(UPDATE @ 6:05pm:) You can download/purchase this video from here for $1.99. They're the folks who made it. --
I think the idea of grace is my favourite topic around which most of my philosophical ruminations revolve, and its been one big reason why I relate so much with Switchfoot - because they seem to share that fascination with grace ("Living is Simple" is the foremost example that comes to mind). So I was glad to stumble by this video from back in the day where the guys open up on faith, fake, and the like. I don't know the source of this video - seems like a fan interview turned into a well-edited clip. Anyway, here:
There's a thread on the message boards that brought up the inevitable question regarding what this one-word lyric in "Amateur Lovers" could mean. Is Jon asking "are you a professional? or is he asking who is considered a professional?" wondered the original poster. There were some insightful responses, so here are some of the quoteworthy ones:
Purple Sheep:
I think in the song he's taking the role of an "amateur lover" and then at the end he's saying "Professional? Why would I ever want to be a professional? I want to remain an amateur lover!" and is thus mocking the character he's singing as.
Sobe!:
I think he's making the point that people call themselves "professionals" in love... when we're all really just amateur lovers, because no one really takes love seriously anymore.
Rose seemed to agree with the above poster:
...at the end he's saying how everyone pretends to know they know what they are doing by repeating professional.
I particularly liked likimtastic's observation:
I think he is trying to make a point by using a little well placed stuttering "p-p-p-p-p-professional" to kind of poke fun at how stupid we (our culture) sound when we talk about love like we know what we're doing.
There seemed to be a consensus on the fact that Jon was being sarcastic, and that the message of the song is conveyed through its sarcasm - a view I agree with (I think its fairly obviously so.)
Anyway, this was my response:
Thats my favourite part of the song.. how Jon's pr-pr-pr.. stammering slowly blends with the guitars and the beat, it has a progressive edge to it. You guys have some good interpretations.. my first interpretation of it was that Jon might be pointing out the irony of the fact that even though we're amateur lovers, we act all "professional" with each other, which actually reflects our ignorance of how to love. Our (especially urban) culture would be a lot more laidback and people-centered and not so "professional" if we knew how to love. But the true beauty of that one-word lyric is that it opens up the song to so many different possibilities/interpretations - its a great poetic moment from Jon... it just nicely counter-balances the song by throwing in that autonym of "amateur": professional.
Download: Switchfoot's "Crazy In Love" Beyonce cover - in studio, this time!
UPDATE on 1st Feb: Added new poll question: "Was it a good idea to cover a Beyonce song?" Make your opinion count. Discussion here.
UPDATE @ 9:15pm: I directly extracted the audio from the video into a 160kbps mp3 file of noticeably higher quality than the previous analog recording I linked - and replaced the link - so you might wanna re-download that.
UPDATE @ 4:08pm:Here's the download of the video - I flexed some geek-muscle to get it for ya'll, as it is, undoctored, high-quality, straight off Yahoo's server. (don't tell them! :P haha don't worry, its not illegal, since they're not selling the vid.) I've also put it on YouTube, so if you wanna embed the video on your site/myspace (i.e. give SF some exposure), click on it below and it will take you to the YouTube page where you can find the code.
--
A while ago they did a live cover of this, and now, a moment I've waited for - they've recorded it in Yahoo! Music's studios, on their "Cover Art" series. Here's the mp3. Since Drew said they chose the song for the "bling", I thought this mp3 player should reflect that :D :
In other news, Podcast 17 is out - for those of you who haven't yet tuned in. Watch it off our YouTube feature on the sidebar. This was Andy's message on the boards:
"SEVENTEEN, PODCAST SEVENTEEN"
so i was trying to make the title of this thread sound like james bond, but i dont think it worked. oh well, thats beside the point. you have a new podcast to go look at, so get check it.
bonus points to whoever figures out the new poster theme first.
see you soon europe and north america!
andy
ps. youtube is being lame and taking forever to upload podcast 17, so im gonna keep trying, so keep checking switchfoot's youtube page and when its up, its up. peace out.
The bonus points are taken - thanks to Luke and LOBH, we have the poster theme figured out:
Will they ever stop giving us reasons to love them more? I doubt it.
Hey guys, my laptop isn't working and this computer is kinda ancient and I have only limited access to it, so until I get my laptop back online (hopefully tomorrow), its gonna be hard to update, and that's why there's not been much stuff going on here lately. But here's what's on my agenda:
- completing the "Revenge" post filed under "song meanings", and exploring other songs - a video download of "Oh! Gravity." from the CD USA performance - a new poll - the results of the poll "contest" (the one about the cover artwork) - a cover SF did of the Police song "Spirits in a Material World" (its great) - more never-before-released live bootlegs from back in the day - a live performance video of "Happy is a Yuppie Word" on FUSE's Daily Download, another exclusive ...and much much more.
So keep checking back. Thanks for reading - I appreciate you guys' continued support more than you'd know.
Oh, and, just thought I'd clarify some things about the ads placed at the bottom of the sidebar, 'cause the site clocked 31% less visitors the day after the ads were placed, compared to the day before, which I thought was interesting, whether or not it had anything to do with the ads. Anyway, I put them on an experimental basis - I just hope it covers the costs of hosting. Those ads should bring in maybe 5 bucks a month (give or take, depending on how interested people are in the ads i.e. how many clicks they get), which is around what hosting costs these days. We hope to move to a server and, who knows, maybe the blog will become just one part of the site, once we expand. I'm already talking deals with web-hosts and web-designers, so keep your fingers crossed. But it would be hard to afford it without the ads, given my student budget, ya know? I'm trying to keep the ads inobtrusive, though - and honestly, I'm not exactly fond of throwing advertisements at friends, but I guess, like Jon once said, "It’s that mixed drink you have to pour out so you can start with the pure stuff." Besides, you could look at it as a way in which you support the site (but please do it legitimately i.e. only if you're genuinely interested in the ads - don't go on a clicking rampage, Google is smart.)
Thanks for reading, may the Force be with you.
PS: Here's a review that was gracious to link to us, check it out. Another review that linked to us but I forgot to link it here, is Arpit's, yes, our MOTW-host. Go show that sweet musicblog of his some love, and in the process you might discover some great new music.
One of my earliest posts was about a download of the "Oh! Gravity." music video, but some people had trouble converting it for the iPod, and the file-size must've been too big for some dial-up users. So here's a 26.4MB, mpg-quality TV-rip, iPod-conversion-ready version of this switchFeed exclusive, recorded by #videopimp on IRC. Enjoy.
My cousin Tina got into this gangsta pose with Tim. Until now she didn't want to share it with the Switchfoot world since it was too special to be shared with everyone, but she changed her mind today (not that she now wants it pasted all over the web, but switchFeed is an exception ;)), so here it is, Tim striking the best pose he ever has. :D
[click to enlarge]
[Please do not reproduce this image in any form on a public domain, without prior permission.]
Bloc Party is a British indie rock / post-punk / new wave band with art-rock indulgences that carry a sense of urgency, with its boundless energy and sharp playing style. Post-dance-punk, maybe? Pulsating basslines, tricky time signatures. All packaged in sleek production, with pop hooks and a great sense of melody. They rose to much critical acclaim following their debut titled "Silent Alarm", a record I've tirelessly enjoyed. Their British-ness comes through in that eccentric-yet-classy style. The drumming seems influenced by London's famed dance and R'n'B scene.
"Plans" may not be the best song on the record, but I love it, and it makes for a good introduction to the band. It's subtle in the way it builds, aided by that effective synth touch, and before you realize it, you're riding the crest of a soaring guitar solo that's elaborate yet not pretentious. Little details like the phone ringing in the background (which you won't notice until the 99th listen) should please Switchfoot fans, as those easily-missable details are our boys' forte, too. This is one of those songs that, when it ends, leaves you disappointed that it didn't last longer.
It's more than just an added bonus that Bloc Party's lyrics are not just for the sake of it - they're well thought out, and give you something worthwhile to take home. It rises above the pseudo-intellectualism and misdirected angst of its peers with, well, PopMatters said it well:
...Silent Alarm is "a voice in the darkness, a knock at the door" ... in its arm waving and attention getting, [its] telling us [that] there are unconscionable perils in trying to fix a world that doesn't want to be fixed. The ambition demanded by such a task can lead to overindulgence and failure. This world ain't just m-m-m-made of facts. "Silent Alarm"'s world is our world, populated with paranoia and a false sense of security, where deceptions and solutions fight for air like lightning bugs in a glass bottle.
A world where deceptions and solutions fight for air like lightning bugs in a glass bottle - sounds like something a certain Jonathan Foreman would say or sing about? This song, for one, is inspirational in a way that few other songs are - its not trying to be kind - it minces no words, sternly scolds you, and scares you into waking up. Sometimes it takes a do-or-die challenge to move me from lethargy -- a battle-cry: "You will kill or be killed."
The whole album is amazing, but this track is special not only 'cause I'm a sucker for good guitar solos, but it inspires me to stop dreaming, and start doing something. If I don't, it's happening without me. Nothing / no one will wait for me, or return my missed chances.
Oh, and I was happy to see this album on Switchfoot's "list of albums you should hear", its good to know they like this record too. There's no better time to get into them than now, because their new album "A Weekend in the City" will be released on February 5th (UK) / 6th (US) - and hence, my timely post.
Ever thought you'd hear "Spirit", "I Turn Everything Over" and "Company Car" one after the other in a live gig from way way back in the day, with Jon speaking in between songs to the church they were playing at? That's what you get for being a switchFeeder. ;) I've never been more proud to present you an exclusive, something never posted anywhere before. Yeah, check me out, I've got the company car. Now you do too.
Lovedrug on Switchfoot: they have "hearts of gold".
The Switchfoot Wikipedia article has now achieved "Good Article" status. This makes me feel like a proud parent, since I wrote nearly 50% of it (mainly everything from "Influences" to "Other Projects"). *feels accomplished* :$
Wouldn't it be a dream come true for every fan, to have your professor make your class listen to "American Dream"? Well, for some students its a reality.
Lovedrug, one of my favourite bands (they have a killer live show), loves our favourite drug. Said Michael Shepard, their lead singer, in an interview:
You've toured with a number of high profile bands like The Killers and The Juliana Theory. What was your favorite tour and who was it with?
Shepard: ... As far as tours are concerned, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour we did with Switchfoot. I guess because it was the first tour we did that we were actually treated really well on. The guys in Switchfoot have hearts of gold. It's pretty astounding.
"A heart thats made of gold can't really beat at all"? :-P Sorry, couldn't resist.
Watch VIDEO: Switchfoot on Jay Leno w/ "Oh! Gravity."
The brass section = gooood idea. This performance should do the band some good. It was good to hear him introduce the album as "critically acclaimed". I know the quality of this video isn't the best, but a good quality version should be up soon. Darn, I just realized I used "good" in every sentence of this post. Not a sign of a good writer.
It is really nice to know that amongst all the emo bands, Justin Timberlakes and other assorted generic music floating around, a few bands that make good rock still exist.
Switchfoot is one of the bands to emerge from the mid-‘90s rock scene that can still produce heartfelt lyrics with solid music. It’s quite refreshing to hear something that rises above the muck you usually hear on the airwaves.
The band’s new album, “Oh! Gravity,” which dropped in late December, is a long way from the band’s Christian and Indie influences. This album is definitely worth checking out.
Upon first listen, I gained a new respect for this relatively overlooked group. ...
This isn't exactly a review, nor am I the evangelistic type, but it might interest you.
But you can't have every review heaping praises, so you have LifeTeen.com continuing the Christian-reviewer penchant for using just one line in the review to talk about the music--the sound--while talking about everything but. Its almost like they can hear only the vocals, the lyrics, and the rest is somehow muted.
While the same complaint may hold true for this somewhat brief review, its got to be one of my favourite reviews yet--more than just because of how he "gets" the band. Well said, Brandon Daviet.
This reviewer is reminded of "Bright Eyes' melodic ironies" and Conor Oberst.
The band gets some love from someone who thinks Christian rock is crappy (not that Switchfoot belongs to the genre, if you ask me).
"Dirty Second Hands" makes this radioblog, with the following description:
“Dirty Second Hands” by Switchfoot - A track off their new disc Oh! Gravity. This has to be my favorite song on the whole disc. If I had to pick a theme song for the first Flynn book and couldn’t pick a gothy song, I’d pick this track.
Dark but not quite gothy, yes.
This reviewer thinks the album achieves its "success as a beautiful paradox, reaching for its overarching sounds with dirty guitars and introspective lyrics that surprisingly never clash."
Just when I thought Rolling Stone liked this album (judging from early press), turns out they don't. :(
The Battalion seems confused about whether they like the album or not, in this detailed review full of mixed feelings.
This review kinda irked me because it seemed biased, and, yeah, I left a comment.
Wow, that's way too many reviews, and I still have a few blog-reviews left, but I guess you guys have had enough for now?
Well, for those who have the heart and time for more, and haven't read it yet off the switchGoogler feature, here's the Chanticleer one that is positive overall but has it wrong on multiple levels, mainly: "The Beautiful Letdown" wasn't the band's previous album.
Dear Tim, thanks a lot for that, bro-- it made my day. Its really humbling to think you guys read this blog--it means a lot. Stay unreal. And, yes, classy.
Much love, phil
EDIT: Dear new visitor, welcome! I hope you like this place and make it your, um, switchHome? Anyway, feel free to leave a reply (we accept love, hate, and MasterCard :P) Its a nice little community around here, and we certainly don't bite, so we hope you stick around!
peace, phil --
To celebrate the shoutout and to welcome all the new visitors, here's a never-before-seen video of "Ammunition" at Rock The Desert:
And here's the mpg download of "The Loser" from the same show, that I put up on YouTube a few days ago. Expect an mpg of "Ammunition" sometime.
I am awake, I am alive Everything seems so real The people I see, the beautiful faces All the emotions I feel So I play the game, I smile and talk Eating all the right meals When I get involved, I’m happy and sad
Imaginary ideals Change my ideal of love Love, help me feel And make me real
I lay awake upon my bed Staring darkness and thought far ahead I’m too good, see through my day It’s just a game and even so, I play Am I awake, yeah am I involved? Am I a piece in the puzzle I solve? do they feel bright like they're moving ahead and do they feel sorry late at night in bed?
Change my ideal of love Love, help me feel And make me real Yeah
When I wake up in the morning And things feel so true Please help me hold on It’s a game But there’s you Yeah There’s you
I've been working hard today to make some changes and improvements to the site, and I'm very pleased with the results.
I'll list the changes in the order of how accomplished they make me feel:
1) Labels (which I wasn't a big fan of) are now replaced with the folder trees. This seriously has some great benefits. Previously if you clicked on a label it would open a page with the newest 7 posts with that label, regardless of whether they were relevant to you or not - and the buried ones remained buried. Not very user friendly. This one, as you can see, not only expands the folders (click on the black pointer rather than the blue text) but most importantly shows the post titles and allows you to go straight to the post you want to read. The only slight problem with it is that it lists posts starting with the most recently edited, not necessarily the newest, so an ocassional old post might masquerade as a recent post. This feature makes me proud because its an original, and I'll humbly say its quite brilliant - I don't think any blog in the blogosphere features it. (The things I do for you guys! :P) It was after doing some intense googling and exploring blogger hacks that I was able to come up with this one. Of all the label display styles I've seen on Blogger-powered blogs, this one is my favourite. I still can't believe I concocted it, I mean I don't even know HTML. Another great thing about it is that you can have RSS feeds (the little orange buttons) of individual labels/folders--for those who don't want to subscribe to everything. Anyway, enough with the bragging...
2) The orange tabs at the very top. That one took much time and effort to make, but its not an original, nor is it as helpful as #1. But for the effort it took to make it, and for how pretty it looks, its #2. I picked the buttons I picked based on popularity and uniqueness. The header graphic is no longer clickable because we now have the "home" button.
I know you're probably thinking I'm such a dork, right about now. Anyway-
3) The switchBrowser is a handy little frame that displays everything with the word "switchfoot" on Google News. It takes some of the newsreporting burden off my back, as it will automatically update itself whenever a new article or review shows up under Google's radar. EDIT: I removed this feature because it stands against the page's color-theme a bit too much. I'm looking for better way to achieve the same...
4) Further down, there's the MySpace blog scroller (which doesn't look too pretty, but I couldn't come up with anything better... yet), and the Podcast feature which is great (it will automatically update itself as and when Switchfoot puts out any video on YouTube. Same with the MySpace blog scroller.) Ignore the ocassional advertisement on the MySpace thingy.
5) ...and some other tiny changes which you'll notice.
I'd love to hear what ya'll think. Thanks for all the support, I really appreciate it. Have a nice day. :)
Alright, its about time I updated ya'll on what's been going on in the Switchfoot world. Much of this might be old news to some of you, but here goes...
The guys are featured on Walmart's Soundcheck, which includes an interview and 5 songs performed live in their studio, along with glowing reviews of the band and the songs - "Dirty Second Hands", "American Dream", "Awakening", "Oh! Gravity" and the goosebumps-inducing "Let Your Love Be Strong". I love how Jon goes "when we're fighting for the le-le-le-le-le-le-lexus" on "American Dream". You can buy the MP3s from that site, and you can download an mp3 of the interview here. (Thanks LOBH.)
TotalAxxess.com has now put up what was the most entertaining interview with the guys I'd ever heard.
Switchfoot is up for Artist of the Month at MSN Music. Too bad they think this is the band's third album, but this was a sweet review nonetheless:
San Diego's Switchfoot write thoughtful, inventive rock music with a decidedly spiritual bent. Their last album, "Nothing Is Sound," continued to bridge their faith-inflected lyricism to the rock community at large, thanks to the radio hit "Stars," which seriously is one of the best hard rock/pop hits of the last few years. Their new album, "Oh! Gravity." dropped (get it?) on the day after Christmas, and represents exactly the kind of stylistic experimentation every rock band in the world should be doing on third albums.
Please, and I say please, go vote for them, and as many times as you can. Its weird, initially Switchfoot was comfortably in the lead, way ahead of the rest, then it seemed like someone went on a voting rampage, 'cause, good ol' Harry began giving Switchfoot good competition, until the Shins came running out of nowhere (they were 2% when Harry and Switchfoot were both in the 45-50% range), smacked Harry and Romey on their heads, raced ahead of all the pretty boys, and suspiciously stopped 1% ahead of the rest of the pack. Anyway, despite these theatrics, I request you to go vote, and as many million times as you can.
The guys are gonna be on TV (Jay Leno) on the 23rd, mark your calendars, don't miss it.
Switchfoot have added "Awakening" and "American Dream" on their MySpace. Add it to your MySpace page (if you have one, that is. If you don't, good on you, don't give in to peer pressure like I did.) Its a great way to show your Switchfoot pride.
Here's your chance to design the switchfoot.com banner, or if you prefer, get a phone call from the band. But if, like me, you lack the skills, you can vote for your favourite. If you can't be bothered to look through them all, vote for Cassie (she does the graphics for this site). Because either way you might end up voting for her, she's just that good.
"Oh! Gravity." was #41 on Billboard 200 in its second week, and #58 currently on its third week. Not too surprising, considering there haven't been any big singles yet. Its really about time they released another single. "Oh! Gravity." is at the doorstep of alternative's top 40 (it peaked at #36 and is #41 currently), but its been hovering in that range for far too long and doesn't look like its gonna get a lift, unless another single comes along.
I got to have an early listen to Relient K's 11-minute track "Deathbed" from their upcoming album, which features Jon's vocals. I'll just suffice to say the song is worth way more than 99 cents, and Jon claims to be the way, the truth, and the life. Don't ask me about that, I guess you'll just have to wait till its released. :P
*humour & randoms* Jon and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek fame are teaming on a project titled "The Real SeanJon", which I'm terribly excited about, because it might mean more songs like "Revenge" and "Betrayal". But right now I can't get past the hilarity of the title. For those fortunate souls who don't know their pop culture, Diddy started a clothing line called "SeanJohn" (his real name is Sean John Combs), and this title is obviously poking fun at that, and the website even mimicks the SeanJohn logo's font. Gotta love these guys... for more than just the amazing music, eh? (I hear an emphatic "yes", especially from the girls.)
PS: Yes Vicky, I like to spell it the Canadi--er--British way. Its The Real Way. ;)
Since Phil posted on Switchfoot's 'Revenge' earlier this week, I figured I'd follow it up with another great song along the same lines by another awesome band. The band: Tremolo; the song: 'I Believe (Love Is Revenge)'.
Tremolo is a power-pop band out of Oakland, CA, and they're not just musicians, they're revolutionists. The band takes 50% of their profits (yes, 50%) and puts into a fund they started called 'Love > Revenge' fund. They are actively involved with the International Justice Mission and the Not For Sale Campaign. It's so refreshing to see musicians that aren't afraid to voice their support for something they believe in. Also, the singer, Justin Dillon, has been featured on the Starbucks 'The Way I See It' cup, and actually has a great quote on there (link).
So, what makes this song great? Well, the hooks are definitely great as are all the musical parts and interludes and the like. But the lyrics are what make it worthy of MP3 of the Week. The catchy chorus was often texted back and forth amongst our group of friends as a means of expressing our affection:
I believe in you, I do, I do, I do believe in you, Even if you're not around, You're still in my life...
What made this song one of my favorites on the album (and overall as well) was the bridge:
Though I cannot forget what you did to me, No one prospers in this guilty economy, Love's the greatest revenge that we all need...
Even as Phil finishes up his post on 'Revenge' I have to say that I agree with both Foreman and Dillon that love is the greatest revenge that we have received and that we need. A world where revenge takes the form of love would be a much better place for all without a doubt. I know you guys will check out the song, but please check out the other links as well. The album is beautifully put together and if you like this song, I'll venture to guess that you'll enjoy the entire album. So have a ball with these guys, and feel free to discuss the song in the comments.
I am excited to inform you that we now have our own place (with a roof, pillows, mailbox, door, etc.) on the World Wide Web. Welcome to www.switchfeed.com, amigos. You might wanna update your bookmarks, though every old link will still work - you will be automatically redirected to the corresponding new URL, making the transition absolutely seamless. Thank you for your hand in making this project a success so far - well, successful enough to warrant its own domain, at least! ;)
Also, there's a new poll up (newcomers: its on the sidebar, if you scroll down a bit). And the long overdue news update and a review log will be posted this weekend, I promise.
...then "Awakening" and "Dirty Second Hands" will be the 2nd and 3rd singles, the former released to pop/mainstream radio, and the latter to alternative/hardrock stations.
That could be a masterstroke - releasing those two simultaneously like that. But don't quote me on rumours.
Download VIDEO: "Dirty Second Hands" (live @ CD USA)
Here's the original mpg of what I uploaded on YouTube. Recorded by Hibiscus at #videopimp on IRC. Released for the first time via http - a Switchfeed exclusive. Enjoy.
One of my closest friends is devastated for reasons I shant delve into right now because this isn't a personal blog. Someone wronged her, and I didn't sleep a wink last night, and I haven't slept since, because me and another friend have been consoling her and talking things through. Well, my point is, I feel thoughts of revenge. I may not be proud of it, but that's what I feel. She didn't deserve what she was dealt. But why does it bother me so much when someone who doesn't deserve to be wronged is wronged anyway? Why do bad things happen to good people, and why does that discrepancy bother us? Does our desire for revenge--to right wrongs--reflect an inbuilt sense of justice, of right and wrong, of good and bad? Will all wrongs be avenged? Can Someone's murder steal our rage away, can love descend and steal our pain away? I think we'd be closer to an answer if we swap the words "bad" and "good" around: why do good things happen to bad people? Why do we get better than what we deserve? I think the meaning of the song "Revenge" may revolve around that question - a question Jon said was the theme of the "Oh! Gravity." album.
I'm the failure I'm everyone's fool And I'm losing my cool at the end I'm the loser my number's come up I've been hung up with thoughts of revenge, Revenge, revenge
I watched you from my terminal view As you struggled to rise to your end I laughed hard at the insults we threw As the weight of the world found Revenge
Have hatred and gravity won?
