Switchfoot followed up Christmas Day with their third mainstream release (sixth overall), Oh! Gravity. - a distinct stylistic departure from their previous projects. Noticeably edgier and glaringly more unbridled, Oh! Gravity twists and turns through twelve tracks that take the listener on a musical rollercoaster ride from the raucous title track to the ponderous "Yesterdays" to the Brit-pop "Burn Out Bright" and the softer and unpolished "Let Your Love Be Strong."
Great Album| Posted August 09, 2007
This album is one of my favorite Switchfoot album. I loved the song, Awakening the most! Lyrics are innovative and tine is catchy. It took me a few listens to get use to this CD, like the other ones. Faust, Midas, And Myself, Burn Out Bright and 4:12 are must listen to songs.
221 days and counting...| Posted August 04, 2007
That's how long this CD has been in the player in my car. Lyrics are my passion, and once again Switchfoot has delivered with intelligent, challenging songs.
1. Oh! Gravity. Not my favorite tune on this album. I'm not really sure why, but it just never clicked with me.
2. American Dream. If you want more than cars, houses and money, this is your song.
3. Dirty Second Hands. This is probably the most interesting song musically on the album. There is so much going on, you have to listen to it many times to catch it all.
4. Awakening is a wake up call for the dreamer. Also a great song to start your day with. :)
5. Circles. One of my favorites. Life can get so monotonous, and it's a great reminder to jump outside that box. This song also musically mirrors the lyrics. As you listen, you can feel yourself goin' round and round.
6. Amateur Lovers. What a fun song. Roll down the windows and scream this one out with Jon.
7. Faust, Midas and Myself. The storyteller is released on this track. Fabulously woven tale of how easy it is to be deceived and lose sight of what's truly valuable.
8. Head Over Heels (In This Life). As usual, my favorite track is probably the least popular/rarely mentioned. Head Over Heels is the most realistic yet beautiful love song I've ever heard. A true picture of love.
9. Yesterdays. I have to admit, I skip over this track quite often. Not because it's bad, because it's too good. Makes me cry every darn time.
10. Burn Out Bright. Ah...my new anthem. Great song to listen to when you begin to grow weary of doing good.
11. 4:12. Fun, upbeat song you'll be singing all day long. Unless of course, you actually did wake up at 4:12. :)
12. Let Your Love Be Strong. This song is so well written, it makes you feel as if you were right there with him when he wrote it. Beautiful.
A Strange Mix of the Old and the New| Posted August 01, 2007
'Oh! Gravity', Switchfoot's newest album, came with high expectations; such as creating a whole new genre. Well, maybe it did that, but that's for the listener to decide. For this reviewer, this is an uneasy combination of the old and the new.
Musically, this is pretty new for Switchfoot. In a sense, they are revisiting their quirky side, but these songs are just plain weird - nothing like the intense 'Meant to Live', the powerful 'Dare You to Move', or the monster riff of 'Stars.' Instead we have a goofy intro riff to the song 'Oh! Gravity' that sounds like a commercial tune for a cell phone. Not to say that I don't like it; it's one of the few things that really works here, it's just that...well, it's just not the Switchfoot I've come to love.
Unlike their radical music departure, lyrically, they stay strangely the same. 'Oh!' Gravity' is yet another lament on the depravity of the human race, and the very next song, 'American Dream' is another song against consumerism, followed by 'Dirty Second Hands' which is against the advent of modern technology, the song 'Circles', which is against the culture, and 'Amateur Lovers' against pre-marital sex. Hmm, haven't we already covered this?
Nevertheless, the songs are nice to listen to. The albums' high points are the energetic and (thankfully) optimistic 'Awakening', the wonderfully worded 'Faust, Midas, and Myself', and the opener, the catchy and unique 'Oh! Gravity.' The rest of the album is either 'just nice' or to strange.
I admire Switchfoot's pursuit of something new, but it just doesn't work here. Their song 'Dirty Second Hands' is the perfect example. It's unique all right...a dark country riff played to the background of Jon's droning voice that explodes into a flurry of electric guitars for a few short bursts, with Jon yelling out the chorus. Innovative, and even interesting for the first few listens, but in the end, simply too strange to admire. The same goes for the choppy 'Amateur Lovers.'
Overall, this album is another good album by Switchfoot, with some really good lyrics (just pretend you've never heard the subject before and they work well). Musically, the innovation is nice, but not satisfying. In conclusion though, I'm pleased that Switchfoot is seeking new ground, rather than staying put in a musical rut like, well...almost every other Christian band around.
i like it| Posted July 30, 2007
Switchfoot has never really been one of my favorite artists but i've always liked they're music, there newest album is no different. Oh! Gravity is a great listen, not my favorite CD but i like it. I must say though, i'm lovin the title track.
.....| Posted July 27, 2007
At first i wasnt quite sure about this album, but the more i listened to it, the more i liked it. i love the guitar techniques in Burn out Bright, Head over Heels and Faust, Midas and Myself. the lyrics in 4:12 and Let your love be strong are well written! The onnly song that i cant stand is Amatuer Lovers. I'm sorry but that is a dud! pretty good apart from that one song.
to add lyrics if not listed.
