Listen To Tracks: Monkey Wrench, Hey! Johnny Park, My Hero, Everlong
Buy Foo Fighters, “The Color and The Shape” on Amazon.
