How many times have you loved a CD so much it almost hurt? Then the same band’s eagerly awaited new album is on the verge of being released and the anticipation and excitement is slowly mounting in a monumental crescendo. Finally the day comes; you put the CD into your stereo and bam! Bitter disappointment fills your heart as you listen to the complete crap that is coming out of the same speakers that so filled you with joy just a couple of years ago.Well, take that thought and throw it away because the Foo Fighters’ new album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace definitely does not disappoint, even after their monstrous double album In Your Honor shocked me to my very core just a couple of years ago. The album cracks like a whip in the first track with their hit single The Pretender, a typical Foo Fighters song, yes, but one that still rocks your socks off and forces you to stick your hands in the air and bang your head until you think you are Dave Grohl himself.The Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl-vocals/guitar, Taylor Hawkins-drums, Nate Mendel-bass, and Chris Shiflett-guitar) have once again proven that rock is still alive and only getting better. Though it has been 12 years since the start of their ascension in the world of rock n’ roll, this album showcases some of their best material and how much they have grown as a band and as people.The first half of the album features the majority of their harder songs (of which there are few) such as The Pretender, and Erase/Replace. Many of the other songs start out slowly and build to a blistering crescendo such as Let It Die, But Honestly, and Come Alive; these songs expertly blend together the two aspects of the Foo Fighters’ previous album into beautiful musical compositions that make your ears weep with passion at first and your head bang with rock in the end.The rest of the album plays more into the soft side of the Foo Fighters with some unexpected surprises like the acoustic instrumental Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners, which is dedicated to the miners who were trapped in a collapsed mine in Australia in April 2006. Another surprise comes with Grohl playing the piano on two tracks, most noticeably the five minute ballad Home which ends the album on a graceful and almost tragic note. Though the songs are soft, their melodies and catchiness is enough to enrapture anybody and make them see that the Foo Fighters are more than just a one-dimensional band, but one that can do whatever they set their mind to.The combination of awesome lyrics, great songwriting, and expertly put together musical composition leads the way on this extravagant and confident album. The lyrical topics range from missing home, to summer and romantic experiences, to regret and blame and all the way down the spectrum to learning to accept one’s role in life. There are just no shortcomings in this album for anyone that has an open mind and is not scared of change.The Foo Fighters may be getting older, their screaming may have declined, but their talent, their passion, and their ability to write awesome music is just like wine; It only gets better with time. Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is great from start to finish without a bad track in the midst, a rare occurrence in the music industry of today, and diversity in songs that can possibly relate to almost anyone. The only negative things I can say is that I now have to wait at least a few months for their concert (dates TBA) and most likely another couple years until their next fantastic album.