Foo Fighters: "The Colour And The Shape" (Roswell/ Capitol) Dial-a-track code: 1201

Dave Grohl had a tough time trying to follow up his former hand, Nirvana, hut he pulled it off with the Foo Fighters' debut album, revealing a talent for guitar, vocals and songwriting hitherto hidden.

Rejoice, ye rockers, because the Grohlmeister has done it again, and The Colour And The Shape is a wonderful configuration of blinding riffs and angular licks. Foo Fighters knock most other US post-grunge bands into a cocked hat, simply because they know how to back up those sledgehammer sounds with an absolutely infectious tune. The single, Monkey Wrench, prises its way into your head, loosening it up for tunes like Hey. Johnny Park!,

Wind Up and My Hero. There are songs to snap your fingers to (See You), songs to swoon for (February Stars) and of course songs to bang your head very hard to (My Poor Brain). There's a Pixie-lated influence on Enough Space, Grohl screaming like Black Francis in an alien experiment, while Up In Arms neatly shifts gear from a subtle strum to a frantic wig-out.

While Grohl played practically every instrument on the first album, The Colour And The Shape is more sharply-defined by the guitars of Pat Smear and the bass of Nate Mendel, making Foo Fighters' second tour of duty a collective triumph.