Switchfoot. Consisting of five band members, Jon Foreman and his brother Tim, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas, and Drew Shirley. They hail from Cali (as if Jon's awesome hair wasn't a dead giveaway). Since their first album, The Legend of Chin came out in 1997, they've released numerous studio, live, and compiled albums with their latest album being Fading West. Released January 14, 2014, this album has already made "waves" (pun intended) on my life especially. The song list includes Air1 hit, "Love Alone is Worth The Fight," followed by "Who We Are," "When We Come Alive," "Say it Like You Mean It," "The World You Want," "Slipping Away," "Ba55," "Let It Out," "All Or Nothing At All," "Saltwater Heart," "Back to the Beginning Again." The album Fading West was written as they were filming their documentary titled Fading West as well. Both are full of excitement and a raw feeling of life. With as big of a following as Switchfoot has, I am continuously astounded as to how down to earth they continue to be.
Fading West the album, has some recurring themes which pervade the music and serve as encouragement to the listener. Some of these themes include exhaustion in Christians as well the refreshment they, as a band, and we, as Christians, find in going "back to the beginning" to be refreshed in Christ. However, they do it in a way that makes you think, which, from my understanding, is Switchfoot's goal in music. In Fading West, they make you think about the "why" behind the "what."
Musical Aspect
When it comes to music, Switchfoot has always delivered. Fading West is no different. They have upbeat and catchy songs such as "Say It Like You Mean It," which begins with an intro heavy in the bass has sounds similar to those found in "Mess of Me" from Hello Hurricane and "Afterlife" from Vice Versus. "When We Come Alive," has an awesome melody of "Ooohs" which seem to be trending in the music of all genres right now. And "Let It Out," the title of this song is pretty self-explanatory when it comes to the melodies in this song.
Fading West also has some softer melodies like "Ba55," "Love Alone is Worth the Fight," and "Who We Are." But don't let the word "softer" through you for a loop. They still rock pretty hard. Switchfoot has always had a raw sound, something rare in the music industry where, by a band's 3rd album, they become "refined" or, in my opinion, tailored to the Christian music industry which has a distinct, uncreative, fairly bland sound. Now, I'm not bashing Christian music artists, but Switchfoot has something special about not conforming to certain sounds.
(For more opinions on the problems with the Christian music industry click here.)
Overall, Switchfoot's Fading West felt like it was written and recorded at a beach somewhere. I don't mean this in a negative way at all. In fact, it's a pretty high compliment I'm paying them. You can hear the influences the ocean has on their music. Switchfoot surfs. In fact, to be apart of the band, they're required to surf. Not only do they surf waves in the ocean, but they surf sound waves as well. And yes, they're those people who make surfing water and sound, look and sound easy. Fading West definitely captures their musical abilities.
Lyrical Aspect
I don't know a music lover who doesn't love a good lyric that creates images in the listeners head. Switchfoot definitely does this. An example, "Cough drop dripping from my mouth like a long shot..." is the first line from "Saltwater Heart." Can you just feel the stickiness in your mouth? Can you smell the smell of, "Oh no, my throat is chocking me AGAIN!" And can you imagine singing with that?? If anyone's ever fallen asleep with a cough drop in their mouth, they know how awful and gross and dirty it is to wake up with sticky saliva. You feel like you have to take an entire shower to get the stickiness off your face, out of your hair, and any other part that was contaminated by the medical mess.
In the chorus, they begin to question themselves. "Oh maybe I could break clean." And continue to push out the lyrics, "We're on your shore again. I can feel the ocean. I can feel your open arms. That pure emotion. I'm finally free again." Switchfoot isn't just singing about any shore, they're singing about God's shore. It depicts an image and a feeling of cool, clear water, warm, soft sand, and a bright, golden sun rays hitting your face. This just depicts a peaceful, exciting, pure image in the minds of the listeners. The part of the world that has a view that God is existent, often construe their images. They see God as all-powerful, which He is, but they (myself included) seem to forget how beautiful God really is. Switchfoot reminds us of this. Switchfoot, a band who's goal is to write encouraging music in a world that needs it, does an incredible job through their lyrics to achieve this.
Thematic Aspect
One recurring theme I discovered as I listened to Fading West (over, and over, and over, and over again), I discovered this theme of exhaustion in their lyrics. From the "cough drop" line in "Saltwater Heart" to talking about reminding ourselves why we do what we do in "Love Alone is Worth the Fight." Exhaustion in Christians is something big right now. Between attending church once or twice a week, add Tuesday night bible study, then there's serving at the soup kitchen or working a toy drive. Don't get me started on sport's practice and games, housework, oh and cooking, and then there's also social life...I think. And then full time jobs. No wonder we're so exhausted. And Switchfoot wholeheartedly agrees.
In their documentary, they comment on how surfing is their outlet, their thing they do to wash away all the stress of touring, recording, writing, etc. So, accompanying their empathetic lyrics to exhausted people, they give you an amazing idea of refreshment in Jesus Christ and all his glory. Both "Saltwater Heart" and "Love Alone is Worth the Fight" talk about that refreshment being found in two ways, basking in God's glory and reminding yourself why you do what you do.
In Conclusion
Throughout their lyrics, their music, and their themes, Switchfoot is talking to an exhausted people. A people who have forgotten how to enjoy God, how to enjoy His glory, and the why behind the what. Revelation 2:4 says "Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love." So often I, personally, have to remind myself what my first love is. Recently, with the stress of living and working in Honduras, I get so caught up in the "what" of my life, that I forget the "why." I forget why I'm here, and that makes life incredibly difficult. I forget to take time to just breath in God, breath in His word, breath in His music, breath in His creation. Switchfoot encourages everyone who listens, to get to God's shore, immerse yourself in God's water (figuratively or literally, you pick), and remind yourself why you're alive. Because there is a God who loves you, a God who has called you according to his purpose, and who has a really, really awesome beach waiting for us in Heaven!
Both the album and documentary are available on iTunes and Amazon.
