Switchfoot Oh! Gravity CD

"They come from San Diego, make what are arguably the best albums that migrate effortlessly from the Christian scene and you know that this, their latest album’s going to be huge. Switchfoot’s ‘Oh! Gravity’ is everything it ought to be, nothing that shouldn’t and a little bit more than all the rumours suggested it would be. In other words, it’s profoundly good.

With typical downbeat style that stems from a genuine humility, Jon Foreman describes his feelings for this, their sixth studio album: “We wanted to make a record that was honest. A record that didn't trip on itself. A record that represented everything that we first fell in love with about music. We tried to forget about theory and pitch and timing and focus on feeling. As a result, I think that Oh! Gravity is the most honest thing we've ever done.”

Quite a statement from a man whose heart and sleeve have been well acquainted over the years. Is he right, does Oh! Gravity break the records? Billboard Magazine praised its “calibre of thought provoking, articulate lyrics” and pointed out that “the new album rocks harder and has a more aggressive sound… an edgy, punk rock intensity.” Even the briefest of listens will confirm what is glaringly obvious: Switchfoot make some of the best music around today.

‘Oh! Gravity’ is the first new studio collection from Switchfoot since the group's Nothing Is Sound entered the Billboard Top 200 best-selling albums chart at #3 in September 2005. (The group's major label debut, the double-platinum smash The Beautiful Letdown, peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 in June 2004, more than a year after its release.)

‘Oh! Gravity’ is produced by Tim Palmer (U2, Tears For Fears, Tin Machine, James) and Switchfoot. The album is executive produced by Grammy-winning Producer of the Year Steve Lillywhite, who also helmed the track, ""Awakening,"" with additional production by Tim Palmer and Switchfoot.

Musically the band are still anthemic, passionate, explosive and more, still able to produce tracks suitable for Hollywood soundtracks, yet there’s a breadth and sense of experimentation here that kicks against the walls. Without changing for the sake of change, Switchfoot have evolved into the broad, intelligent, captivating rock band we always knew they would become. Oh! Gravity is their OK Computer, their Joshua Tree, their finest work to date and signpost for a bright, bold and brilliant future."