Nothing is Sound Review

This is possibly the best release of the year. This is also possibly Switchfoot's all-time best. Their fifth studio album, Nothing Is Sound is generally the most philosophical album Switchfoot has dished out to date. They've always had probing and even witty lyrics, but this go-round there's not even a trace of pseudo-intellectualism. The flow of the songs is natural. A very raw record; for most of the album's duration, a return to the unapologetically guitar-rock roots of their debut The Legend of Chin. The only complaint after an initial listen may be that Foreman's voice is a little over-produced. But to hades with that nit-picky complaint because Foreman's voice has always been one of the best in modern alt-rock and their latest album presents the furthest he has stretched his vocal capabilities before. Don't get me wrong: the boys do somewhat stick to a more formulaic approach than with the daredevil of earlier songs like "Bomb" and "Concrete Girl". That may be a complaint from some long-time fans back in the day when Switchfoot was signed to Sparrow Records. But then again, the "formula" works, and so does the production. All of that aside, it's nice to hear Foreman experiment with more groans, "yeahs," and even some yelling (yes, yelling. Actually he could probably put off a little more screaming than he does.) This is classic Switchfoot. There are acoustic ballads like "Daisy," and upbeat rockers like "Easier Than Love" that sounds like it's a throw-back to the Learning to Breathe days. All-in-all, Switchfoot wisely draws from musical elements and tricks from the breadth of its past and throws in several new hooks. Wise enough to realize the virtue of old stuff that worked and daring enough to try the new. A brief track-by-tracker:

1...Lonely Nation...A head-bouncing drum rhythm and acoustic guitar open this medium-tempo rocker about youth fed up with the emptiness that feeding fleshly appetites and general alienation. Nice crazy scream mid-song. Nice switch to some of the more aggressive guitar on the record in the chorus. Kind of a surprise as an album-opener. While "I Dare You to Move" opened Learning to Breathe on a mild note and "Meant to Live" opened The Beautiful Letdown on a wild note, "Lonely Nation" opens Nothing is Sound somewhere in between. Possibly the album's best song. It sounds like classic Switchfoot trying to become something a little more novel and works fantastically.

2…Stars…What “Meant to Live” was to Beautiful Letdown, except the tempo is way-up. It is a rock n’ roll monster with a 50-second guitar introduction that almost leaves you disappointed once the singing starts. The opening guitar riff keeps making appearances throughout the rest of the song, and every time, it makes you just want to restart the whole song over to hear the minute-long intro again. It is that good. Great radio potential. This is the song with the riff that will be stuck in your head for days at a time. It also features a little “yeah” scream mid-song that makes you wonder if this actually a live album.

3…Happy is a Yuppie Word…This is my album favorite. This almost replaces my all-time Switchfoot favorite, “Something More (Augustine’s Confession)”. (That’s saying something!) It’s downright intriguing. It is one of the slower songs on the album, but it has got plenty of unique guitar sounds and a slow-burning but driving rhythm. The song forms the philosophy behind the album’s major point, that looking for a life of perfection on earth causes one to miss the meaning of existence. It is not happiness from great circumstances that makes a life lived fulfilling. “Happy is a yuppie word, Blessed is the man who’s lost it all…I’m looking for the kingdom coming down” A direct Biblical reference to the Beatitudes, though few will recognize it. Also, the song title is a Bob Dylan quote. It is a song and a half.

4…The Shadow Proves the Sunshine…A pretty song, another slow one. At this point, you start to realize that the drums often make this album. They hit all the right beats. Beautiful vocals. A song that reminds you of the yellow Wal-Mart smiley face.

5…Easier Than Love…”Sex sells” is the directly-stated message of this song. Another album hard-rocker, up-tempo and reminiscent of …”You Already Take Me There,” maybe? Yeah, that and “I Turn Everything Over.” “Everyone’s a lost romantic since our love became a kissing show…Sex is easier than love.” Well done, lads.

6…The Blues…A ballad with lots of acoustic guitar, piano, and at several points a reggae feel to it. You can hear even the good old triangle in there, too. A song of complaint about the world. The conclusion is that the world needs to cave in. No joke. A very interesting proposition. Honestly not that exciting of a song.

7…The Setting Sun…A guitar song with almost a country twang to it. (Don’t get scared, though.) It’s like Lynyrd Skynyrd meets U2 or something weird like that. But it works, and like much of the album, it’s one of those begs to be played when driving across wide open fields, the autumn sun warming one’s face.

8…Politicians…The hardest rocker on the album. Title should say enough. It’s about politicians. Album loses its intellectual appeal here and a bit of passion. But it’s the album rock song, and it fulfills its mission, so just tap along on your steering wheel while in the car.

9…Golden…This and “The Setting Sun” sound alike and almost have that “twang” that make them sound “country” but so much better. The return of more acoustic guitar.

10…The Fatal Wound…Yeah, you might yawn during this one. Nobody’s perfect.

11…We Are One Tonight…Upbeat rocker about unity.Anthemic.

12…Daisy…Album highlight. What “24” did to their last album, except this one has a more epic feel and goes full-band at the end.

This is an “album” album, which I am thankful for. It’s not just a collection of songs, which their last album turned out to be. It’s one of those albums where all the songs are branded with the same approach, but each is a world of its own. That’s how an album should be. Coherent and yet wildly diverse. There’s always been that something about Switchfoot music that makes me smile. Even when they’ve been singing about company cars and the jacked-up marketplace, the anal poparazzi, and renting movies instead of studying, it’s never pessimistic. There’s just something that has always felt right about their music. Like, oh, that’s what (fill in the blank) aspect of life is all about. And more so now than ever with the latest offering. You just feel good and hopeful about life listening to it (especially to, I may add, that wonder that is “Happy is a Yuppie Word”.) Nothing is Sound is quite sound. Trust me. And it’s only $9.72 at the Wal-Mart here where I live. Hurricane Katrina maybe?