Listen to the Foo Fighters's "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" at Canoe.ca/songs

Some guys want to have it all. Dave Grohl wants to have it all in one song. Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, in Grohl's case it makes perfect sense.

When last we heard from the Nirvana drummer-turned-Foo Fighters singer-guitarist, he was a man of two minds: One part alt-rocker, one part folk troubadour.

The Foos' 2005 album In Your Honor reflected that split, with one CD of electric crunchers and another of acoustic strummers.

With the grandly (and appropriately) titled sixth studio effort Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Grohl attempts to merge the two halves of his musical personality. And for the most part, he succeeds.

Freeing himself from stylistic and sonic constrictions, Grohl paints with every colour on his pallet, seamlessly blending bone-crunching alt-rock with intimate moments and lush textures to create some of his most mature, ambitious and varied compositions -- though not necessarily his most accessible or aggressive.

Still, you can't accuse him of not giving it his all.

The Pretender 4:29

The mellow opening blends traces of Stairway to Heaven, You Won't See Me and the Bond Theme. Then a whip-crack snare spurs the band through a hard-charging riff decorated with a wiry riff and a throat-shred vocal. Throw in an anthemic chorus, some high-voltage boogie-rock and strings, swirl it all together and you've got this superb shapeshifting single. Download this.

Let it Die 4:05

It starts out as a forlorn lament that's a bit like Nirvana. Then it slowly evolves into a chugging midtempo rocker -- and closes with a hair-raising scream that hammers the final nail in the coffin.

Erase/Replace 4:13

The verses set a mosquito-buzz guitar riff against hammering tom-tom fills. The chorus explodes in a surging wall of guitars. But the dreamy string-laced bridge nearly steals the show.

Long Road to Ruin 3:45

A sitar-like guitar jangle, a strummy chorus and a twangy solo -- all underpinned by a propulsive groove. It's a little bit alt-country, a little bit alt-rock -- and a little like the Foos of old.

Come Alive 5:10

Another Grohl-and-his-guitar ballad that builds into a cathartic screamfest anthem of buzzsaw guitars and walloping drums. It's good, but a little redundant.

Stranger Things Have Happened 5:21

Dave strikes a bluesy pose with this smoky acoustic number. Things get folksier in the strummy chorus -- but wisely, Grohl doesn't overdo it this time.

Cheer Up Boys (Your Makeup is Running) 3:41

Nice to see the Foos taking a poke at the guyliner-loving emo dudes in the title of this hooky, radio-ready pop-rocker. Pity the rest of the lyrics aren't nearly as smartassed.

Summer's End 4:38

Grohl and the boys make like Neil and Crazy Horse on this ragged country-rocker about cherry wine, moonshine and his sweet Virginia countryside. The strings in the bridge are a nice touch.

The Ballad of the Beaconsfield 2:32

The rootsy vibe continues on this bluegrassy instrumental duet -- a tribute to two Aussie miners who listened to the Foos on iPods while trapped underground following a cave-in last year.

Statues 3:48

On the plus side, the band waited until the 10th song to pull out the piano-pop ballad. On the downside, it's a piano-pop ballad -- though the accordion keeps it from being too wimpy.

But Honestly 4:35

We were hoping for one more balls-out barnburner -- and after the usual acoustic-guitar opening, this pop-rocker comes close enough to get the job done.

Home 4:52

The mandatory grand-piano weeper about the travelling man who just longs to be at home. Apparently, every band is required by law to write one. Skip it.