Switchfoot: Hello Hurricane Review

Switchfoot. My favorite band of all time. This is a band that has been around since 1997, a band that spreads hope and faith through their music, a band that consistently expands their sound while appeasing all of their old and new fans' expectations. This is the band that set the mood for "A Walk To Remember" and gave it the great feel it had. Their fourth album, "The Beautiful Letdown" was the first album I ever bought out of the 250+ albums I own. "Dare You To Move" is my favorite song out of the 5,700 songs on my I-Pod. I was given the opportunity to go see Switchfoot live last night in Scottsdale, AZ, and I cannot deny that it was the best concert I've ever attended, and that's including some great concerts I've been to like Green Day, Linkin Park, Hollywood Undead, Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory, Mayday Parade, Maroon 5, and Counting Crows. Granted, I might be a little bias since they are my favorite band, but I have never seen a band connect more intimately with their audience, and I have never seen an audience so moved. There is nothing better than a band that sounds just as good live as they do on their CD, but these guys made the music even better. After seeing them play their entire new album live and then going back and playing all their other greats, and after listening to "Hello Hurricane" for the hundredth time, their new album is even better in my mind than it was before. And that's really saying something because Switchfoot's latest effort is absolutely extraordinary. Their debut album, "The Legend Of Chin" was a little different compared to what new fans are used to, but it still was solid and had a lot of good songs. And from there this band just skyrocketed in terms of consistently making better and better music. Their pinnacle hit with 2003's "The Beautiful Letdown," but I think that "Nothing Is Sound," "Oh! Gravity." and now "Hello Hurricane" are at the exact same level. "The Beautiful Letdown" might always be my favorite album just because of the history I have with it, but there is no denying that this band is still going places, still spreading great messages through great songs, and touching the hearts of fans everywhere. I have never been able to connect with songs and with a band's lyrics like I am able to with Switchfoot, and their diversity in the types of songs they put out lends to their legacy. Talk about a band that makes a difference in the world, and I'll show you Switchfoot.
1. Needle And Haystack Life- This song starts off with some quiet background guitar and drums that are a little distorted until lead singer Jon Foreman's voice comes in with some of the softest and most pleasant vocals I've heard from him. Anyone who has heard Switchfoot before knows how unique his voice is, and this album does not disappoint in that regard. The lyrics are great and use a wonderful metaphor related to the song title to convey how special we are and can be. This is a song about making the most of yourself and realizing and appreciating the beauty in ourselves and each other. The song is upbeat for the chorus and the guitars of Drew Shirley, Jerome Fontamillas, and Jon Foreman, as well as the bass of Tim Foreman, are used especially well to convey the emotions of hopefulness and wonder associated with the lyrics (which can be said of the entire album). Chad Butler's "splashy" drums mix extremely well with the music as well. A superb start to a superb album. 10/10
2. Mess Of Me- Anyone who says Switchfoot's music is too mellow and slow is proven wrong by songs exactly like this. While it doesn't return to heavier rockers like "Meant To Live," "Lonely Nation," or "Politicians," it definitely exhibits this band's overall musical talent. The guitar scheme for this song is just wicked in general, Foreman's vocals are spot-on, the drums are excellent, and this song is a lot of fun in general. I also think it is important to note the background vocals, which are right on the money here and throughout the album, really giving the songs even more feel and characterization. This song was awesome to watch the band rock out to, and they really get into it. There is a quick and sick solo that sounds like Queen Of The Stone Age guitar and then everything stops for that killer guitar to come in a dominate. This gives way to some more drumming and then Foreman wailing in that way that only Jon Foreman can but it's accompanied by some shrill guitar, which makes it sound even cooler. The song ends aggressively with Foreman screaming and the band rocking out. Great song. 10/10
3. Your Love Is A Song- This song fits in with the category of Switchfoot slow songs, and Foreman's vocals are far softer. His cooing and wailing are really pleasant and his vocal range is really put on display here. There is some nice acoustic guitar during the verses along with some background vocals. The song picks up a little bit for the chorus, and it really is beautiful, not only because of the music itself, but because of the ideas behind the music as well. Foreman said that he writes about things that he doesn't understand, mainly, "God, girls, and everything else." Well, to be honest, I don't know anyone else that can write about something they don't understand and do it so well so as to inspire others and create beautiful ways for people to think about "God, girls and everything else." This song likens God's love to a song that is all around us and is extremely touching. 10/10
4. The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)- This song picks up the tempo a little bit, and gives another taste of Switchfoot rock. The guitar and bass are really cool here, the drums are excellent, and Foreman's deeper vocals set up the mood well. The chorus is an explosion of rock, and Foreman's heightened wails and eventual screams are awesome to behold. This is a song voicing discontent that can only be appeased by love. The screeching guitars throughout the song are really cool and give the song a unique feel. The last minute of the song picks up the intensity, including a portion where they all just let it go and rock out right before the end. Very cool stuff. 9.5/10
5. Enough To Let Me Go- This song is more upbeat than "Your Love Is A Song," but still fits within the category of mellow Switchfoot songs. The constant strumming mixed with the acoustic guitar seen throughout is very pleasant and peaceful. The chorus is even more pleasant with the background vocals and Foreman's vocals step up, especially near the end of the song where there are some higher notes that he hits flawlessly. This song asks the question "Do you love me enough to let me go?" and is extremely touching. This is a great song to fall asleep/meditate to because it's so peaceful and moving. Let me just put it this way: last night at the concert, I saw a woman closing her eyes and crying while singing along with this song, a song on an album that has only been out for three days. That should give you an idea about how touching their music is and how it really speaks to people. 10/10
