Similar to the Relient K record, Mmhmm, to follow it the next year, The Beautiful Letdown was co-released to the Christian market and the mainstream market. In many ways, it may have acted as a template on how to successfully launch a popular Christian band to the wider market in the musical landscape of the 00s. Regardless, TBL has two of Switchfoot's most memorable songs, though they are far from the best the excellent tracklist has to offer. I've always been partial to the lyrics of "Redemption," the fun of "Gone," and the passion of "On Fire" and "24." All in all, The Beautiful Letdown is top tier Switchfoot, and that's saying something for a band currently into it's twenty-fourth year.
        - Josh Balogh



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