Track-By-Track Review: Foo Fighters Step Into A New Era On ‘Your Favorite Toy’

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters have truly withstood the test of time. It’s actually kind of wild that they’re still here, still putting out new music, still selling out stadiums and still managing to sound like themselves after more than three decades.

Their last album, But Here We Are, carried a lot of emotional weight, being their first release after the tragic passing of their long-time drummer, Taylor Hawkins, as well as the passing of Dave Grohl’s beloved mother. This record explored grief in all its forms- anger, sadness, loss, and confusion.

Their twelfth studio album, Your Favorite Toy, lands in a very different space. This marks their first release with drummer Ilan Rubin, who replaced Josh Freese last year. This album feels like a new page for Foo Fighters. It’s lighter, looser and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It feels like a band with no agendas, allowing themselves to have fun.

To celebrate the new record, The Music has taken a deep dive, exploring each song, track by track.

Caught In The Echo

This should have been the lead single. It kicks the album off with huge energy. Big guitars, big drums and a real urgency. It’s a little chaotic and rage-filled but doesn’t tip into being too heavy. It’s also incredibly catchy and a great example of what Foo Fighters do best.

Of All People

Of All People flows on well from the opener. The subject matter is unique, which is always appreciated. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Grohl mentioned that this track came to be after he bumped into a drug dealer from the 90s who dealt heroin.

Though happy that he was alive and well, Grohl was immediately devastated at the thought of the number of people he had lost to that very same drug. Lyrics like "You know you should be dead, but you’re alive instead" sum this up pretty well.

Window

Things ease off here, opening with a laid-back bluesy guitar line and settling into a nice mid-tempo groove. Grohl pulls back vocally, a little softer and almost whispery at times, which adds a lovely texture to the track. There’s a 90s feel to it, too, without trying to be nostalgic. Just a cool, hazy track that isn’t trying too hard.

Your Favorite Toy

The title track really is a grower. Upon first listen, it was immediately clear that this was a curious number, showcasing a new side of the Foo Fighters with its edgy touch. However, with repeated listens, Your Favorite Toy opens up to expose something memorable.

This track captures a distinctive energy that doesn’t fully reflect the record, but it does make it clear that Foo Fighters are entering new territory and experimenting a bit. It’s unusual for sure, but that’s a sign of a band that refuses to be stagnant in its sound.

If Only You Knew

If Only You Knew is one of the highlights for sure. This is pure Foo Fighters: loud, fast and fun. Not too heavy, no overthinking it. The chorus, “If you only knew, if you only knew, maybe you’d feel the way I do, if you only knew,” is simple to the point of being repetitive, but the result is an earworm that’ll bury itself in your head after one listen.

Spit Shine

Spit Shine is anxiety-inducing. It’s loud and fast, and its chaos renders feelings of unease – not an easy task. I can see this being a ‘you either love it or hate it’ track amongst fans. It still has a solid melody beneath it, and the guitar work really stands out.

Unconditional

This one opens up nicely with a bit more breathing room and a crisp drumbeat. It’s softer overall and feels a little more reflective than the rest of the album. Lyrically, it digs deeper without feeling heavy-handed. It’s introspective but still fits the record’s lighter tone and offers a nice change of pace.

Child Actor

Probably the most interesting idea on the album that will certainly draw fans in. The song opens with the line, “I was a child actor, a face on a wall, holding my breath as I wait for the curtain to fall”, and this theme runs throughout the track. The child actor metaphor about pressure, performance, and needing approval is pretty compelling.

With a repetitive chorus, Foo Fighters capture feelings of desperation, really shining the spotlight on the fascinating concept.

Amen, Caveman

This track brings the energy back, while continuing the band’s run of exploring surprising new subject matters. It’s going for generational commentary, with the opening line being “generation euthanise, run for cover, you’re in for a big surprise.”

Asking For a Friend

This is a solid closer that feels familiar, being an early single. It starts off quiet and sombre, building up into a nice, satisfying chorus that feels like a big release without overdoing it. It’s the longest track on the album, and it uses that space well. There’s a definite intention behind it that makes it feel like a proper ending as opposed to a song that was just tacked on at the end.

What stands out about Foo Fighters in 2026 is how comfortable they feel. After everything the band has been through, Your Favorite Toy feels like a reset and a way to figure out what this version of the band sounds like.

At this point, Foo Fighters have nothing to prove, and that’s kind of the charm of this record. As a band that’s already cemented itself in rock history as one of the greats, they made this album because they wanted to and not because they had to.

Fans will probably get a lot out of Your Favorite Toy, as they’re trying something new instead of repeating themselves. It serves as a great reminder that they’ve still got fuel in the tank.

Your Favorite Toy is out now via Sony Music Australia. Foo Fighters return to Australia later this year.