In Your Honor (by Foo Fighters, Rock)

Former Nirvana member Dave Grohl, lead singer of the Foo Fighters, attacks the vocals on disc #1 of IN YOUR HONOR with his usual visceral intensity, backed by blistering guitar work and attack-mode rhythm tracks. On disc #2, listen for flamenco guitar and delicate piano on "Virginia Moon," a duet with Norah Jones in which Grohl gets to croon romantic Hallmark-worthy poetry to a bossa nova beat. Another track, "Miracle," features Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, and "Cold Day in the Sum" gives drummer Taylor Hawkins a shot at lead vocals. It feels like everyone involved is stretching -- taking musical chances that mostly end up working out well.

On disc #1, these guys make it clear they know their way around a musical hook or two, and they aren't afraid to give it all they've got, even if the lyrics alone would have little effect if you took away the overly dramatic poetic death metaphors. The first disc offers terrific performances, but with few surprises. The real gems are on disc #2, a quieter and sweeter Yang to disc #1's Yin. There's a feeling of immediacy and honesty in these quieter tracks that somehow trumps the big loud stuff on disc #1, making this feel like the heart of the album.

Released on: June 14, 2005
Label: RCA
Genre: Rock
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes