The Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot

Pros: Unique but instantly likeable style, directly spiritual lyrics that aren't too preachy.
Cons: A few flaws in pacing, one needlessly re-recorded older song... insignificant trifles, really.

Now here's a novel idea: A popular Christian rock band, after paying their dues, honing their skills, and putting out a few solid albums in the process, gets a chance to crack the mainstream and actually deserves it. If this sounds familiar, it's because ...

Pros: Outstanding rocking tunes and some of the best lyrics I've ever heard.
Cons: The harder rocking tunes might be too abrasive for the old timers.

I've yet to be disappointed with any of my journeys into the Christian Rock genre. Continuously impressed by the albums of such big-wigs as DC Talk and Jars of Clay, and after reading a bit on this site, I decided Switchfoot, the sur ...

Pros: Solid songs with uplifting messages
Cons: May be too polished for some; not enough really strong tracks

If Switchfoot thought they were in for another letdown, they were greatly mistaken. This California band had released three albums since the late-'90s, but it wasn't until this year that the success started pouring down like the Pacific waves these ...

Pros: "Meant to Live", "This Is Your Life", "Dare You to Move"
Cons: When they try to go upbeat and clappy ("Redemption", "Ammunition"), it's a huge mess.

Upon my first glimpse of Switchfoot in early 2004, my first reaction to "Meant to Live" was "Whoa - this song is amazing!" I highly anticipated hearing and seeing more of them. And who wouldn't? This summer, I bought The Beautiful Letdown, ...

Pros: If I find one, I'll let you know.
Cons: Appallingly awful in every respect. Far and away, the worst album of the last decade.

There are two methods of torture that I would do absolutely anything to avoid. The first is a truly terrifying method, used frequently by the Japanese in World War II. It’s a type of psychological torture where victims are subjected to a kind of ...

Pros: The boys are back and with a fresh new sound...and a new band member!
Cons: Depends on how like it when a band varies their styles for each song.

Sorry to let y’all down… Can it be? Can it really really be? Li ...

Pros: above average lyrics, a few good all around numbers (title track, Meant to Live etc)
Cons: at times languid, at times mediocre, at times uninteresting/boring

If patience is a virtue, then perhaps Switchfoot should be the front-runners (along with Maroon 5) for an award recognizing that virtue. After 3 records recorded for a Christian label, and after almost a year after its release, their major ...

Pros: Lyrics, Bigger sound and production than the past, theme, lyrics...
Cons: Redemption...

No one, not even Switchfoot, was ready for the massive success that came with The Beautiful Letdown. With The Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot broke away from their former quirky side and made a hard hitting, mature rock album that captured the ...

Pros: Classic Switchfoot sound on a bigger budget.
Cons: Somewhat hard to find in secular music stores.

I first heard of Switchfoot when I saw their last CD, 2000's Learning to Breathe on the shelves at Wal*Mart. Something about it called to me and I instantly became a fan. Last year, one song from the CD was featured on the soundtrack to...

Pros: Lyrically deep, catchy, introspective. Four outstanding tracks.
Cons: Some vocal issues, some boring moments, and some just plain stupid ones.

Welcome, readers, to my latest review miniseries: the Classic Christian Albums. This is where I finally go over some of (not all, so don’t be mad if I skip an artist or seven) Christian rock’s most famous, popular, and/or critically acclaimed ...

Pros: Jon Foreman's lyrics. It's their forth album so their sound and production are really slick.
Cons: There's only eleven songs. The music may be a little too rocky for some.

Despite my young age I'm a little old fashioned when it comes to music. I dig artists like Paul Simon, Donovan, The Beatles, and Art Garfunkel. I'm a little critical of newer artists because of this. So, when my brother brought home the Switchfoot ...

Pros: Taut musicianship, powerful lyrics, eclectic influences, unique sound.
Cons: Cons...people that have been convicted of crimes. But that's not important right now.

Former President Calvin Coolidge once said that “the business of America is business.” Well, if that’s true, then the business of Switchfoot is crafting fun, profound, and delightfully edgy pop/rock, and the business of yours truly is writing...

Pros: Great Sound, Meaningful Lyrics
Cons: Somewhat Disjointed Theme, Only 11 Tracks

Beautiful Letdown was released in 2003 as the biggest misnomer of the millenium. The much anticipated album was exactly what Switchfoot fans were wanting. It really took the positive elements of L earning to Breathe ...

Pros: Almost every single song
Cons: None really..

Intro My grandparents usually give me one of those Christian Music Samplers every year, which is great - it keeps me updated on the CCM front. On one of them there was this incredibly catchy song called New Way to Be Human. That song was, ...

Pros: Fun and catchy, but it still keeps its maturity.
Cons: Why is "Dare You To Move" on here?!

I stand in front of a crowd of thousands upon thousands of people, who are all staring at me, waiting for me to make my first move. I clear my throat, which incites feedback from the microphone. The people in the crowd cover their ears, and the ...