Who better to have as our artist of the month than the Foo Fighters?

One of the biggest rock acts around, the band formed in 1994 and in that time have released 8 albums, played thousands of shows and won 24 awards. The group are set to have a great summer, starting with their headline slot at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

With lots more to come, we thought we’d start by letting you know that some of the best gems in the Foo Fighters catalogue are available on vinyl, and also CD and digitally at a reduced price for a limited time only (until July 31st.)

We recommend all of the Foo Fighter hits, but if you really have to pick just one Foo’s album to grab this summer here’s the order we’d recommend them in:

1. Greatest Hits | iTunes // Amazon

If you can only get one album, this is the one to get, all the big songs from the self titled debut through to 2007’s Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.

Foo Fighters Greatest Hits is a lesson in brilliant post grunge rock.

2. The Colour And The Shape | iTunes // Amazon

The first “proper” Foo Fighters album, perfectly displays the signature Foo Fighters sound; pop melodies, huge choruses, driving guitars and some of the biggest drums you’ll ever hear (This was the last Foo Fighters record Dave Grohl played drums for).

Featuring the classic fan favourites, Monkey Wrench, My Hero & Everlong.

3. There Is Nothing Left To Lose | iTunes // Amazon

Recorded in Grohl’s first Virginia home’s basement as a three piece (the first Foos album to feature Taylor Hawkins on drums).

‘There Is Nothing Left to Lose’ displayed yet another side of the band’s sound, a softer more experimental element but obviously still includes the huge rock sections the band are known for, just listen to first track ‘Stacked Actors’ to hear what we mean.

4. Wasting Light | iTunes // Amazon

The band’s 7^th album was once again recorded at Grohl’s house, though this time in the garage of his new California home and straight to tape rather than using digital recording processes.

A raw and heavy record with Foo Fighters having become a 5 piece band, ‘Wasting Light’ links back to early Foos material whilst retaining the mature song-writing that had been developing over the previous 6 records.

The album earned the band 5 Grammy Awards including Best Rock Album.

5. Sonic Highways | iTunes // Amazon

The newest Foo Fighters album, recorded in 8 different cities and featuring musicians local to each city.

‘Sonic Highways’ could easily have sounded disjointed but in actuality the band sound as focussed as ever and re-introduce some of the softer elements jettisoned on ‘Wasting Light’ with great effect.

From the deceptively gentle start of ‘Something From Nothing’ to the crashing crescendo of ‘I Am A River’, Wasting Light really is a musical journey in more ways than one.

6. Foo Fighters | iTunes // Amazon

Where it all began, the very first Foo Fighters album, featuring songs written largely during Dave Grohl’s time in Nirvana and with every instrument being played by Grohl.

Starting life as demos being handed out independently before eventiually being picked up by Capitol records and becoming an international success, ‘Foo Fighters’ is the blueprint of all that was to come.

Fuzzy & grungy guitars with one foot firmly in the hardcore punk realm married with ear worm melodies and early signs of the signature Dave Grohl “growl”, the songs may be simpler than some of Foo Fighter’s more recent work but they are by no means less brilliant.

7. In Your Honour | iTunes // Amazon

The band’s double album showcases the extremes of Foo Fighters’ sound..

One disc of arena ready rock and the other of intimate acoustic numbers including Grohl’s first ever composition ‘Friend Of A Friend’ and the band’s highest charting UK single the blisteringly emotive ‘Best Of You’ which was always destined for huge crowd sing-a-longs.

8. Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace | iTunes // Amazon

A distillation of the double disc experimentation displayed on ‘In Your Honour’ with an additional 1970’s tinge, ‘Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace’ is the broadest sounding album from Foo Fighters.

Marrying all the elements from the previous 5 albums into one, the album displays a heightened sense of melody from the band even in heaviest track ‘The Pretender’.

It’s the closest Foo Fighters have got to making a traditional sounding “classic rock” record and one that catapulted them into Stadiums in the UK along with earning them another Grammy Award for Best Rock Record.

9. One By One | iTunes // Amazon

‘All My Life’, ‘Low’ & ‘Times Like These’; this is an album where the riff is king!

Showcasing a darker and more aggressive sound Dave Grohl lets his weird edge shine on ‘One By One’.

Describing the song writing process Grohl said “We figured we’re gonna get mean, we’re gonna get ugly. And then I end up putting this four-part harmony on it, and all of sudden it’s beautiful”. Like ‘wait a second, it was supposed to be gross, and now it’s gorgeous’.

One to turn up loud, let loose and mosh to!

10. Skin & Bones | iTunes // Amazon

It may be last in our list but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad album or we don’t like it, in fact we think this live album is brilliant!

Recorded on August 29, 30 and 31, 2006 at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles with an expanded 8 piece line-up, this 15 song acoustic set shows Foo Fighters as you’ve never seen them before, mellow, artistic and just a little bit special!

 

Check out the Legacy site throughout June for more to come on the band!
>>20 things you need to know about Foo Fighters
>> Win a bunch of Foo Fighters vinyl
>> The ultimate Foo Fighters set list
>> 5 brilliant Foo Fighters videos