Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters
Per usual, I’ll highlight my three favorite tracks from the album with potential bonus tunes.
At the time of writing, (1/14) today is Dave Grohl‘s birthday! The Foo Fighters have long been my favorite band, second only to the Beatles. In honor of his birthday month, I decided to feature the Foo’s self-titled debut album, which Dave wrote and recorded entirely by himself, playing all instruments and recording all vocals.
The absolute best concert I’ve ever been to was when I was 15, seeing the Foos at Centennial Olympic Park with my Dad. Gary Clark Jr. opened, and it featured a surprise appearance from Jewel, of all people, for a cover of Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty‘s “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” A true core memory for me. This was also the tour in which Dave somewhat famously fell off a stage in Sweden, broke his leg, and continued to play the show, and continued on with the tour, constructing an epic throne of badassery for him to perch on and continue performing. This thing was pretty incredible, with its own movement and pyro. It was almost reminiscent of the Iron Throne from Game Of Thrones, but rather than swords protruding, instead it featured guitar necks.
The first Foo Fighters album is almost like a prelude to what their identity as a band would evolve into: guitar riff-driven, melodic vocals, and outstanding drumming. That’s not a slight on bass player Nate Mendel; he is the glue that holds the band together in more ways than one.
The context of this album is pretty important, as this was Dave’s first project after Kurt Cobain‘s death. A lot of the lyrics were written during Dave’s time in Nirvana, and it is certainly rawer than future Foo albums, almost taking on a garage rock tone. It was really difficult for me to pick favorites, and I would more than recommend listening to the album in its entirety.
Alone + Easy Target
My favorite from the album, Dave actually used to jam “Alone + Easy Target” with Kurt and Krist during Nirvana soundchecks. He recorded a demo for Kurt to listen to in 1992 and recounts, “I told him I was recording, and he said, ‘Oh, I wanna hear it, bring it by.’ He was sitting in the bathtub with a Walkman on, listening to the song, and when the tape ended, he took the headphones off and kissed me and said, ‘Oh, finally, now I don’t have to be the only songwriter in the band!’ I said, ‘No, no, no, I think we’re doing just fine with your songs.’”
Lyrically I love this one, maybe it’s the melody, but something about Dave’s words seems to encompass feelings we’ve probably all experienced. For me, during the post-college limbo of looking for a job and accepting that the real world can be at its best, harsh.
Head is on
I want out
I’m alone and I’m an easy target
Metronome
I want out
I’m alone and I’m an easy target
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0kV8yqiL8M
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na4_NSe8ioY
1992 Demo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfw-8cNeTFg
Good Grief
Good Grief opens up with some fast-paced drums and a super energetic guitar riff that brings my mind to Sweet‘s “Ballroom Blitz” for some reason. I love how frantic this song can feel, with laid-back vocals bursting into the fuzz-filled chorus of “Hate it!” over and over again. I really thought he was saying “Hey there” with a Jersey accent up until recently, and would crack myself up picturing Tony Soprano and Co. performing this song.
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUAbQEenPCs
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTinmRErvAM
For All The Cows
“For All the Cows” is probably a top ten Foo song for me, maybe even top 5 if I really thought about it. I absolutely love the guitar in this one, especially the clean, almost jazz-like tone in the beginning and the little scale Dave plays before hitting the pedal and turning it up into one of my all-time favorite riffs, which was described by one critic as “Paul Bunyan goes jogging.” Lyrically, I think Dave was going for a bit of a commentary on the music industry, but I really don’t know.
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyxy_KMom7g
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Gp1TYLWXI
Bonus
Floaty
Floaty is, in my opinion, one of the most underappreciated Foo Fighters songs, calling on some fairly nonsensical lyrics (similar to album opener This is a Call) with what I’m assuming are allusions to being high. What really makes this song for me is the instrumentation; it’s so easy to groove to.
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLmiOuLAO3A
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8usvOYZo3Y
I’ll Stick Around
“I’ll Stick Around” has long been rumored to be Dave channeling his frustrations about Courtney Love, whom many view as a major villain in Kurt’s life. She’s made some pretty outlandish and unfounded statements about Dave since, and I don’t think there is any love lost between the two. As for the song itself, it might be the best on the album. Certainly, a fan favorite.
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOeVuOBhA8s
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jnV04gwMHA
Wattershed
“Wattershed” is a punk rock song at its core, and you can feel the sneering attitude come through the vocals in this one. I love it. Short and sweet.
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwjZZ100YY
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7B2Tf0uKiA
Big Me
Another fan favorite, “Big Me” is one of the sweeter Foo Fighter songs, written for Dave’s wife at the time. Laid-back and mellow, Dave is fully aware that the song sounds like a jingle for a candy commercial, and the music video is pretty cheeky. I also linked a funny story explanation video.
Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLdJQFTnZfA
Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rfKUDy13I
Mentos – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va9pUvBmOE0
Weenie Beenie
Not much to say. Heavy stuff, man. Not as heavy as “White Limo,” but it’s up there. One of my favorites.
My Taste in Music 
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