Not Bad, but Not Great
Posted June 11, 2024
By BPence,
Jon Foreman, the lead singer and songwriter of Switchfoot (long one of my favorite bands) follows 2021’s Departures with this twelve song solo album co-produced with James McAlister. Foreman says about the album “To stay present in the moment along the way. Like a wildflower, may these songs bring you beauty and joy as you travel along your journey.”
Themes on the album include looking back, relationships in transition, transformation, belief and doubt, and being set free. Of note, Foreman sings with Joy Oladokun, who identifies as a queer Black person on the title song.
There were a few songs that I liked on the album, but many of the songs ended up sounding similar. Here are a few comments about each song:
I Propose A Toast – This upbeat song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar and has Foreman looking back at all the roads that brought them there. The song is a celebration of life’s journey.
Key lyric:
Here's to every failure tried
Here's to friends that cash can't buy
And bonds that won't be severed
Here's to love and here's to life
Here's to fighting side by side
Here's to us together
Where The Sidewalk Ends – This song about a relationship in transition was written by Jon Foreman. It features guitar, keys, bass and percussion.
Key lyric:
We've lived our whole life leading up to this moment
Ain't no maps where we’re going
We only know where we've been
Eulogy – This song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar and Foreman’s daughter Daisy singing harmony. The song builds with the chorus. The song has him looking in his rearview mirror dreams. He is the mosaic of a shattered man.
Key lyric:
Every day I write the eulogy
For everything I used to be
I'm still aiming for a better me
In Bloom – This upbeat song about transformation was written by Jon Foreman and Tim Foreman and features Joy Oladokun, who identifies as a queer Black person. The song features acoustic guitar, drums and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
I see the chrysalis going through changes
But every transformation comes in phases
Antidote – This song, about feelings that won’t let him go, was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar, backing vocals, and synth.
Key lyric:
Is there an antidote
For the feelings that won't let me go?
Open arms and open roads
Won't you come and take me home?
Stay Wild, Wildflower – This song was written by Jon Foreman. It features acoustic guitar and backing vocals. The song is about a small-town girl with big dreams.
Key lyric:
Don't let them change who you are
Heaven Is Yours – This song, based on the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar, synth, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Where your treasure is where your heart goes
What does your heart want?
Lovers Are Believers – This song was written by Jon Foreman. The song is about belief and doubts features acoustic guitar, finger snaps, synth, and percussion.
Key lyric:
To say you don't believe in anything
Is to say that you trust your doubts
Cheap Wine (And Expensive Conversation) – This song about being set free was written by Jon Foreman, and features Abby Holliday. The song features acoustic guitar and background vocals.
Key lyric:
As long as it's your love that's binding me
Darling, I don't wanna be set free
Lover – This song about love was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar, guitar, and keys.
Key lyric:
Without love, I'm the soil without seed
Without love, I'm the ship without seas
Without love, I'm the ghost of the man that I wanna be
Lover, be patient with me
As. Simple. As. Us. – This love song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features synth, backing vocals, electrical guitar and acoustic guitar.
Key lyric:
Faith and doubt are different names
For these mysteries that I can't control
Sojourn (epilogue) – This short song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features Foreman singing over acoustic guitar and the laughter of children.
Key lyric:
I develop like a photograph
My negative finds a second draft
Favorite songs:
I Propose a Toast
Where the Sidewalk Ends
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