Switchfoot Albums (7)
What The Critics Say
Anyone claiming to be even the slightest fan of modern rock was well acquainted with "the Foot" by the time this greatest-hits anthology was released. Even 12 years and six highly acclaimed albums after they first got together, Switchfoot still feel like the band you grew up with -- that memorably personal source of musical comfort that you always want to have with you. It's hard to picture how far Jon Foreman and his surfer buddies would come in that space of time -- over five million albums sold, three discs hitting the Billboard Top 20, and a string of modern rock radio hits. A handful of those hits -- mostly from the band's commercial breakthrough, The Beautiful Letdown -- appear on practically every alternative rock fan's "best songs of the 21st century" playlist. And Switchfoot wouldn't be Switchfoot without proving to their fans that they have stayed grounded despite all the accolades. To do this, they included a generous helping of 18 songs on The Best Yet (plus 14 videos on the Deluxe Edition), almost a third of which were culled from their early years on the re:Think label. Listeners who only know "Dare You to Move" or "Meant to Live" will be pleasantly surprised by this disc, which includes the band's latest track from the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian soundtrack, "This Is Home." A fitting title indeed; The Best Yet still makes you feel at home. It is an endearing collection from one of the most well-known modern rock outfits this side of the post-grunge movement. ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Moving on somewhat from the epic and sincere post-grunge of their last two hit albums, 2003's Beautiful Letdown and 2005's Nothing Is Sound, California Christian-emo rockers Switchfoot deliver a lively and laid-back effort with 2006's Oh! Gravity. Perhaps influenced by the post-punk of such contemporaries as Franz Ferdinand and Futureheads, Switchfoot smartly keep things stripped down and to the point this time. To these ends, the title track and leadoff single "Oh! Gravity" is a poppy blast of '80s new wave. Similarly engaging, the punchy and playful Mott the Hoople-esque anthem "Amateur Lovers" is a truly inspired creative turn for lead singer/guitarist Jonathan Foreman and his cohorts. But lest longtime fans fear the band have completely changed their sound, don't worry, as tracks such as the blissful mid-tempo ballad "Awakening" and the driving rocker "Head over Heels (In This Life)" retain the band's knack for mixing heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies that tug at your soul. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With over two million copies sold of their 2003 breakthrough Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot have finally found the universal audience they've been searching for since 1999's New Way to Be Human. Their CCM inspirations had always been more curious than self-righteous -- "We're all in this together, Jonathan Foremanwould sing in his lyrics, "so let's figure out what it all means" -- and on Letdown, those impulses meshed ably with slick post-grunge guitars and the production of John Fields. It's the same formula on Nothing Is Sound, Switchfoot's 2005 effective, but too calculated follow-up. Fields is back in the producer's seat, and Foreman is still striving to separate honesty from commodities and find a place for his soul to stand up straight. On songs like "Blues," "Shadow Proves the Sunshine," and "Happy Is a Yuppie Word" his vocals mix Bono's plaintive wail with the laconic surfer drawl of fellow Southern Californian Mark McGrath. He conveys his passion for key topics like life, death, sex, and redemption. But Foreman's also careful not to lose that laid-back edge, so we know there's still an easygoing beach kid under that washed-out blonde mane. Together with Foreman, Switchfoot succeeds incredibly well with this meaningful innocuousness. Vestiges of Nirvana remain in their melodic crunch, but there's no teeth, and nothing threatening. Instead the wrangled yells and lurching notes of "Politicians," "Lonely Nation," and "Easier Than Love" are balanced by hopeful verses, tinkling programming, and layers of airy reverb. With Nothing Is Sound Switchfoot have realized that with universal success comes being all things to all people. So they're prayerful -- "Please Lord don't look the other way...Shine on me," goes "Shadow Proves the Sunshine" -- but they're also just plain likeable, giving "We Are One Tonight" the easygoing flair of the Gin Blossoms. Foreman probes the big issues with a personal touch, his band keeps the beat steady and true, and it sounds like nothing and everything at the very same time. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
'The Beautiful Letdown'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 11
