This year Columbia/Sparrow artist Switchfoot pushed to release another record in one year after their hit Nothing is Sound. Well they were successful, and in doing so they bring out what is arguably the best sound they could’ve gone with!
I was somewhat disappointed with Nothing is Sound, it just didn’t relate to The Beautiful Letdown, which is the album that I, and a lot of others, started to pay closer attention to the band. Nothing is Sound seemed to be a much slower than and not as connected as previous albums. For me Oh! Gravity takes you back to the sound of The Beautiful Letdown and parts of the record remind me of their earlier albums like Learning to Breathe and even Legend of Chin.
Produced by Tim Palmer (U2, Tears for Fears) and Switchfoot, this album is dressed for success. Throughout twelve tracks there is something unique and fresh. One of things that Switchfoot has been good at in the past is experimenting with sounds and effects. Though I think they overused some things on Nothing is Sound, I think that they brought out an excellent balance for this record.
The album opens with Oh! Gravity the albums title track. The song is the first single to get released and has been accepted very well. Oh! Gravity shows new light to Switchfoot’s sound, it’s a very happy and exciting song to listen to.
Track 4, The Awakening, is probably my favorite track off the entire record. This song just has a great rock sound, and the lyrics are great too, take a look… Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain / we’re awakening / here we are now with the desperate youth and the pain / we’re awakening / maybe its called ambition / you’ve been talking in your sleep / about a dream / we’re awakening. Jon did a fantastic job on singing this song, it’s very catchy, and it’s another song with a very happy vibrant sound.
Amateur Lovers is an interesting song with a very soulful Jon Foreman singing. “We were listening to a lot of Motown Records at the time,” explains Jon. “I guess whenever white guys try to play soul music; it comes out sounding like the Stones.” And that it does.
Another favorite is Circles, which starts off with an interesting instrumentation of almost Middle East or Indian sound. Showing something very fresh from Switchfoot! Last song I think I should mention is “Faust, Midas, and Mystery” which has a very unique story in the lyrics. It’s a very clean and has great instruments backing it. Check out the lyrics in our lyrics database!
Overall, Oh! Gravity will please many people! Nothing is Sound was very different from previous Switchfoot albums, which for me made it an uncomfortable album. Oh! Gravity fits together and runs smoothly through the entire album. It’s better than I was expecting, with great guitars and piano/keyboards, amazing drums, awesome effects, what more could you ask for?
I think the only thing I’d like different is for Switchfoot to bluntly sing about Jesus and their Faith in God. That somewhat dwindled away from their lyrics with the signing to Columbia, and though it is sad, I think Switchfoot is doing well with the opportunity they have to spread the name of their Savior to millions of people. Other than that, another spectacular album from Christian rockers Switchfoot!
Article by Jeremy Koering
