Ok so I figured I'd try a music review. It's not like this blog is any kind of honor roll but sometimes some music needs to be discussed, be it good or bad.Switchfoot's latest album titled "Oh Gravity!" is a tremendous effort. It hits all aspects that make up a good CD and shows up musically and lyrically. It doesn't quit. The first thing I noticed is the experimentation. Usually found in the intros of their songs, the band now sprinkles bits of clever sounds in the middle of their songs. An example is the random piano key-plunking on the title track. You'll also hear some banjo and even a brass section as you make your way through this CD.
The album begins with some hard hitting, gritty guitar riffs. Oh Gravity! and American Dream start things off. Then the tracks become more the Cali-rock we're use to from "The Beautiful Letdown" and "Nothing is Sound" albums. The album is rounded out with tracks like 4:12, and Awakening. There are a few mellow songs too. Yesterdays, showcases the melodic side of Switchfoot, coming in right after Head Over Heels.
Lyrically, the songs have a nice mix of poetic flavor and driving lines. Opening with "Success is equated with excess / The ambition for excess wrecks us" on American Dream, the disc is packed with lovable hooks to go along with the catchy guitar. The experimentation theme is reflected in lines like "P-p-p-p-proFESSional" at the end of Amateur Lovers. This is one of my favorite parts of the album, where you'll find this lyric with random guitar licks building up in the back.
I've been listening to this CD for about 3 weeks now and it's not getting old. The anti-materialism message (that is pretty much the theme of this disc) is a welcome change from a lot of the rock that's out there now. It's meaningful but still uplifting, and it'll have you trying to scream like Jon Foreman (don't worry though, it's done tastefully). I'd give you a list of tracks to listen for but just do yourself a favor and go buy the album. There isn't a single bad egg in this dozen.
3 comments:
YAY! You should join my music review team and we can write for a paper!! I demand you drop out of engineering immediately and study journalism instead!!!!
Paul's review: This album is just plain awesome...believe me. I don't buy crappy music.
Well there was this one time... lets just say it was not as STELLAR as advertised.
Good effort sir!
Oh paul,
No go kart, or golf kart, or any stellar type kart could compare to this one. But good purchase! It's true you were the one who told me about the new album.
And apparently i need to become a journalist now? Can't i just get the press pass and see the cool concerts?! Man, that would get me a switchfoot ticket... cuz i mean who sells out a show, honestly?
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