6. Free- A killer guitar scheme characterizes this song and gives it a Western-outlaw kind of feel. This song is pretty epic and badass overall. The drums lend well to this notion and the lyrics do as well. This song is desperately asking either God or someone loved to help release the chains that bind. Foreman's vocals of "Inside this shell there's a prison cell" ring out in the middle of sudden silence and then the music comes back in, which effectively sets up the drama of the song. This song was awesome to see live because they really got into it. Once again, this is a song that testifies to the band's diversity, talent, and overall legacy. 9.5/10
7. Hello Hurricane- This song is characterized by the background vocals and the quick acoustic guitar strumming. The title track of the album really lives up to the name and overall theme of the whole album. The chorus is extremely pleasant and has sing-a-long written all over it. This is classic Switchfoot at its best, and the lyrics "Hello hurricane, you're not enough; hello hurricane, you can't silence my love" typify the theme of the whole album perfectly and beautifully. This song is very inspiring and uplifting. The drums and guitars are very good especially near the end of the song, and Foreman's vocals hit the jackpot once again. The message of hope is once again conveyed uniquely through beautiful music. This is the type of song that you can listen up to while looking at a cloudy sky and appreciate the beauty not only of the music itself, but of life in general. 10/10
8. Always- Some great piano and vocals by Foreman characterizes this song, and blends extremely well. This song professes someone being either God's or someone else's for "always," and is about second chances. The piano is simply beautiful and the vocals only enhance it, especially when the violin and other instruments kick in near the middle of the song. The background vocals and steel guitar seen later in the song give it even more emotion, and it climaxes with Foreman singing "Hallelujah! I'm caving in. Hallelujah! I'm in love again. Hallelujah! I'm a wretched man. Hallelujah! Every breath is a second chance." This song is simply beautiful and majestic, accurately displaying the emotional firepower this band puts out through their music. 10/10
9. Bullet Soul- This song shows the fun side of Switchfoot's rock, and is more upbeat. The thundering and buzzing guitars are superb and the drums follow suit. Foreman's vocals are more aggressive and his screams are great. This is some old-school style rock, almost sounding like UK rock, and it translates really well here. The chorus is another explosion of rock, especially for the last huzzah at the end of the song. This song shows how much Switchfoot enjoys rocking out, even if it still isn't that heavy rock style akin to "Meant To Live." 9/10
10. Yet- This slow song is very uplifting and inspirational, taking the position of someone beaten down with a heavy heart because of all the bad things in the world, but who will not give in and will continue to stay true to their beliefs and to their love, which are especially emphasized with the lines, "But you haven't lost me yet. You haven't lost me yet. I'll sing until my heart caves in. No, you haven't lost me yet." This is where the hopeful message is interjected, and it is further expanded upon when Foreman puts it in perspective with the lines, "If it doesn't break your heart, it isn't love; if it doesn't break your heart it's not enough." This slow song is very touching and really displays Switchfoot's knack for spreading hope through their own perceptions about love. 9.5/10
11. Sing It Out- A dramatic beginning gives way to a slow chorus where Foreman's vocals stand out entirely on their own. After all the static noise and violin of a couple verses, things return to normal and acoustic guitar kicks in to accompany Foreman's stellar vocals. This song once again unites song with God's love and forgiveness, or perhaps the love of someone special. Foreman hits a couple of really high notes throughout the song, and the song becomes something special to witness when the guitar and drums kick in for the final minute and a half of the song, which is where Foreman's vocals take off. Then everything stops and violins dominate the end of the song. 9.5/10
12. Red Eyes- The final track on the new album starts off with music-box-lullaby feel and then some guitar, drums, and vocals kick off. The chorus is based on a beautiful concept and is the appropriate way to close the album. Foreman asks the lamenting and crying person the question "With red eyes, what are you looking for?" almost as if the angel asked the lamenting disciples "Why do you look for him here? Do you not know that He is risen?" The message of hope is conveyed in this similar fashion, telling people not to despair but to go out and live in love. The song closes with some lines from the first track, "We are once in a lifetime," along with the opening lullaby notes. This ending is nearly perfect for the entire album. 9/10
Overall: 116/120
As the final score indicates, this is one of the best albums I've reviewed so far. It didn't just turn out that way because Switchfoot is my favorite band, but because this new album is just that good. This score wasn't affected by seeing them live last night either, these scores are my accurate reflections of what I found in the music itself, and I think that based on that, it is plain to see that Switchfoot delivers as always. You may notice I didn't pick a "best song on the album" this time around. That's because I wouldn't be able to make a decision and would end up sharing the title between 3-5 songs. That should testify to how good these songs are. I have never encountered another band that mixes great and diverse music with great themes about love and faith better. They don't call themselves a Christian band, but it is evident the message of love is not spread as well anywhere else, and I really do mean that when I say it. This is coming from someone who listens to his fair share of Christian bands: Switchfoot is one of the greatest if not the greatest in spreading the message of love in our world. These guys love what they do and they love their music; what is better than a band that can say that and spread these messages at the same time? "Hello Hurricane" delivers on all fronts and after seeing them play last night, I can honestly say I may never see a concert that tops that one. I think that when you compile all these concepts together, you can start to understand why Switchfoot is my favorite band, why "Hello Hurricane" deserves the high score given, why this band deserves your attention, and why these guys are gonna leave behind a legacy of love long after they are gone. A lot of people nowadays just see music as something to fill the quiet time with something entertaining, but I believe that it has to power to influence us and inspire us, and it's because of bands like Switchfoot that I say that. Thanks for tuning in. Coming Monday will be a review for Flyleaf. Rock on.