Search - Switchfoot :: Oh! Gravity.

The Best Kind of Surprise

R. Taylor | Washington, DC | 02/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm an older (almost, gulp, 40) pop, indie, alternative music fan who came across a great pop song on the radio titled "Stars." Bought it on iTunes, enjoyed it. By this band called "Switchfoot."



I recently saw a new album by Switchfoot on Amazon (released on my birthday, Dec. 26th!) and thought, what the heck, let's see if there are any good "Stars"-like songs on it. Digressing, I appreciate solid albums (yeah, 10-12 songs long) that don't force you to skip songs and provide an emotional ride (haven't had many of those since the peak of U2, R.E.M., Coldplay, Radiohead, etc.). To say the new Switchfoot album was a complete surprise is the understatement of the decade. And then I found out they were a "Christian" band (I love labels) and I was like, really? Don't care one way or the other, because this is an awesome rock/pop whatever-you-want-to-label-it album.



Partial credit must go to Steve Lillywhite - he has this knack of getting the most pop (yeah, I like pop songs - sue me) out of rock bands, while keeping the emotional strengths and solid musicianship. Look at Dave Matthews Band - their first three albums (love em or hate em) are incredible pop rock albums with emotion to boot. Nothing they have done since ditching Mr. Lillywhite have been nearly as good. So, even though I have not heard Switchfoot's catalog, I must give credit in part to Mr. Lillywhite for the incredibly pleasant surprise that is "Oh! Gravity."



Enough blathering - every song has something interesting about it, whether it be soaring guitars (the build up to and chorus of "Head Over Heels"), awesome singing (screaming in "Oh! Gravity" and "Awakening"), heartfelt emotion ("Head Over Heels" and "Yesterdays"), kick-a** rhythms (the whole album) and interesting musical touches throughout ("Dirty Second Hands" "Faust" and my favorite, "4:12"). The lyrics and emotion feel honest, not forced, and definitely provide some solid messages for this time (excess - bad, having a heart - good). And while its sounds like a mid-90's song by Gutterball (look it up), "Amatuer Lovers" rocks out and places a giddy smile on my face every time I hear it.



I highly recommend this album - you may not rate every song a five out of five, but you have to appreciate a rock band that can do a lot of different things interestingly and well without pretention and with passion. Congratulations to Switchfoot - you have a hard core new fan. I can only imagine how fun it would be to hear these songs live...



"

A Signal of New Things

Eric Wilson | Nashville, TN United States | 12/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw Switchfoot when they were riding on the underground success of their single "Chem 6A." They were young, full of energy, playful, yet with serious undertones to their lyrics. That seriousness became more evident with each of the following albums. They showed maturity and skill that went beyond the average garage band, and "Learning to Breathe" proved to me that this was a group that would rise to the top. Then, with "Nothing is Sound," their darker side became ponderous. I liked the album, but understood why many revolted.



"Oh! Gravity" doesnt' find Switchfoot backing down from their sound or style, but it does show a leap forward in musical texture and in lyrics that question without floundering in the depths too long. The more I listen, the more I find to like. Songs that didn't grab me at first are now the ones I spin through again.



If the artsy simplicity of the cover isn't a signal of new things, then be prepared for a group that is taking it to another level. From guitar riffs, to vocals, to layers of sound, this is an album that belongs on the list of the year's best."

Amazing with a capital A!

K. Ang | NY, USA | 12/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Track One Oh! Gravity. : This has been in my 25 Most Played Songs since I've purchased the single months ago. The song almost captures their vivacious personalities during their live performances...but then of course nothing can really be as good as a live performance than actually being at one of their shows.

Fave. line from the song: "In the fallout, the fallout the hype won't get you through. Connected, connected I meant it the hype won't get you through."



Track Two American Dream : The song spoke volumes to me, the play on words were fun and it really has a great guitar riff towards the end. I was lucky enough to have seen them perform this song live and this song had automatically became one of my favorite new songs.

Fave. line from the song: "And talk has always been the cheapest thing. Is it true would you do what I want you to do? If I show up with the right amount of bling? like a puppet on a monetary string."



Track Three Dirty Second Hands : Another song that had been on my list of 25 Most Played Songs. It has such a great vibrancy and such a different tone to it that it got my attention as soon as I heard the song. I love the guitar that Jon used when he played this at the concert (Oh! Gravity Tour '06)

Fave. line from the song: "Are you really as tough as you think you blink and you're over the brink. You bleed but your blood runs pink."



Track Four Awakening : This song had an effect on me like Only Hope, On Fire, and The Shadow Proves the Sunshine did. The songs mentioned have a special place in my heart in that, those songs made me realize where I am, what point I am at in my life. From beginning to the end and back, this song by far is one of my favorite tracks that this talented quintet had ever written, recorded and performed! It was difficult to pick just one verse because I just love this song!

Fave. line from the song: "I want to wake up kicking and screaming. I wanna know that my heart's still beating, its beating. I'm bleading. I wanna live like I know what I'm leaving. "



Track Five Circles : This one that has a slightly darker tone than the rest of the album.Inexplicable if you haven't heard the song...but it's cool because you feel like you're in 'circles' when you listen to the song.

Fave. line from the song: "Another freefall, I've lost what I wanted to leave. I've lost all that I want to be. Don't believe that there's nothing that's true. "



Track Six Amateur Lovers : Catchy, catchy tune that you can bob your head to. This is something that I could picture having my top down (if I had one) and blast this song really really loud. :) There's a great guitar part midway to the end of the song, and when you think that the song is over, it's not.

Fave. line from the song: "We've all got a disease. Deficiency of love. Everyday we still try. Every night we still cry home "



Track Seven Faust, Midas and Myself : Great story telling in the song and the build up to the question 'What direction? Life begins at the intersection'. It's different from everything else you'll hear, a new approach to music as only they can make.

Fave. line from the song: "I jumped to my feet. She asked me what was wrong. I began to scream. I don't think this is me. Is this just a dream? Or is it really happening?"



Track Eight Head Over Heels (In This Life) : A wonderful song to sing along with. This was another one of the songs that I was anticipating to hear, and of course it's fantastic as a whole.

Fave. line from the song: "You're everything that's fair in love and war. I'm coming down like a gunshot. In all these battles I've fought. You're the mark I'm aiming for. I was yours."



Track Nine Yesterdays : A song about losing someone, a song about death. It's a serious subject, and they tackled it well. It feels like you can put this in a montage for remembering someone you love.

Fave. line from the song: "The ache I feel inside. Is the where the life has left your eyes. I'm alone for our last goodbye. But you're free."



Track Ten Burn Out Bright : Another song to do some major head bopping and feet stomping. I really enjoy the melody of the song, they rock to their own beat and I love it!

Fave. line from the song: "I'm still discontented down here. If we've got only one try. If we've only got one life. If time was never on our side. Then before I die. I want to burn out bright."



Track Eleven 4:12 : There's a part in the end of the song that I really really dig, yes I said DIG! (3:22 to be precise) when Jon repeats the my favorite line for this song over and over. It's another one of those songs that you just have to clap to, it's awesome.

Fave. line from the song: "Souls aren't built of stone. Sticks and bones. And Stones aren't built of stone."



Track Twelve Let Your Love Be Strong : I was lucky enough to have heard Jon play this song with just his acoustic guitar. This is just a beautiful heart warming song that I needed when I first heard it.

Fave. line from the song: "In this world of news. I found nothing new. I've found nothing pure. Maybe I'm just a little misinformed. Maybe I'm just idealistic to assume the truth."





Oh! Gravity gave me such a wonderful mix of emotions, feeling their message loud and clear through each and every song. I love this album!"