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

JFH Music Review




Switchfoot
Oh! Gravity.



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 44 seconds
Street Date: December 26, 2006


Switchfoot is ready to follow-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."

What's immediately obvious about Oh! Gravity. is how melody is often forsaken for somewhat spastic and unpredictable songwriting, while the lyrical themes once again revisit topics such as politics and materialism. Where previous records offered deeper, soul-reaching songs like "Learning To Breathe," "You," "Let That Be Enough," and "Dare You To Move," Oh! Gravity. seems to dwell too much on materialism and consumerism, further virtually beating the subject to death. Since the band's 1999 sophomore album New Way To Be Human, Switchfoot has touched on the topic of materialism and achieving the American dream ("Company Car"), later using songs like "Gone" and "Meant To Live" to convey their desires for something more than an empty life or the trappings of the world's rat race. Nothing Is Sound, which released late last Summer, was considerably darker than previous albums, touching on similar themes while maintaining a sort of Ecclesiastical "everything is meaningless" kind of message. Oh! Gravity. merely gives the appearance of a more upbeat and lighter thematical packaging by wrapping it in a sort of childlike exuberance musically, but a closer look at the lyrical content will reveal that it's really just a retread of the band's more recent trend of pointing out problems while seldom ever suggesting any solutions. The title track, "American Dream," "4:12," and "Circles" are among these continuous lamentations, with Jon Foreman's usually reliable songwriting taking unwelcomed ambiguous political leanings on the title track and "Dirty Second Hands." While the musically diverse approach to Oh! Gravity. is often hyper or upbeat, there's a sense of overconfidence in Foreman's songwriting that allows awkward or sub par writing like "Train the monkeys on my back to fight" to somehow find its way onto a Switchfoot record. You won't find a "Shadow Proves The Sunshine" or "Let That Be Enough" here. Instead, the anti-melodic "Let Your Love Be Strong," although lyrically a subtle acknowledgement of Christ's love giving strength, is nothing more than the most unsatisfying conclusion for a Switchfoot record. Upon hearing the bonus download "Revenge" that's available with purchase of the record, it only confirms that Foreman can pen some really poignant ballads and even this b-side would have made a more fitting and long-lasting finish.

This isn't to say Oh! Gravity. is a complete loss. Not at all. The band deserves kudos for trying new things and new sounds, aiming for a Brit-pop feel on "Burn Out Bright," fiddling with a southern flavor on "Dirty Second Hands," or holding little back on the album's title track. Also, the anthemic "Awakening" is possibly the record's standout track, offering the kind of songwriting strength we've come to expect from Switchfoot. Still yet, the somber and pensive "Yesterdays" seems to touch on the topic of death while the catchy and riff-driven "Head Over Heels (In This Life)" is a fine and catchy rock-driven love song.

The over-hyped Oh! Gravity. is just listenable enough to please diehard fans as well as those who found the deliciously catchy Nothing Is Sound too predictable, but gravity won't be what may keep this record from getting off the ground. Sometimes fun, sometimes frenzied, sometimes pretentious (two words: "Amateur Lovers"), Oh! Gravity. may have its moments and some good intentions, but it's probably the most forgettable album from the band to date.

- Review date: 12/12/06, written by John DiBiase




(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!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Sparrow / Columbia Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 44 seconds
. Street Date: December 26, 2006
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Oh! Gravity.
  2. American Dream
  3. Dirty Second Hands
  4. Awakening
  5. Circles
  6. Amateur Lovers
  7. Faust, Midas, And Myself
  8. Head Over Heels (In This Life)
  9. Yesterdays
  10. Burn Out Bright
  11. 4:12
  12. Let Your Love Be Strong
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
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