| Saturday, September 13, 2008 |
| Happy birthday, NIS |
If you check your calendars, they should tell you that today is September 13th, 2008. And that means that Nothing Is Sound, Switchfoot's 5th album, is now 3 years old. Time sure flies, eh?
This was the first record to have to follow in the massive footsteps of The Beautiful Letdown. I think it did so in a totally "Switchfoot" way - it didn't meet anybody's expectations, nor was that its purpose. It went in a whole different direction than people predicted, starting a new chapter all its own, yet not ignoring the past. Even though they didn't try to stick with the same recipe as they used for TBL, this new record was a solid and coherent continuation of their previous works.
I think this album also created a bit of controversy. Many people were scared or unaccepting of the "new" sound. For others it took longer to grow on them than previous albums had. Some listeners loved it instantly. (And of course, there was the whole copyright protection mess...but let's not rehash old catastrophes, shall we?) Somehow this collection of songs has made it through all that, and is still (in my opinion) getting better with age. Here's a bit of what Jon had to say about Nothing Is Sound when it first came out:
A few general thoughts on new tunes and their relationship to our previous four albums: A part of me wishes I could say that our music was formulated and planned out by brilliant, methodical minds who structure entire records out of themes that are independent of anything that has ever been thought of before. In reality, most of these songs are simply the spontaneous ramblings of a man with a guitar who can't sleep- trying to make sense of a broken heart in world that is upside down. In many ways these songs mirror the melodies in my own life: relationships, fears, hopes, insecurities, doubts and so forth all set to the major and minor keys. But it makes sense that these honest songs are the ones that we're proud of; because whether it's Elliot Smith or Stevie Wonder or Pavement or whoever, the honest ones have always been my favorites...
..."Nothing is Sound" is the fifth Switchfoot record. For me, it feels like the next step of a journey, diving deeper into uncharted territories. Because we've lived and breathed on tour for the last eight years, onstage is where our music comes to life, a life that is hard to pin down on tape. If you think this record feels a bit like a "live" record, we're proud to say that these recordings have somehow captured the energy of our live show more than any other record we've ever made. Perhaps the best way to look at this record is as the next chapter in a mystery novel: many of the same characters, the same settings and yet a few more clues come to life. Who knows, it could be a dark chapter revealing even more mysteries to be solved. I'm pretty sure you're the only one who can decide for yourself; I'd be curious to hear what your thoughts are. I certainly have my own... Whatever the theme of this record might be, believe me- it was only partly intentional! Hope you enjoy the tunes. -jon
So here's to an honest group of songs. If you want to, leave a comment with one of your favorite musical or lyrical moments from it. If you do not own this great album, you can purchase it HERE.
Happy Birthday, Nothing Is Sound! |
posted by gellie @ 11:14 AM  
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| 18 Comments: |
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I cannot believe it's been three years...I remember the first time I listened to this album. I was walking around Michael's waiting to go home. From LN to Daisy it was sooo different and it took time to grow on me, but in three years it's gotten me through a lot.
"you wake alone now, and you wish you were asleep.
you taste the darkness but you wish it were a dream..."
happy birthday, nis.
p.s. FIRST COMMENT.
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Great, Yet sad.. Happy is a yuppie word. Nothing is sound. Thanks for all you do NOTHING IS SOUND..
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This remains my favorite album of all time. The Shadow Proves the Sunshine struck a chord in me like a song has never done before - it is just so emotional and haunting and hopeful all at the same time.
Seeing how the song developed while Switchfoot was on mission a bit later (through the DVD that came with the CD) just made the song even more meaningful...in a different way.
(Also - Jon playing with the sound of the resonations of a grand piano was a great music-making moment!)
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I have a new respect for the idea of "new mysteries" emerging to be solved. This album hit me where I was, though it's a place I am at no longer. I think grace is bigger than I can imagine, and I feel that this album was somewhere the band kind of had to go, but I think the full realization of their works is yet to be revealed.
Here are three, no, four of my favorite memories:
- "Nothing is sound! Nothing is sound! Nothing is sound! ..."
- "We're still fighting it out, now. We're still finding out. ... One. One! ONE! ..."
- "(Sex!) Is easier than love! It's easier than life! It's easier to fake and smile and bribe..."
- "'I'm a: crooked soul trying to stand up straight..."
Thanks for walking through the valley, guys.
Thanks for the guidance.
Thanks for the honesty.
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NIS FANBOY HERE!! woot!
haha. in all seriousness, this record has gotten me through so much. "Dare You to Move" is my favorite song of all time, but this record as a whole is my favorite. It was a darker time for the band, struggling with "overnight" success... yet they portrayed these times with grace, asking questions rather than throwing out half-hazard answers.
They created a collection of art that transcends the stage and hits at your inner being. Go NIS... the best Switchfoot album of all!
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Wow...three years. I remember being all excited about it, and only wanting that for my birthday two days later!!! This album is my favorite. Easier than love was quite surprising but it's so true. Favorite moments...