The world hung upside down I drew first blood I drew first blood with my hate for a crown I drew first blood I drew first blood Revenge
I watched heaven dying today And I'm gonna die here tonight I'm a villain I deserve to be dead I've been hung up for wreckin' my life Revenge
So I stopped for a moment To look at the sun Dying a day That's when the irony hit me That this was revenge Love had decended And stolen our pain Away
We consumed heaven's Son And I drew first blood I drew first blood And my hate was undone I drew first blood I drew first blood, revenge
Here's a story How a thief had robbed How a murder had stolen my rage Think of me, Lord I'm a few breaths away As my lungs finally rip from the cage Revenge
Allow me to introduce Arpit Mehta of AM Music Blog fame, who will be heading up the "MP3 of the week (MOTW)" feature. I will contribute occassionally, too. The sole purpose of this feature is to expose relatively obscure yet great music, for the benefit of music fans like you, and for the benefit of the artists themselves. This is only one small but dedicated effort to bridge the gap between not-so-major label artists and the music community. Someone commented on the first issue of this feature, asking if its legal to distribute MP3s on the internet. My answer is, no, its not. But it would be unfair to reduce what we (and many other blogs) are doing to the act of "distributing songs for free" - because we're exposing you to new artists, and this, I'm sure, benefits artists. But if you're an artist (or you represent one) whose song is made available here, and you'd like it taken down, please let me know, I'll gladly oblige (switchfeed AT gmail DOT com). It will be taken down in a few weeks either way. If you find something you like, I hope you'll buy it and support the artist.
I hope you'll find this column enjoyable. Thank you, Arpit.
MOTW #1: The Working Title - 'The Mary Getaway (I Lost Everything)'
Hey all! Wanted to start off by saying hi to everyone. Phil has asked me to contribute to the blog on a (somewhat) weekly basis, and so here I am. And I want to welcome you to 'MP3 of the Week' (MOTW). This will be a weekly feature where we seek to expose you to new music that we hope you will enjoy and share with everyone as you do Switchfoot.
This week's artist is The Working Title. Power-pop streams through these guys' veins for sure. If you listen to any song on their debut, "About-Face", you will agree with me. The album itself is great, but the song that made it as the mp3 of the week is 'The Mary Getaway (I Lost Everything)'. The first thing that I love about this song is frontman Joel Hamilton's vocals that move gently from his head voice into his falsetto. The transition is seamless. The next element just beyond that has to be the beautiful lyrics. The song is one of unrequited love, and Hamilton does an excellent job of communicating that, especially through the bridge:
The first time that I saw those eyes Was the first time I came undone Oh Mary look what you've done to me Oh Mary look what you've done...
It's a heartfelt song, and one I think you guys will enjoy. The mp3 is posted below. You can check out their website and myspace and even grab their album if you like. Hope you guys have a great weekend!
I made a new web folder on eSnips where I'll be storing all switchFeed files from now on. To inaugurate it, I've put up the mp3 rip of that video of a highly-caffeinated "Dirty Second Hands" performance on CD USA, that many of you have been waiting for. Joy.
Also, prompted by Natalie, to enrich the poll "contest", I've appended links to LOBH's interviews about the cover with Joshua Levy (the artist who made it), at the bottom of the previous post with the artwork panels. Or, what the hey, you could just click here. They're interesting reads.
This made my day, and then ruined it because I can't have it (I think it belongs to a certain Dave Althuis on Facebook- if you know his address by any chance, please let me know):
Poll: The 6 panels of the "Oh! Gravity." cover artwork.
(click to enlarge)
Don't forget to check out the poll on the sidebar. The idea is to motivate ya'll to pay closer attention to the artwork, because its so good it deserves attention. As for "best response wins a prize", I will be judging responses in the comments section on two grounds: (1) How interesting the discovery of images or related observations are, including any observations about a panel as a whole. (2) If you prefer giving a random/humorous reason for picking a panel, you stand an equal chance to win, too. And the prize is (don't you dare laugh): Fame. I will mention and give props to your comment (as an edit to this entry, and on the most current blog entry, at the end of the poll). Of course that's the prize you really wanted. :P So lets do this.
EDIT: You'll find two very insightful interviews with the artist, Joshua Levy, here. (The first one is linked on that page.)
Switchfoot's "4:12" - just a random number or a clue to something deeper?
"4:12", besides being my current favourite, has always been ranked in my Top 3 tracks from the record. I think it's brilliant how the music is so restless - just like the lyrics. The song starts off with the image of someone who's rolling in bed, restless, and the beat and guitar style perfectly symbolize that. Lyrically, Jon called it "another musical thesis on the subject of materialism." He explains, "I've heard it said that we are souls and we have bodies. And yet our physical world is always hungry, always thirsty, always watching, always listening. It gets to the point where I begin to believe that all we are and that all of our dreams are nothing more than material. That love and fear and pain and justice are material? It's nonsensical." I am somehow not entirely satisfied by that explanation, because I have reasons (explained below) to feel like Jon wants the song to go deeper than that. I think, with that explanation, he may be imploring us to ask: yes, we are souls who have bodies, but what is the source of love, fear, hurt, our sense of justice, and such things that aren't material or merely soulish, personality traits?
Maybe the number "4:12" has a deeper significance, maybe it's some kind of clue? Why has the song's protagonist been waking up at 4:12 every night, and not 4-something-else? Was Jon being random, or was waking up at that time a sign? The song ends exactly at 4 minutes and 12 seconds, as if Switchfoot is begging us to pay attention to those numbers. Besides, it's the only song that isn't named after a line in the chorus (besides "Faust"), but is named after one seemingly random line in the song. Why would they name the whole song "4:12" if it was merely a timestamp? This got me to put on my thinking cap.
As I set out to crack the puzzle, I thought of reducing 4:12 as a ratio: the result being 1:3. The first thing that came to mind was the idea of the Trinity in the Judeo-Christian belief system - the Godhead - 3 persons in 1 - The Great Spirit. Even though the guys are known to be Christians, maybe that wasn't it: it seemed far-fetched. So I looked further.
