Switchfoot is an American Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum selling rock band from San Diego, California who took their name from a surfing term. The band’s members are Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley. They have been labelled as a Christian rock band but have stated that “We’re Christian by faith, not genre.” Their twelfth studio album ` interrobang` is released this month and lead vocalist Jon Foreman has shared that “this is an album we made to be Switchfoot. Not to be anyone else, but to be ourselves. And the goal was to be in the studio and to create the album that we alone could create”.
This long player opens with `beloved ` which begins quietly with guitar chords, a steady repetitive pounding drumbeat and somewhat reflective emotive introspective searching vocals. It not quite bursts into life but opens out and becomes a gentle melodic sixties influenced power pop offering. A song that is made for a stadium is `lost `cause` a rock anthem with catchy guitar hooks and harmonic backing vocals.
`fluorescent` seems to be a well-crafted love song of sorts where the narrator asks as to how long it will take for the object of his desire to fall for his charms. It initially has a pretty edgy feel to it with sort of abrasively plucked strings before blossoming into more of a more contemporary rock song. We have a really captivating number with `if i were you` which lyrically seems a relatively cleaver play on the sentiment of would your outlook change if you could view things from my perspective, kind of questioning whether the couple can endure each other`s differences in their relationship. There`s some relatively intricate guitar chord play and a pounding drumbeat that leads us along this journey. The harmonies towards the latter part of the song were simple but delightfully executed.
`the bones of us` is a laid back track nigh on a ballad with lyrics that could be interpreted on a number of levels but seems to be about a relationship that’s seen better days and reflecting whether it`s worth salvaging. A number made for a live occasion with lighters and lit cell phones being held aloft. I wasn`t sure what to make of the fast paced `splinter` which races along and seems extremely contemplative. Different but nevertheless an interesting piece.
`i need you (to be wrong)` is a strange piece. It had a sort of reggaeish tinge followed by orchestrated strings and percussion with lead vocals that sounded almost unemotive nearly detached giving it an almost otherworldly vibe. Again, there were some enchanting vocal harmonies. We have a much faster paced offering with `the hard way` which seems to be about analysing the consequences from a failed romance and pleading for a further chance to make things right. Hats off to Jon Foreman for managing to deliver the lyrics on time within this rapidly shared number. Once more there were some appealing backing harmonies.
A deep cello wail leads us into `wolves` which is a disconcerting but bewitching waltz like opus with a baritone vocal that will draw you to this slightly unnerving song like a moth is drawn to a flame. Stunning. I thought `backwards in time` was quite mesmerising. It`s a kind of acoustic, rhythmic, nigh on dreamy submission which reflects on lost love and how the narrator would love to change the situation if only they could go back in time.
The album closes out with `electricity` and to me it seemed to tip it`s hat to The Beatles and especially `Dear Prudence`. I have to say I loved the emotion which was almost tangible in the vocals. A delightfully upbeat number to close out on.
I thoroughly enjoyed “interrobang” where there were several terrific songs shared with some really compelling melodies and hooks with lyrics that made you stop and consider what was being shared. An album for the more discerning rock connoisseur.
Rating 9/10