"I'm tired of feeling low, of feeling hollow"
"It'll be a day like this one when the sky falls down/And the hungry and poor and deserted are found"
"Let the right say I was wrong and it won't be long"
And my abosolute fav songs from NIS are Politicians and The Fatal Wound! Happy B-day:D
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I'm now curious what the projections were.
While The Beautiful Letdown is my favorite album, I have to say this has some of my favorite songs. The Setting Sun, the first 4 tracks.
You can't beat The Shadow Proves the Sunshine for poet and for soul searching. You can't beat "We Are One Tonight" for happy feelings and you definitely can't beat the allusion "son of sorrows"
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Definitely The Shadow Proves the Sunshine was one of my faves. The way Jon got the real, raw sound by singing into a piano was incredible. :)
Happy Birthday NIS!
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Stars brings back memories of wen they played in Australia last year, Jon made us all look up into the sky, it was a great memory.... thanks for everything and Happy Birthday NIS!!
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Some great ol' fashion rock tunes here, full of testosterone, i.e.: Polictians, Lonely Nation, Stars, We Are One Tonight.
I got the infamous Dual Disc and will never forget the footage of Jon climbing under the Piano in Africa to record TSPTS through the piano strings. So inovative yet simple.
I was not a fan at first but, I really started to listen to the album and got it - really got it.
Still hung up a little on Fatal Wound sounding like a suicide note, but from what I get from that is it dying to self, maybe.
Am I alone on, The Blues sounding like a U2 song played by Switchfoot?
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favorite moment -
"We're still finding it out, until we're one"
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My computer background is still the Nothing is Sound background from when I first downloaded it back in the day. I still love that album and it holds so many memories for my and I'm still just starting to understand everything the songs hold for me.
Happy birthday Nothing is Sound!
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YAY :) happy birthday NIS
i was in like 5th grade when it came out and my brother bought it and i remember looking on the back and saying "what the heck is yuppie??"
happy 3rd nothing is sound :)
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I wrote about this one the 1st birthday of NIS: http://www.brokenmasterpieces.com/archives/2031#more-2031. Still holds. An amazing album.
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To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of NIS when it first came out, but I kept listening to it, and over time, I came to love it! I think it just took a bit to grow on me :)
I remember actually hearing the guys play "Happy is a Yuppie Word" back in Sept. 2004 at a state fair (my 2nd time seeing them), and thought, "well, OK, this is gonna be a different sort of album." :)
Lonely Nation, The Blues, Politicians, and WAOT are my favorites. Happy Birthday NIS!
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Wow. I can't believe it's been three years. NIS is what got me into SF in the first place. My first concert was for the NIS tour. Crazy.
Happy 3 year anniversary!
Thanks for the music, guys. You rock. Keep up the awesome work.
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I just can't believe that there was ever a time when I wasn't a die-hard Switchfoot fan. But only 2 1/2 years ago, (I flinch to admit) Switchfoot was barely a name to me. Then my friend got me Nothing is Sound for my birthday. I must say, I don't recommend it for a beginning Switchfoot experience. Aside from the artistic aspect of it (which in itself is simply spectacular), I was rather wary of the message the songs first appeared to be trying to get across. Since then, I've learned that all of Jon's songs look this way on the surface (but none more so than the ones on NIS). I happened to find and listen to my sister's old The Beautiful Letdown before I began to understand Switchfoot better. Ever since then, I've been becoming more and more interested in them. I've found answers to alot of questions I originally had about them, and just really fallen in love with them the better I got to know them. But like I said, NIS, with it's political leaning, is definitely not typical Switchfoot. But if you're a Switchfoot fan, or you don't mind really delving into it, it does eventually make sense in a whole different light than what it appears. And as far as art (music and poetry) goes, it really is one of their finer masterpieces. And I, personally, owe it and my friend an enormous debt of gratitude. If it wasn't for NIS, I'd be missing out on more than I'd've known. Jon Foreman is now my idol. Thanks, NIS. You've lit a spark that's blazed into a real flame, and won't be going out anytime soon, if ever. Happy birthday!
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What great timing - my husband and I had JUST been enjoying NIS back in the CD player again. He does not give praise lightly, and he says it's his favorite album. As for me, every 'Foot album is my favorite at one point or another -- depending on my mood. : )
I have to give some props to Lonely Nation. What a jammin' opening song! And then it just builds from there! I think tracks 1-7 are the highlight for me. The Blues is gorgeous (and I read somewhere that Jon recorded the vocals the same night he wrote the song? That's so cool), but then it culminates with The Setting Sun -- one of my all time favorite songs.
Oh, and my favorite lyrics in songs I haven't mentioned are:
Politicians:
"... [we're] watching for the sky to get torn apart..."
and Daisy:
"Who will take the blame for all redemptive motion and every rainy day? He gives himself away."
TOO STRONG, guys! Everything you put out is TOP NOTCH!!! We are huge fans over here.
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I cannot believe it's been three years...I remember the first time I listened to this album. I was walking around Michael's waiting to go home. From LN to Daisy it was sooo different and it took time to grow on me, but in three years it's gotten me through a lot.
"you wake alone now, and you wish you were asleep.
you taste the darkness but you wish it were a dream..."
happy birthday, nis.
p.s. FIRST COMMENT.