It takes courage to face the natural disasters that tear through our lives. Platinum-selling San Diego band Switchfoot has learned to address tragedy with optimism. Their new album Hello Hurricane releases Nov. 10, giving a new face to a rock industry titan.
Switchfoot’s highly anticipated seventh record will feature 12 fresh tracks that symbolize a new beginning for the band. Each track brings its own message to the table addressing common issues like drugs, love, calamity and faith.
The band was founded in 1996 as Chin Up, originally consisting of lead singer Jon Foreman, brother Tim Foreman and high school friend Chad Butler. After finding recognition in the music industry, the band took on its current name, Switchfoot. Their lineup has changed only through additions over the years. Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley have since joined the band, and have only added to Switchfoot’s solid sound.
It has been three years since Switchfoot’s last release “Oh! Gravity.” The band recently severed their ties with Columbia/Sony BMG in order to gain full artistic freedom. Hello Hurricane is the first record to be released under this independence. The record has been in production for approximately two years.
“There’s a time to be silent – to build up a reason to sing again,” frontman Foreman said in an interview with inReview.net. Switchfoot approaches music with a whole new perspective on their new record, establishing prerequisites that make each song heavy with meaning and purpose. “If you’re not crying, why are you singing it. If you don’t believe it with every ounce of you then there’s no point in singing it,” Foreman said when talking about Hello Hurricane.
Being a die-hard fan of Switchfoot, I’ve looked forward to this day for years. I’ve never been more excited about a new record. Since the Hello Hurricane was recorded within the confines of Switchfoot’s personal studio; this record is the first to fully expose the band’s sound.
Upon hearing the entire record, it was obvious that Switchfoot had successfully driven home their new approach to music. Hello Hurricane is designed like a rollercoaster; from ambient acoustic anthems to driving electric songs, Switchfoot takes us on a ride we won’t forget.
The opening track “Needle and Haystack Life” introduces Hello Hurricane with gritty guitars riffs, ambient melodies and a foot-tapping chorus.
The first single off of the record, “Mess of Me,” screams out for rescue from broken life. The chants in the pre-chorus, “there ain’t no drug, the sickness is myself,” serve as a message to all makeshift pleasure that culture indulges in.
The hard rock song of the record is without a doubt “The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues).” A friend of mine pointed out to me that it has a sound like that of Led Zeppelin. I couldn’t agree more! Switchfoot has mentioned Led Zeppelin as one of the their biggest influences. Jon was even a part of a Zeppelin cover band in his early days.
It’s near impossible for me to choose a favorite song from this record, but the title track comes extremely close to taking the cake. “Hello Hurricane” combines ambient vocal melodies and electronic drums make for a catchy song. The plucking of the mandolin and vocal “oh oh oh’s,” will leave the song in your head for long after you stop listening.
The title track is written about coping with tragedy. “Last year, with Habitat for Humanity we helped to build a house for a woman who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane had taken her city, her house, and her leg.
“Her mantra was this: “I walked out of my house and my life in New Orleans on my own legs, I’m going to walk into this one the same way.” This is the spirit that I wanted to capture with this song, and moreover with this record. The storms of life might take my house, my loved ones, or even my life- but they cannot silence my love,” Foreman said when explaining what the song is about.
Despite the long wait, Hello Hurricane has proven itself to be well worth it. The message, the music, and the movement go hand in hand. I couldn’t be more happy with the new record. I’d rate the album 6 stars if I could!
You can pre-order Hello Hurricane now from a number of music sites including iTunes, Amazon and Wal-Mart. However, if you pre-order from the Switchfoot’s site, you receive an instant download of “Mess of Me” for free, and 4 videos of the band performing live. You can order Hello Hurricane in many different ways. Special edition packages, behind the scenes footage, photo books, outtake demos, posters and vinyl records are all available through Switchfoot’s pre-order deals.
Switchfoot hits the road soon on the “An Evening With Switchfoot” tour. For more information, check out their Web site.
Local tour dates:
11/8 El Cajon (San Diego), CA East County Performing Arts Center
11/11 West Hollywood, CA The Roxy Theatre
11/27 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
11/28 Ventura, CA Majestic Ventura Theater
