1. There is Nothing Left to Lose - Foo Fighters 1999
Although there is (and rightly so) a strong argument to say that the Foo's best album was the preceding 'The Color and the Shape', it was this album, their third, that took the band from being large Rock band, to a genuine, household name. It also was the one where Dave Grohl managed to shake off being "the drummer from Nirvana", to, "the guy from the Foo Fighters". After leaving previous label, Geffen, due to some personnel changes at the company, the band found themselves free from the pressure of a label's expectations and trying to influence the writing and recording process. Grohl had been living a rather wild lifestyle in Los Angeles during the cycle of the group's first two albums, himself saying, "I was just being a drunk, getting f**ked up every night and doing horrible shit, and I'd finally gotten sick of that new car smell. So I bought this great house in Virginia and told everyone I was building a studio in the basement. It was literally a basement with sleeping bags on the walls!" The band, now down to a three piece, with new drummer, Taylor Hawkins and bassist, Nate Mendel, the band just ate BBQ, drank beer and whiskey and just recorded when they felt like it. Grohl, himself has very fond memories of that time period, saying that the three were best friends and in such a good creative and carefree head space. In fact, Grohl maintains that this is is favorite Foo's record. After completing the recording, the takes were handed to uber-mixer, Andy Wallace, who perfectly captured the feel of the sessions, but adding some all important spit and polish. RCA records quickly snapped up the band and set about creating the "Foo Fighters brand". What you have here is the first output where the musicians actually sound like a band. Much more cohesive a unit than before in their creative stride. There is a larger emphasis on melody on this release, but it still rocks hard for the most part over the piece. 4th single, 'Breakout', is evidence that the band still knew how to hit hard. The lead single. 'Learn to Fly', was everywhere, all over radio and music television. This was made bearable by the fact that it is a great song, and that the video, featuring Tenacious D members Jack Black and Kyle Gass (both friends of Grohl's) is hilarious. It is perhaps in some of the songs more tender moments that the album really shines though. Previously, the band weren't at their best when doing soft, always stronger when kicking out the jams. 'Aurora', is an absolutely gorgeous slice of Rock balladry, as is closing track, 'M.I.A.' Opening track, 'Stacked Actors', was extremely popular, showcasing the bands ability to mix loud and quiet dynamics seamlessly, but better than ever before. This was the first of four Foo's albums that won a Grammy award, and Grohl said in 2012, "When we won for best rock album, which we made in my basement, I was so proud, because we made it in my basement in a crappy makeshift studio that we put together ourselves. I stood there looking out at everybody in tuxedos and diamonds and fur coats, and I thought we were probably the only band that won a Grammy for an album made for free in a basement that year." Regardless of your musical persuasion, no one can deny that this is eand to end quality songwriting and was a great way to see out the 90's in music.