Switchfoot needed something big. They needed another groundbreaking album to bring them back to where they were two years ago. They needed something fresh, and different like “A Beautiful Letdown” was in its day. They needed something to bring back the upward momentum that was slightly damaged by “Nothing Is Sound”. In my opinion they missed the mark.
I think “Oh! Gravity” is an okay album. However, it sounds like they were rushed and just threw together a bunch of songs they had already demoed to fulfill a contract. There is nothing that could be considered a “stand out” song. I could be wrong, and this album could grow on me, but for now, every song sounds the same, and lyrically it’s not even close to “A Beautiful Letdown”. Musically it’s unbelievably repetitive. It was kind of hard for me to tell the difference between one song and the next. Not to mention the obvious JET influence (even in the selected cover art).
Here is my prediction. This will be the end for Switchfoot in the “mainstream” market. They had a few big songs, but we won’t hear much from them unless we are looking. I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am on this one.
More than a real interest in “reviewing” this album myself, the difference between the “secular” market and the “Christian” market reviews stood out to me. Switchfoot has become Christian music’s poster child. The “look we can be cool too” group, but nothing seems to change when they clearly put out a sub-par album. But then again, I wonder why I am surprised.
Here’s a brief quote from Rolling Stone:
“Several tracks - whether inspirational stuff like “Awakening” or darker cuts like “Circles” – are about as generic as today’s rock radio gets. Beats the crap out of Creed, but still.”
And here is a quote from Christianity Today:
”Oh! Gravity couldn’t have arrived at a more opportune time in the band’s career.
Unlike artists like that have opted for a more experimental sound after well-received debuts—Third Day, David Gray, and Jars of Clay come to mind—only to usually return to the vibe that caused all the buzz in the first place, Switchfoot has generally stuck with what works over the course of its career.”
Thoughts?
RSS
The one cut that i have heard from their new cd gave me the same exact impression…”well this is the same cd as the last two.” Turing me off to even thinking of picking it up. I would much rather listen to Jars of Clay, David Gray, or third day.
and other bands names that rhyme.
they lost me at beyonce
I like 2 tracks on the whole record.
C
I haven’t been a big fan of their’s, so I haven’t heard any of the new album (except the video with beyonce, beyonbad). The difference in reviews is unsurprising. Blogstar, you say you like only two tracks on the album: isn’t that pretty typical of most albums? Isn’t that one reason the recording industry hates sites like iTunes so much, because it lets people get the good singles cheap rather than pay big bucks for a song or two and the coaster the CD becomes after a few plays?
I don’t think it’s a drop-off, lyrically. And, now that I think about it, there ARE actually some stand-out songs, I think.
I *really* like Let Your Love be Strong (?) and the one about the funeral. And “Faust/Midas” is a nice turn, I think, lyrically. “In This Life” or whatever it’s called — sweet, simple hook.
But I agree, ultimately. Not going to be quite the same radio darlings anymore. And that goes for Christian rock radio, too, by their own choice.