When news of Switchfoot’s fifth album was announced many questions about the group and the album were asked-
1. A third guitar player was added. Is this any sign of a change in the band’s sound?
Which leads to the simple question...
2. What would the album sound like? Any different than Switchfoot’s past material?
3. The lyrics- About the same usual Switchfoot subjects? (Living for more, broken society, etc.)
Answers-
1. The third guitar player, Andrew Shirley, hasn’t really changed Switchfoot’s sound. A bit more guitar heard on this album, but no real solos or anything crazy.
2. The album isn’t much different sounding than The Beautiful Letdown. As mentioned, a bit more guitar, still not really an all guitar based album.
3. Yes, basically the same subjects in the lyrics.
Switchfoot is-
Jon Foreman– Lead vocals, guitar
Tim Forman- Bass
Chad Butler- Drums
Jerome Fontamillas- Guitar, Keyboard
Andrew Shirley- Guitar
1. Lonely Nation- Starting with a few seconds of feedback and sound, the song kicks into a riff played by both guitar and piano. The song follows a quiet verse, loud chorus formula. The lyrics talk about wanting more and society problems (subjects talked into the ground by Jon Foreman.) Don’t be led wrong by the lyrics “I want more than a lonely nation,” it’s not really an anti-American political type song. The bridge gets a little repetitive but overall a strong song. Mostly a guitar driven song, it kicks off the album nicely. 9/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“We are the target market/ We set the corporate target/ We are the slaves of what we want/ We’re just numb and amused and we’re just used to bad news.”
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2. Stars- Stars begins with a guitar riff heard throughout the song. The lyrics are quite positive, the theme being that there’s always something great you can look forward to (In this case, Stars is the metaphor used.) The lyrics really aren’t anything too great, especially when it comes to the weather metaphors. It’s certainly catchy and an obvious choice for the first single. The song breaks down into to Jon Singing and some quiet guitar chords, and then leads back to the chorus. A simple but effective song. However, it does get a bit repetitive with “Stars” 7.5/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample (lame weather metaphors)
“I’ve been thinking maybe I’ve been part of the cloudy/ Maybe I’m the chance of rain/ And maybe I’m overcast. And maybe all my luck’s washed down the drain”.
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3. Happy is A Yuppie Word- The first thing that comes to mind with this song is the title. It comes from a Rolling Stone Interview with Bob Dylan. When asked if he was happy, Dylan replied, “these are yuppie words, happiness and unhappiness. It's not happiness or unhappiness, it's either blessed or unblessed.” The song starts off quietly with guitar arpeggios and muted guitar chords. The verse stays quiet with the lyrics based somewhat on Dylan’s comments. The song sounds very strong to start off with, but when the chorus enters, it just doesn’t flow with the verses. The verse chord progressions and chorus chord progressions just don’t fit together. This song gets a bit repetitive again with “Nothing is Sound” being repeated in the bridge. It’s a good song, but just a bit unpieced. 6.5/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“Everyone dies, everyone loves a fight. Nothing is sound. Nothing is right side right.”
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4. Shadow Proves the Sunshine- The song starts of very bare, Jon singing along with some quiet cymbal taps. It builds up slowly, eventually adding full drums, guitar, piano, bass. It’s a slow ballad and does its job nicely. It’s placed nicely in the album, after 3 relatively faster tracks, this is a nice relaxing one. After the awkward intro, the song flows nicely throughout. My only complaint is the somewhat generic lyrics, not terrible, not great. 8.5/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“Sunshine come and help me sing/ My heart is darker than these oceans/ My heart is frozen underneath.”
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5. Easier than Love- After the previous ballad, this song brings the album back to a bit faster pace and more guitar driven. A quiet verse, loud chorus song, it fits along the same lines as the first two tracks. The lyrics deal with finding real love instead of sex, finding someone just so not to be alone, etc. It’s a catchy song, a possible candidate for a single. It’s rather simple based mostly on a few distorted power chords. It stands strong but its not a track you’ll have on repeat because of its simple formula. 7/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“Everyone’s a lost romantic, since our love became a kissing show/ Everyone’s a casanova, come and pass me the mistletoe/ Everyone’s scared to death of dying here alone.”
