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Switchfoot
The group started In San Diego as a trio with John Foreman (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Tim Foreman (bass, keyboards) and Chad Butler (drums). With their debut full-length "Legend of Chin" in '97, Switchfoot's blend of acoustic flavored ballads and straight-ahead power pop earned them a sizable Christian Rock audience. "New Way To Be Human" came out in '99 and '00 release "Learning To Breathe" garnered a Best Rock Gospel Album Grammy nomination. A month after "Learning To Breathe's" release guitarist/keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas was added to the line-up. He had been touring with the group for over a year. In '03, Switchfoot released "Beautiful Letdown" with guitarist Andrew "Drew" Shirley added for touring.
Amid a hectic touring schedule, Switchfoot wrote and recorded "Nothing Is Sound," their '05 release. The group split their recording time between impromptu sessions in dressing rooms and the studio. First single, "Stars" led the 12-song set.
In an effort to separate fans from any remaining post-Christmas cash, Switchfoot released their '06 album, "Oh! Gravity" on December 26th. Actually, given where the band comes from they probably held off releasing it earlier to avoid getting caught in the Christmas commercialization. Also, Shirley added his guitar to the mix.
There are three basic song templates on "Oh! Gravity." All-out (for Switchfoot), lean uptempo and ballad. On the ballads they show the most variety, getting heavy ("Circles"), intimate ("Yesterdays"), overwrought ("Let Your Love Be Strong") and pretentious (Faust, Midas And Myself" with synth strings). Of the four, "Yesterdays" holds together the best thanks to an easy-flow rhythm. But it's the other eight, uptempo tracks that make this album.
The opening title track is a great start with the scatter-shot piano break. That, plus "American Dream" and "Burn Out Bright" show this group has power - not an excessive amount but enough to put them over. Where Switchfoot really find their footing is on stripped down songs. "Awakening," "Amateur Lovers" and the jangling "4:12" have a pleasing economy to them. Unburdened, the songs roll out with all the pieces in place. It also helps that they have an overall encouraging, positive tone.
On "Nothing Is Sound" Switchfoot picks up where "Beautiful Letdown" left off, notching up the energy and creating engaging songs. Surprisingly, considering how the album was written and often recorded (on the road), it doesn't sound forced or hurried. In fact, it was their most polished and cohesive effort to date.
Stars" has a 'blame myself" motif and is very catchy. The group's appealing, high-energy pop-Rock can also be heard on "Easier Than Love" and "The Setting Sun." They even score with the melodic "We Are One Tonight."
Early on, the word on Switchfoot was dismissive. They can Rock when they get around to it. But they don't get there too often. When held up against their previous work, the beefed up "Beautiful Letdown" is welcome. It opens with the power-pop "Meant To Live." They take the acoustic "I Dare You To Move" from their "Learning To Breathe" album and rework it into an improved soft-to-loud "Dare You To Move." The best track is the guitar infused "Redemption."
Lyrically, John Foreman writes from the "way it is and the way it should be" perspective with an underlining theme that "life is worth living." But it's not done in a dry, preachy way. On "More Than Just Fine," among the handclaps and acoustic guitars, the line "I want more than just OK" rings true. For those looking for a positive spin, and optimism, this is a group to invest in.
Switchfoot's other albums are generally low-key, acoustic focused efforts (not to imply that "Beautiful Letdown" or "Nothing Is Sound" Rock all that hard) but each has its moments. The unpolished "Legends of Chin" has "Chem 6A" and "Concrete Girl." "New Way To Be Human's" title track is impressive while "Learning To Breathe" comes through with humorous and layered "Poparazzi" and "You Already Take Me There."