Foo Fighters “Your Favorite Toy” Album Review by Cael McLeish

May 12, 2026

Thirty years past the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind, it’s hard to dispute the legacy of Dave Grohl. In fact, I don’t know if I could find another name in the rock genre so universally recognized today. To tell the story of Dave Grohl is to recount the story of a great musician who very easily could have lost it all with the death of his frontman, but instead chose to reinvent himself and become a great success in his own right.

In recent years, tragedy has continued for Dave, with their 2023 album But Here We Are being marked as a time of grieving after the loss of drummer Taylor Hawkins, and more personally, Dave’s mother Virginia. Shortly following the end of the subsequent tour for the album, Dave found himself in some rather unfortunate headlines. For a while, it was unknown if the band would even regroup, further spurred by the firing of drummer Josh Freese.

However, in July of 2025, the band dropped a single called Today’s Song. The single served as somewhat of an ode to the former members of the band. This song seemed to fly under the radar for most people, except for the hardcore fans. As a matter of fact, I do not believe it has been played live to date.

Then, in September, during a pop-up show at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, Ilan Rubin was announced as the new drummer, with a setlist featuring a whole lot of deep cuts. People were excited, myself included. This was later followed up by the release of Asking For a Friend in October, and I was hooked. The new album sounded dark and heavy. I was all for it!

In April, Your Favorite Toy was released as the twelfth album from the Foos. At only 36 minutes long, this is the shortest album the band has released. And I honestly have had a hard time coming around to it, and not for lack of trying.

Caught in the Echo is a great opening track, launching with a fun rocking vibe before opening into an enjoyable chorus that reminds me of Congregation from 2014’s Sonic Highways. I even love the back section of the song. So, what is the problem, you may ask? To my ear, this production is pretty ordinary. Maybe I’m just a little too used to the sound of the last four albums with Greg Kurstin, make it five with Butch Vig’s Wasting Light, but the overall quality has just gone way downhill. The filter effects on Dave’s voice do absolutely nothing for me, especially coupled with his screams. I feel there’s a lot of compression on the drums as well, which is a shame because Ilan Rubin is killing it from the get-go.

Of All People is a punky track that takes me back to the sound of the debut album. Dave has stated that this was a song inspired by seeing his former dealer and wondering “how did you survive when so many people you sold to are gone.” The anger is here, as is the acceptance, and this actually makes for a short song that I hope I get to see live on the Perthdate of their Take Cover tour next year.

Window is an interesting song, decently removed from the typical Fooies sound for the most part. I enjoy the sound of the song overall, though I find the lyrics a little odd. “I saw your face there in the window, you were a window cleaner letting in the sun.” It’s a good analogy for the concept of someone cutting through a rather dreary life as portrayed in the verses, but it just doesn’t quite hit me the same as other Grohl-penned classics.

Your Favorite Toy, the title track, is the utmost example of everything I hate about this album’s sound. The song is one that feels like it would genuinely be fun if it were at all listenable. Dave’s vocals here are completely bit-crushed and distorted and by the time we get into the second verse, I just can’t stand it anymore. Thing is, I actually like the little lead part from Chris Shiflett here. I think the lyrics are really good, I like the bridge build, but I just cannot listen to the song. And yes, I know that this effect is not new for the band, going back to at least La Dee Da on Concrete & Gold, but there it was used sparingly and it fit the song. This feels like slapping an effect on there for no reason and calling it a day.

But I digress. While my opinion on the vocal effect does not wane with each passing song that uses it, I must say that If You Only Knew is a really fun song. The progression of the song, at least instrumentally, is brilliant! The clean bridge leading into a solo section that almost reminds me of Wheels, and the little chaotic rhythmic patterns that offset the transitions are excellent! I really like the building guitar harmonies towards the end. This is a real highlight for me.

Spit Shine is spiritually reminiscent of White Limo from Wasting Light, really punky and chaotic in the best ways. This is the song where I feel the vocal effect is fully warranted, even if I’m not the biggest fan of the falsetto vocal melody that starts this one off. Honestly, a really fun song that takes me back to prime Foo Fighters. The use of the offset counter-melody during the verse is a really nice touch too.

Now we get to Unconditional, and this to me is an odd case. This song was played live during the 2024 UK tour with Josh Freese on drums, and even at the time, I remember reading the story that this song was an unfinished demo from a previous album that they polished up and brought out live. It’s great to hear it fully brought to life on the album. The vibe overall reminds me of Outside from Sonic Highways. I genuinely love this song, and it may be my second favorite from the album so far. The effect is even dialed back a little on this one, which makes me happy.

Child Actor is a divisive song among fans so far. Some tout this as their favorite, some really despise this song for the massively over-repeated chorus. I think it’s a decent look at how fame can corrupt someone if they aren’t ready for it. It’s a fairly repetitive song without too much substance in my eyes though. I think given a little more time to cook, this one could’ve really been something special. It’s not bad, but it isn’t great to me.

Amen, Caveman is up next and this is one that really sits right in the sweet spot for me. This just meets the rocking vibe I come to Foo Fighters for. There’s not a whole lot to say about the structure here, I think the riff is pretty cool and hearing a bit more lead guitar here is certainly a nice touch. I can’t really say much except that this is just the right song for me at this point.

And so, the story for Your Favorite Toy ends where the ride began. Asking For a Friend is the closing track and it is by far my favorite. This is heavy, it’s dark, the riff actually makes me think of Tool in a way. Everything that I wanted in a follow-up to But Here We Are is brought to life in this one song. Dave, Chris and Pat all have distinct roles on guitar, the vocals sound exactly how I want them. And, oh man, that breakdown is CATHARTIC!! Honestly, I’d probably put this over anything from the last two albums before this. It’s peak Foo Fighters for me, and I hope they put it into the live set soon.

For me, Your Favorite Toy leaves me feeling rather torn. I think this would have been brilliant had the production been on par with what they’ve had since 2011. As it is though, there are a lot of parts that leave me turning down the volume instead of banging my head, and that is not the kind of vibe I turn to Foo Fighters for. I think this creates an interesting parallel where I’m actually looking forward to the songs more live as I feel my hangups over these elements will be alleviated by the rawness of a live performance.

But hey, that’s just the opinion of one guy who’s still singing Everlong at the top of his lungs, right? Your Favorite Toyin no way feels like a closing chapter, but rather a continuation of the Foo Fighters story, so here’s to the Take Covertour and whatever the next chapter with Ilan Rubin may bring.