|
Switchfoot
Fading West
Jon Foreman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Tim Foreman – bass
Chad Butler – drums
Jerome Fontamillas – rhythm guitar, keyboard
Drew Shirley – lead guitar
Oh 1996, where
were you then?
Switchfoot was just getting started on their storied career. Then, though, they
were called Chin Up, but that didn’t last long. After only a few shows the band
was contacted and then eventually signed to Re:think Records under the current
name Switchfoot. On that label they released their first three albums, The
Legend of Chin, New
Way to Be Human, and Learning
to Breathe. The label
was bought out before
the first release which put a damper on the band’s marketing plan since the new
album was a Christian label. Soon after some exposure from the movie “A Walk to
Remember” the band attracted a lot of attention from major labels and finally
signed with Columbia Records. The major label debut, The Beautiful Letdown followed the signing. Since the
album has went
double platinum, selling more than 2.6 million copies. In 2005 the band
released its fifth album Nothing is Sound. The
edgier album produced well including HBO ads and the 2006 Winter Olympics. The
sixth release Oh Gravity! hit stores in 2006 debuting
at #18, however the band decided separate from their label the very next year.
After several tours and their own independent label started the guys came back
with their next album Hello Hurricane. The album was nominated and
won a Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel album in 2011. The eighth studio album
appeared in 2011. Vice Verses was considered to be a cousin
album to Hello
Hurricane. The ninth
album accompanied by
a “film,” which was filmed while on tour in 2013, hit stores in January 2014.
The album acts as the soundtrack for the documentary of the band and features
11 tracks and spreads 43 minutes. They get the album going with “Love
Alone is Worth the Fight.” The track opens up with a grand intro that is up
lifting and gets you into the mood for smooth vocals and perfect tunes. The
track delivers just that. Jon’s vocals come sliding in with ease and offer up
well written lyrics. Everything just sweeps along with precision and it will
have you closing your eyes and just enjoying, although the ending does carry on
just a little too long. “Who We Are” is a low key number that offers up some
pop inspired vocals that have a little rap edge to them. The backing vocals
also pop up in the tune to round out the sound. Musically the tune is a little
light on making an impact. This one might get lost in the shuffle. “When We
Come Alive” is another slower track, but it has lots of attitude. The passion
that radiates from the tune is great and you can really connect with it. The
music again is just there for the most part. There really isn’t anything that
makes it stand out. “Say It Like You Mean It” however does have the sound that
makes it stand out. The funky tunes blended with the rap style vocals (that
also has some effects placed on them) is a perfect marriage. It’s a fun tune
that stands out above the rest of the tracks thus far. I can see many people
latching onto this one and not letting go, but with that said I think there
will be some that don’t like it at all. There is some repeating in the track,
but the tunes make up for and distract you from it. “The World You Want” offers
up a very weird intro that could begin a show or come in after a little break
in a show. Once the track does get going it is a very slow moving tune. It does
offer up an emotional and powerful set of lyrics that people are going to hang
onto. This track is a wonderful display of faith and should impact nearly
everyone that comes across it. “Slipping Away” is another slow track that
sweeps by with not much to remember. They do put some effects on some of the
vocals, but other than that the track is forgettable. “BA55” tosses out some
more cool vocals along with a nice little vibe. The tune draws you in close
with a low key sound that gets things going and builds slightly. The track is a
bit weird, but it holds your attention well. Its one of those tracks that you
can just let play in the background while you are doing something and dance
around a little. “Let It Out” is another slow tune, but the music and the
vocals are a bit lighter than others on the record. It turns the volume up a
bit and will have you shaking your head to the beat. It’s an uplifting number
that is very enjoyable. It will be one of the most listened to tunes on the
album I have a feeling. “All or Nothing At All” is a decent tune that keeps
with the slow tempo. They do change up the arrangement as well as the vocals
slightly to create a new experience which is nice. This is another track that I
can see doing some work with the message that they lyrics give up as well as
the overall sound of the music. Everything works together and the boy band
section is, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, a nice addition and surprise
to the song. “Saltwater Heart” is a fun sounding number with another vocal
style change. There are a lot of “ooos” throughout the song which hampers the track
in my opinion, but aside from that item it is a really great sounding track. I
just think it will get lost in the shuffle like many of the others on the
record, because it doesn’t standout as much as others. “Back to the Beginning
Again” wraps up the album with solid tune. I would actually put it up near the
top of the list for this album. I like the vocals and the tempo of the tune.
Its slower than more bands, however for this album its up tempo. Overall the album is okay. I
think that the tempo of the album is too slow and needs to be spiced up a
couple more times than it was. Don’t get me wrong there are a few tunes that
should do some work as they stand out to me, however the bulk of the album
slides right past you. The vocals are clean and clear as is the music that is
laid out in front of you. There are more spectacular releases the Switchfoot as
offered to listeners prior to this release. This one might take a step back in
some aspects; however the lyrics and how well they are written do stand out to
me. This one might be better written than most, but lacks in overall catchiness
and surprises.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Tracks to Watch:
Say It Like You Mean It, Let It Out, Back To the Beginning Again
Track
List:
- Love Alone is Worth the
Fight
- Who We Are
- When We Come Alive
- Say It Like You Mean It
- The World You Want
- Slipping Away
- BA55
- Let It Out
- All or Nothing At All
- Saltwater Heart
- Back to the Beginning
Again
Website (s): www.switchfoot.com
|