The song repeats the line "souls aren't made of stones, sticks and bones" 8 times, which must mean that line is important to the meaning of the song. They say our 1:being is comprised of 1:body, 2:soul, and 3:spirit. And this ties in with: "all we are is material. Its nonsensical", "souls aren't made of stones, sticks and bones". The song seems to be distinguishing between the body (material), the soul - the person you are, you as an individual (which isn't "stones, sticks and bones") and the Spirit - the "force" that dwells in us (though often dormant), unites us all, and is who we are at the core, going deeper than our conscious experiences. (I could be off, but those are my non-scholarly definitions for these three aspects of our existence, the definitions of which have long been debated.)
So I did some research and found that the words "bones", "soul", spirit, all point to a verse in the Bible which happens to be the primary biblical support for the idea that our body, soul and spirit are disparate entities:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow [the body], and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And that verse, my friends, is Hebrews... 4:12.
Coincidental or intentional, I don't know, but it's very interesting all the same.
Why is it important to be aware of the division between the body, soul and spirit (the 3 essences we're made up of)? Because, if all is material, and we can't find answers in that, then we're at a dead end, but if there's more than material, then it means that we have hope, that we may have answers. So, since the song's protagonist can't find answers in the material world, and feels like we're made up of more than material (joints, bones and marrow), where else could he look for answers but beyond the material? If souls (people) aren't built of stones, sticks, and bones (body, material), what are they built of? The Spirit is the only possibility left. Maybe the answers to the Big Questions lie therein? To use a computer analogy, what if we're all like computer systems, made up of more than hardware (body) - we can think and feel and be self-aware (our soul) - but also we're all connected to a network, a Server, a master computer, through which we're all one, through which we're capable of love, dreams, and such? That's probably what the Spirit really is (whether you choose to read it as "human spirit" or as "Holy Spirit").
Once the song makes it clear that we need to look further than shopping malls, parking lots and dead-end jobs, it goes on to detail the constant struggle between viewing the world with material eyes ("with your own eyes"), versus viewing the world with spiritual eyes ("with new eyes"). The phone rings, something in the material world triggers, and you're back to "reality" and the spiritual enlightenment gets reduced to a brief memory, a "temporary state". And you're always trying to attain that mode where you're viewing things with new eyes, but with all that's around you, it can be really hard to maintain that state. You slip into "earth mode", your small-thinking, so easily. Its my biggest struggle in life... to actually live out the truth I feel inside. To have more than just fleeting moments of devotion, peace, joy, fulfillment and... fleeting moments where everything makes sense and I feel like I'm on God's wavelength. But how the heck do I sustain that?
How do I keep looking through those "new eyes", how do I keep walking in the Spirit? Is there something "sharper than a two-edged sword" that can pierce through what divides me from the spirit aspect of me, what repeatedly disconnects me from the server - is there something I can turn to whenever I feel lost again, like a compass in the middle of the ocean? Those are some of the questions I believe the song's title and length could be pointing to - and the answer seems to lie in exploring the divisions between your 1:3 - the body, soul, and spirit - which is what Hebrews 4:12 talks about. And, according to the verse, the word of God is what can cut through this division, and sift through the 24 voices ("you roll the voices over in your head") to find that one voice, helping you become centered and true, and bringing you from a stage of viewing the world "with your own eyes" to viewing the world "with new eyes". From seeing it all as material and being a product of your environment and desires, to being led by the Spirit. From knowing that you're not one of many lonely computers out there, but you're connected. And finding that Connection might be the best answer to insomnia.
You might think I'm stretching it, or that I went off on my own tangent, but that's just what I take home from the song, and I thought it was interesting enough to share. Thanks for reading; feel free to discuss, disagree, rant, or even agree, below.
Its been a month since we started counting (and a little over a month since we started this whole thing), and thanks to you guys we have 7350 hits for the first month - and if you include yesterday's 607 hits (310 visitors, of which 138 are returning visitors), its nearly 8000 for a month which isn't shabby at all. Thanks again to you guys who've been reading.
I've not updated the polls in a while because I wanted to squeeze the most votes out of this one, as I've forwarded it to the Switchfoot guys, just in case they're curious about what we think the next single should be. Just in case. But I'll be putting up a new poll question tomorrow.
The Paste Magazine reviewer Rachael left us a comment and has blogged about what I had to say regarding her review, including a shoutout to some of you "SwitchFeeders" regarding... well, go over and check it out. And leave some love. Her blog gave me a good laugh today - me and a friend read it together which made it a funnier (wait, is that a word?) experience. Don't miss the "Lady in the Water" review, its sorta priceless.
So I was a bit bored and thought I'd google "switchfeed". And who would've thought!? [...party at my place?] Oh, and, while you're there, you might wanna leave us a rating.
Here are some reviews I'll just spit out and not say anything about, since my eyes are desperate to shut:
Sorting through 8 O!G. bonus tracks: Switchfoot experimenting with electronica?
Have any of you heard "The Shadow Proves The Sunshine [Alternate Version]" or "C'mon C'mon [remix]"? Both songs fall more under the electronica category than rock. The former is a gently groovy dancehall remix, while the latter is a gorgeous rendition of "C'mon C'mon" (better than the EP version). Its a bit reminiscent of U2 at the start, then sounds a bit like a Radiohead tribute until it begins to come to its own, unravelling the genius of a band at its peak - as an eerie, choir-y, decidedly atmospheric dose of poignant ear candy.
These songs, and "Burn Out Bright [acoustic]" which is stripped down naked and transformed into the polar opposite of its original - a calm, soothing, intimate version with melodies tweaked to give it a very honest feel - are both worthy additions to the album's 12 tracks, more so than any of the EP tracks, or even "Revenge" (well, maybe not "Revenge"), in my opinion. In short, they're really good. You CAN'T not hear the aforementioned tracks if you're a fan. You just can't, it'd be a crime.
Some of you will find it hard to digest TSPTS (alt. version), because the original is a deeply personal song for most of us, with its pleasurably dark vibe. Tip: don't expect it to outdo TSPTS, it doesn't attempt to. Try not to compare. They give the song a whole different treatment: a happier, dancey, lounge/electronica sound with gorgeous, spacey brushstrokes of guitar. Fans will have to let it grow on them, while those who haven't heard the original should take to it easily.
