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April 19, 2007

Music Review

Swell Attraction

Check out the gravity of Switchfoot’s latest album before seeing them at Springfest

Story by: Rueben Gonzales

Scene critic

Courtesy art

When an album could be a soundtrack for a movie, I give it props beyond the content of what an average CD brings.

Switchfoot’s sixth album Oh! Gravity. is just that. The album doesn’t alternative-rock you to death, but varies the tracks and the band stays true to what it is as a solid rock band.

The first four songs, “Oh! Gravity.,” “American Dream,” “Dirty Second Hands” and “Awakening” get you pumped with what can be described as road-trip pop-rock that will immediately put you in a good mood and get your head nodding.

There is a good balance between slower songs and faster songs. If any specific attention is given to a particular track, it should be “Faust, Midas, And Myself,” that asks, “What direction?” That’s a question we all are constantly asking ourselves.

At times the lyrics teeter on repetitious, but Switchfoot’s sound competes with that of a young U2 and brings you out of any monotony you may acquire for a split second with the sharp guitar riffs and melodic-yet-masculine vocals on the ballad-style tracks.

Guitarist and keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas occasionally catches you unexpectedly with a few notes on his ivories. It’s an interesting addition, used in moderation, that keeps the sound fresh and exciting.

The arrangements on the album are professional, and it’s obvious that this band knows what it’s doing. The album keeps the listener — old and new — in mind, never gets boring and leaves you wanting to shout along with lead singer Jon Foreman.

Having been around since 1996, it would be an injustice to compare Switchfoot to any other rock bands that are new and in the mainstream. Switchfoot is a hidden gem that deserves airplay and even an iTunes purchase. Heck, do that and catch them this Saturday at Maverick Stadium.