The Beautiful Letdown

by Switchfoot

Overview

In 2002, alternative CCM rockers Switchfoot cribbed some wider exposure from Mandy Moore, contributing tracks to her film A Walk to Remember. It was a good fit, as the film, like the Foot, strode toward the mainstream without forgetting its good-hearted ideals. They returned in February 2003 with the slick modern rock missive The Beautiful Letdown, which promptly blew up the Christian charts and garnered Switchfoot an armful of Dove Award nominations. But, issued through Columbia Records instead of Sparrow, it was clear Letdown had designs on something larger than the CCM market. Thus a year later, in 2004, Switchfoot issued the album again. It's the same, though the mix is slightly tweaked and an unremarkable DVD with videos and some unreleased stuff appears, hoping to appease those who bought the thing once already. Musically, the album is kind of all over the place. But it's always melodic and well paced, and carefully emulates what's already worked for adult alternative. So, while "Meant to Live" approaches the chunky grandeur of Fuel, "Gone" is a winking sing-song of a thing that owes a huge -- huge! -- debt to Sugar Ray. There's also stuff like "This Is Your Life" and "More Than Fine," where slick electronic treatments accentuate Jon Foreman's slightly Bono-ish vocals. It's all tinged with the spirituality that's been Switchfoot's m.o. since the beginning; however, the band's work is too easily hooky and mature not to find favor with secular audiences. The meanest thing you can say about a gorgeously layered ballad like "Dare You to Move" is that it's more of a nice, warm Tuesday evening than the wee hours of a greasy Saturday night. But there needs to be gradation like this in rock, bands on both the good and evil sides of the coin trying to hold it down. And for their part, for what they do, Switchfoot is very talented. Here's hoping their polished halo brings its gleam to the mainstream. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	06/02/2023
Label:	SWITCHFOOT
UPC:	0851336006323

Tracks

1. Meant to Live
2. This Is Your Life
3. More Than Fine
4. Ammunition
5. Dare You to Move
6. Redemption
7. The Beautiful Letdown
8. Gone
9. On Fire
10. Adding to the Noise
11. Twenty-Four

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Switchfoot   Primary Artist
Jon Foreman   Vocals,Guitar
Jerome Fontamillas   Keyboards
Chad Butler   Drums
Tim Foreman   Guitar (Bass)
Stephan Hovsepian   Violin
Ameena Khawaja   Cello
Dorian Crozier   Computers

Technical Credits

John Fields   Audio Production,Producer
Kevo Sassouni   Design
Matthew Welch   Producer,Remixing,Photography
Errin Familia   Assistant
Ted Reiger   Assistant
Aaron Redfield   Drum Technician
Daniel Victor   Composer
Mary Maurer   Art Direction
Diana Haig   Remix Producer
Chris Lord-Alge   Mixing
Tom Lord-Alge   Mixing
Tim Devine   A&R
Charlie Peacock   Producer
Jerome Fontamillas   Group Member
Tim Foreman   Group Member,Composer
Jack Joseph Puig   Mixing
Jon Foreman   Group Member,Composer
Switchfoot   Producer
Elliot Mazer   Remix Producer
Chad Butler   Group Member