Label Red Ink
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
In 2002, alternative CCM rockers Switchfoot cribbed some wider exposure from Mandy Moore, contributing tracks to her film Walk to Remember. It was a good fit, as the film, like the Foot, strode toward the mainstream without forgetting its good-hearted ideals. They returned in February 2003 with the slick modern rock missive The Beautiful Letdown, which promptly blew up the Christian charts and garnered Switchfoot an armful of Dove Award nominations. But, issued through Columbia Records instead of Sparrow, it was clear Letdown had designs on something larger than the CCM market. Thus a year later, in 2004, Switchfoot issued the album again. It's the same, though the mix is slightly tweaked and an unremarkable DVD with videos and some unreleased stuff appears, hoping to appease those who bought the thing once already. Musically, the album is kind of all over the place. But it's always melodic and well paced, and carefully emulates what's already worked for adult alternative. So, while "Meant to Live" approaches the chunky grandeur of Fuel, "Gone" is a winking sing-song of a thing that owes a huge -- huge! -- debt to Sugar Ray. There's also stuff like "This Is Your Life" and "More Than Fine," where slick electronic treatments accentuate Jon Foreman's slightly Bono-ish vocals. It's all tinged with the spirituality that's been Switchfoot's m.o. since the beginning; however, the band's work is too easily hooky and mature not to find favor with secular audiences. The meanest thing you can say about a gorgeously layered ballad like "Dare You to Move" is that it's more of a nice, warm Tuesday evening than the wee hours of a greasy Saturday night. But there needs to be gradation like this in rock, bands on both the good and evil sides of the coin trying to hold it down. And for their part, for what they do, Switchfoot is very talented. Here's hoping their polished halo brings its gleam to the mainstream. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
'Learning to Breathe'
Release Date 9/26/2000
Tracks 11
Label Chordant
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Learning to Breathe, Switchfoot's third album, continues the band's welcome lack of religious didacticism, instead expressing its spiritual concerns in more universal terms. Don't think that Switchfoot ought to be more dogmatic to avoid compromising their beliefs, though; every song here is firmly rooted in Christian faith and philosophy, as well as (musically speaking) mainstream post-grunge alternative rock. It's refreshing (and more compelling) to hear a band still searching for the answers instead of claiming to have them already. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
'New Way to Be Human'
Release Date 3/23/1999
Tracks 10
Label re:Think
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Introspective, probing lyrics define Switchfoot's sophomore effort, New Way to Be Human, which Charlie Peacock produced for his re: think label. In the 1990s, Peacock was best known for working with Christian rock and pop/rock artists -- he co-wrote Amy Grant's "Every Heartbeat" and had produced Sarah Masen, Michelle Tumes, and other Christian singers. Switchfoot's lyrics also deal with spiritual concerns, but there's nothing preachy or exclusionary about this CD. Alternative pop/rock songs like "Incomplete," "Under the Floor" and "Let That Be Enough" (all of which were written or co-written by Switchfoot singer/guitarist Jonathan Foreman) deal with trying to find meaning and purpose in life -- the lyrics really stem from Foreman's introspection and self-examination, not a desire to force any particular religion down the listener's throat. One of the best songs on the album is "Company Car," which questions materialism and is almost Hindu-ish in its outlook. Not perfect but intelligent and generally appealing, New Way to Be Human is an album that fans of 1990s' alternative rock can appreciate, whatever their religious views may be. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Alternative CCM group's depressing 1997 release with lyrics that suggest they're about a murder/suicide attempt. The actual goal of the album isn't quite clear, nor is there any indication whatsoever whether Chin is a real or fictional person. The pictures of an individual of Asian descent, presumably Chin, seem real enough. Neither liner notes nor the group's two main web sites offer any insight into the album's history or purpose. As a result, the listener is left entirely depressed and completely clueless as to what they were supposed to feel, if anything at all. It would probably be wiser to purchase one of the group's other albums as a starting point instead, since this one is so aimless. ~ Dacia A. Blodgett-Williams, All Music Guide