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6. The Blues- Another ballad, mostly led by piano chords. The lyrics of the verse follow a theme in many Switchfoot songs, Jon Foreman asking life’s many questions. I’ll warn you, the verse is very repetitive almost every line asking, “Is this the ___ or just another ____.” It’s more of a sad song, both the lyrics and music. The song is nice but is much too repetitive and just doesn’t flow as nicely as the previous ballad, Shadow Proves the Sunshine. 6/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“Is this the new year or just another night/ Is this the new fear or just another fright/ Is this a new tear or just another desperation.”
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7. The Setting Sun- Starts off with a happy sounding guitar chords and melodies. The title describes the feel of the song pretty well, you can picture this song being played on a summer afternoon. Jon sings mostly low notes for the chorus, still in his normal voice, and higher notes for the chorus. The song’s bridge goes back into the low range. It’s nice but doesn’t fit the chorus it follows all that well. It’s a good song, not filler, but not very strong. 6/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“My hope runs underneath it all the day that I’ll be home/ It won’t be long, I belong somewhere past this setting sun”
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8. Politicians- A more distorted guitar driven song, it leads the album back to where Lonely Nation left off. The verses feature a power chord riff followed by Jon Singing the same melody as the lead guitar. The chorus is powered by distorted power chords and Jon’s lyrics. The song breaks down in the bridge with a guitar riff played another power chord progressions. A good song in all aspects. It picks up the album from a bit of a weak spot. 8.5/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians/ Watching for my sky to get torn apart
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9. Golden- After what seemed to be a pickup to the album, Golden ruins the expectations. The song is led by some soft toned guitar chords and piano. There’s really nothing special about it, it’s very bland and generic. In all aspects, there’s nothing interesting to it. The weakest off the album. 3/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
“You are golden, you are golden child/ You are golden, don’t let go, don’t let go tonight.”
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10. The Fatal Wound- Starts with an acoustic guitar chord pattern and Jon singing softly, a bit more than a whisper. Moving at a slow tempo, it's surprising to see the song only lasts 2:44. It's brings the album back to a high point all around. Probably the best lyrics from the album, and a good flow all around. The verses have a depressing undertone while the chorus brings the mood to a happier point. The song brings life to the harmonica, always a plus. 9/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
"Son of Sorrow, staring down forever with an aching view/ Disenchanted let's go down together, with the fatal wound
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11. We Are One Tonight- Beginning with a bright guitar line and pounding drums, it's easy to see this will be a happier song. It certainly is, and stays throughout the whole song. The verses are made up of short stroked guitar chords and lead into full ringing chords for the chorus. The chord patterns and guitar melody and tone are bright sounding, not distorted like Lonely Nation and Politicians. The lyrics are positive and good, but nothing too creative. 8/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
"We are one tonight, and we're singing it loud/ We are one tonight, and we're dreaming out loud.
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12. Daisy- For more than half the song, it's just Jon's voice and an acoustic guitar playing added/ suspended chords (with some occasional bass in the background). Later in the song, the full band enters (as in Radiohead's Exit Music For a Film). It's a great way to end the album, probably the best song off the album. It's one of the few real surprises off the album, quite a beautiful and creative song. Everything about it is pretty remarkable. It flows perfectly, unlike any of the previous songs. The lyrics are strong and the full band outro is the highlight of the album. Ending the album on a happy note. 10/10
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lyric Sample
"Daisy, give yourself away/ Look up at the rain/ The beautiful display of power and surrender
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Pros-
The songs are good. None are exactly what I'd call filler.
For the most part, the songs are well written.
Lyrics are positive and have a good message.
Songs are good lengths.
Cons-
Not a whole lot of variety in the album.
Some songs don't flow all that well.
Excluding Daisy, no real surprises- Same old Switchfoot.