I've always wanted to see a Switchfoot song as an electronica remix. So its a dream come true, and even if its not the best remix ever, its certainly good for what its worth. I've always thought Jon's style of flowing, well-balanced and clean/clear vocal delivery would be a great fit on an ambient electronica soundscape. "Yesterdays" featured some Imogen Heap-styled production on parts of the vocals, and though it would be a mistake to call that electronica, it was perhaps an indication of a little sonic distraction for the band: because these two tracks come much closer - especially TSPTS (alt. version), which could very well be classified into the electronica genre. Good to see Switchfoot experimenting beyond organic sounds, I for one would be very interested in hearing some more electronica/industrial infused material from Switchfoot - even if in the form of a side project.
As for the other bonus tracks. I love "Revenge", but I couldn't care much for any of the others. "American Dream [acoustic]" and "Awakening [acoustic]" (Rhapsody exclusive - with harmonica, yes), both failed to impress me - when I have the original, I wouldn't be going back to listen to these acoustic versions because they don't bring anything new to the song, they don't even come anywhere close to the originals. Sorry but they just don't do it for me. I liked the acoustic radio performance of "American Dream" (which I'll upload as mp3 on here soon), but this one served as a bonus track, was lackluster. "C'mon C'mon [acoustic]" (Circuit City exclusive) isn't bad by any means, as it starts out really slow and climaxes well with forceful strumming of the acoustic to a refrain of "when everything's new" for the final 60 seconds of the 2:25-long song, but when you have two other versions of the song - one outstanding and one very good - why would you care too much for a merely decent third version? The only bonus track I haven't heard is the live bootlegged version of "Dirty Second Hands" available on iTunes. The song's duration is almost the same as the performance on CD USA, so I'm guessing its just an identical (or nearly so), better-quality (comparing with the 30-second clip) mp3 version of the same performance. In that case, it would be worth pursuing that track, too. The sad part is you can have it only if you buy the whole album on iTunes. I don't even have a credit card, so its out of the question, I'll have to be content with the mp3 of the CD USA performance (which I'll upload here tomorrow).
Interestingly, a couple fans I know think that the alternate version of TSPTS might not be made by Switchfoot, but may be Sony's doing, to sell more records - they think Switchfoot wouldn't do that to a song like TSPTS. Obviously they didn't like the remix much when I last spoke to them. Share your opinion below, if you've heard these songs. If you haven't heard them, the CD with "C'mon C'mon [remix]" and "Burn Out Bright [acoustic]" is available at Best Buy, and the one with the TSPTS (alt. version) is available at Wal-Mart (online, too). And you may download "Revenge" here, so long as you've bought the album.
Aren't we spoilt by Switchfoot? They've put out nearly 2 albums worth of material within about a year of releasing NIS. 12 tracks on the album + 8 bonus tracks + 3 EP tracks, including 3 entirely new songs (excluding remixes and acoustic remakes).
FMQB reports that Switchfoot has "performances slated for Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS Saturday Morning later this month."
Blogcritics' DJRadiohead laments the odd release date of "Oh! Gravity."
The band Augustana left a few kind words about Switchfoot in their blog (Thanks Natasha!):
Thank you too to everyone who caught the Letterman performance... it was really nice to be in the city for a bit, even though it was freezing for us coming straight from southern california We also got to hang with our good friends in Switchfoot who played the show the day after us... they just had a great new album come out, so please check that out! Those are some of the most genuine guys i've ever met... good people!
kt_louu informs us about a contest for only Canadian fans (its about time we got some special treatment, huh?) The winner gets to interview Switchfoot, how awesome is that? Well, don't sign up for it, because you love me and want me to win it.
I've not been up-to-date on the reviews because I was away in Whistler without access to my computer. But last night I got back, and its good to be back. Well, here's a quick update to fill you in on the reviews you so kindly missed just so I could party:
This one requires you to register, so I've taken care of that for you:
With "Oh! Gravity,” there seems little doubt that San Diego's Switchfoot is feeling the itch to unlock its ambitions — the cover of the group's sixth disc is a not-so-subtle goof on The Beatles' "Revolver.” But inside, this is still a group perched on the fence.
Are they Christian rock or secular? Is Switchfoot moving forward artistically or doing doughnuts in the arena-rock parking lot?
Producer Tim Palmer helps brothers Jonathan and Tim Foreman incorporate Middle Eastern chords and atmospherics into the pummel-rock of "Dirty Second Hands” and deliver a strong chamber-pop track, "Faust, Midas and Myself.” But every forward move is nullified by a backward step such as "Head Over Heels (In This Life),” which bangs along like a Nickelback castoff.
Unlike Jars of Clay, which flirted with crossover success before doubling back and concentrating on overtly devotional lyrics, Switchfoot's paeans to God remain subtle — a trend that has continued since 2000's "Learning to Breathe.” As for their music, the Foreman brothers find room for subtlety and nuance on the country-rocking "4:12” and smooth ballad "Yesterdays,” but "Oh! Gravity” is only a tentative reach for a band seemingly torn between easy mass acceptance and a way forward out of the mainstream.
— George Lang
Guitar World magazine, February issue (Thanks swftspencer07!):
SWITCHFOOT Oh! Gravity Sony "Over the past six albums, this covertly Christian band has replaced its cautionary tales and infectious guitar pop for something more substantial and haunted, adding a tougher strain into their sometimes poppy mix. Blame it on new producers Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Ozzy Osbourne) and Steve Lillywhite (U2, Phish), or on former touring guitarist Drew Shirley's increased role. Whatever it is, Switchfoot has added enough gritty, anxious guitar runs, moody synths and restless soloing that recalls Badmotorfinger-era Kim Thayil to make this a compelling listen." -- Jaan Uhelszki
Its good to see them get respect from a guitar magazine.
The live performance of "Dirty Second Hands" is unreal, the best live video of theirs in my opinion - at least I haven't seen a more enjoyable live video of the guys before (and I've seen many, "Ammunition" at HRL being my favourite until now.) The soloing at the end gives me such a blood rush. This video was previously unreleased on the internet, so I just put it up on YouTube for you guys. We'll soon have the video of "Oh! Gravity." up, from the same show. Also coming is the David Letterman performance, all in decent quality digital recordings. Enjoy these exclusives... Merry Christmas.
