Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review



Jon Foreman
Summer EP



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 6 tracks: 23 minutes, 3 seconds
Street Date: June 10, 2008


Summer is not only the latest installment in Jon Foreman's four-part solo EP series, it also marks the end of our journey. Late last year, listeners were introduced to the solo musings from Switchfoot's celebrated frontman with Fall, the first of what would be four EP's following the seasons of the year. Foreman's deliciously weary and often melancholy vocals, along with a folk / acoustical format, were the perfect brushes to paint the landscape of Fall and Winter. Spring introduced a bit of a more feisty flare, but also retained much of the vibe of the previous seasons. With Summer, Foreman takes us out in a similar fashion to how he brought us in, if not in more of a summertime campfire vibe than anything else.

If there's something we've come to expect from EP to EP from Jon Foreman, it's that each one will include introspective criticism, a poetic look at love and loss, and an artistic view of spiritually, God, or the church. "A Mirror Is Harder To Hold" falls in line with songs like "The Cure For Pain" or "Learning How To Die," both musically and in the tone and feel of the song. But it's "Resurrect Me" where the tempo picks up and you get the first feeling that we've reached Summer. Perhaps "Mirror" can be viewed as a Summer morning with "Resurrect Me" being the peak of day. And if that's the case, then "Deep In Your Eyes" is your evening love song with "House Of God Forever" and "Again" being your late night campfire finales. But the oddball, which at the same time is a critical gem, is "Instead Of A Show" - a somewhat bitter examination of the church and the worship movement. In some ways, it's come just in time for the Summer festivals as Foreman flat-out attacks the worship scene for focusing more on the appearance of things than something more important, such as social justice ("I hate all your show and pretense/ The hypocrisy of your praise/ The hypocrisy of your festivals/ I hate all your show/ Away with your noisy worship/ Away with your noisy hymns/ I stop up my ears when your singing 'em/ I hate all your show") . Where Foreman could have strictly used the song to complain about what he sees wrong with the church or believers taking part in worship corporately and outwardly, he rounds out his view by presenting a solution instead of just dwelling on the problem ("Instead let there be a flood of justice/ An endless precession of righteous living/ Instead of a show"). It's a rebuke that will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows and cause a stir, but Foreman isn't exactly out of line in pointing out such problems through a song. And to balance out the criticism, Jon closes the record (and series, for that matter) with two beautiful original acoustic worship songs, "The House Of God Forever" and "Again" (with the latter praying, "Answer me oh Lord / Let Your people know / That You are turning our hearts back to You / Again").

While Fall may arguably be the strongest batch of songs from Jon Foreman's solo career, Summer is another fine addition and hopefully not the last we'll hear from this inspiring artist for too long. Listeners have been spoiled to be receiving six new Foreman tracks every two months or so now. And if anyone was disappointed at all with the Winter or Spring EP's, Summer is a great collection of acoustic and folk songs for anyone looking for something different to listen to that digs deepers than the norm.

- Review date: 5/25/08 by John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: Lowercase People/Credential Recordings
. Album length: 6 tracks: 23 minutes, 3 seconds
. Street Date: June 10, 2008
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. A Mirror Is Harder To Hold
  2. Resurrect Me
  3. Deep In Your Eyes
  4. Instead Of A Show
  5. The House Of God Forever
  6. Again
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images