Oh, and, don't worry about ripping it to mp3, because I'll soon be uploading the mp3 track from the original mpg file.
I'm not all that surprised. Though I hoped for a #1, I was always aware that was a bit of a pipe dream. Here's 7 reasons or explanations that come to mind...
1) It was leaked on BitTorrent (the king of p2p) on the 20th evening. Not that I think that made a significant difference...
2) "Leaking" the album officially (like this album was, on MTV2.com and AOL music) is always a bit of a two-edged sword.. a risk, something only a confident artist would do. While you might gain many fans who hear it and then buy your CD, you could also lose some who hear it and don't like it on first listen.
3) It didn't have a TBL preceding it. No teenyboppers rushing out to buy it, which I'm sure happened with NIS, leading to them being disappointed to hear something that made them feel uncomfortable (when TBL was all feel-good). With that album they lost a lot of their not-so-hardcore, mainstream fans, though they gained cool points with critics and serious music fans (which will help in the long run, if not so much in first-week sales).
[As reflected by points 2 and 3, NIS was much less exposed before release, which means it kinda forced people to let it grow on them, because they'd already bought it on the basis of liking the previous album. Buyers of O!G, on the other hand, knew what they were in for, before they bought it. Which, I'm sure, reduced the numbers--it not only lost customers who didn't like NIS enough to rush out and buy this new one, but ALSO those who didn't like O!G on first listen... an album that grows on you with time, more so than any other SF album.]
4) Many people who had bad experiences with copy protection on NIS must've been hesitant to get this one, for the same fear. Its mob mentality--not everyone does their research.
5) CD sales, on the whole, dip more and more every year, because of the invasion of digital downloading as a legal option. (iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, URGE, etc.) Last year, NIS clocked in at 131,000 and it was placed at #3. This time Omarion's #1 (not #3) album scores just 119,000 copies, 63,000 less than his previous album's debut week. Remember that, with 63,000 sales, O!G is the second highest debut on the chart, while, if I remember right, NIS was the 3rd highest debut in its opening week, inspite of scoring double that number. Copy protection on the last album was just one more reason for Switchfoot fans to switch to the digital way of buying music... and that might be part of the reason why this album hit #1 on iTunes, something NIS couldn't even come close to achieving. Increasingly, CD sales are becoming less indicative of an artist's success, because of the digital music revolution. Evidence: While "Oh! Gravity." is happily switching spots on iTunes' top 3 positions (it peaked at #1), Omarion's Billboard-chart-topping album is languishing at #45 on the same chart. Proof enough of how Billboard isn't the final word on an album's success? Not in this time and age.
6) I'm glad it still scored 63,000 copies. I mean, introducing this album with "Dirty Second Hands" (the first promo move for this album), was a bold step. While it won over many new fans and critics... expectedly, people whose favourite Switchfoot song was "Stars" (a big number, unfortunately), didn't quite take to it. It didn't have spoon-fed lyrics, nor did it shy from experimentation-- both of which are a bad omen for your radio-hugging music fan. First radio single "Oh! Gravity.", too, was quite unlike what post-TBL fans are used to--while the music was more accessible than DSH, the lyrics were still uncharacteristically cryptic. With NIS, on the other hand, the ever-so-accessible "Stars" (the single released to promote the album) was the most TBL-ish track on that album, so that took all the TBL fans rushing back to the stores. O!G's early singles didn't do the same for the album. But I'm sure Switchfoot knew what they were doing... they seem to be caring much less about the numbers or pleasing anyone, which is a very good thing. Oh, and, did I mention, "Stars" got airplay on pop/mainstream radio as well (and HEAVY rotation on Christian radio, because, amongst other reasons, it clearly spoke of "Someone else", and you know how CCM fans are).. while the not-so-CCM-friendly "Oh! Gravity." on the other hand has been played just on alternative radio, and with much lesser success on Christian radio (they play WAOT more than O!G, if you look at the charts).
7) Its dropped right after the holiday season's buying-spree. It was a week where the whole music industry took a setback, as far as sales went. Akon's CD sales dropped by 50%, and it still shot up the charts to #2! So, unusual choice of release date, indeed.
That said, I'm positive this album will end up doing much better than NIS, and winning a whole new demography of fans. A platinum, at least, I'd predict. Watch out for how it continues to do on the chart, and for the super-accessible "Awakening" which is most likely the next single.
EDIT: John's comment (below) has prompted me to add: on the brighter side of things, the album is #1 in "Top Internet Albums", #4 in "Top Rock Albums", #4 in "Top Digital Albums", #1 in both the "Top Christian" chart and the "Top Christian & Gospel" combined chart. (see charts here)
*news* As reported by Matt on the tagboard/switchBoard, the album now stands tall at #1 on iTunes' top albums chart, while also being featured under "New Releases" and "What's Hot" on iTunes' front page. Does anyone remember at what position NIS peaked on iTunes' chart? I'd really like to know, so I can put this success in perspective. I thought I'd capture the moment for those who don't use iTunes (click to enlarge): In other news, "Oh! Gravity." has climbed up to #36 on the Alternative charts. Keep calling in and requesting, these drops make the ocean.
A post on the main boards reports that a handful of songs off "Legend of Chin" were played on, uh, America's Next Top Model.
*album review* The Associated Press has written what is probably just the kind of review you've been hoping for. But this means much more than that. AP isn't one site--they're a company that does press releases. Which means, hundreds of papers, magazines, and websites use their material. If you ask Google, it'll show you evidence of at least 60 sites as of now, where this same review has been posted. Pick any one of those sites and see for yourself why its just the kind of review you'd want pasted all over the internet.
And, regarding HM Magazine's review I mentioned in my previous post, I realized a trend: they hated The Beautiful Letdown, tolerated Nothing is Sound, and now they love the new album.
A boardie (swft rules) posted about a Switchfoot bench in LA that he got into a picture with: *video* A live video of Awakening may just be the icing on the cake. Or maybe the album's Billboard opening position will take care of that... soon.
While I'm stuck here in Whistler because of a heavy snowfall blocking the road back to Vancouver, here's some good reviews for you guys... haven't seen a negative one in a while.
Oops wait, one of these isn't all that positive, I forgot.
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