Oh! Gravity CD

Spiritually evocative and socially aware, your favorite power pop band returns with a whole new string of gritty rock 'n' roll anthems! Includes "American Dream," "Awakening," "In This Life," "Yesterdays," "Just," "Dirty Second Hands," "Amateur Lovers," "Circles," "Burn Out Bright," "Let Your Love," and the mainstream-single title track.

Mama always said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” On Oh! Gravity., Switchfoot’s sixth studio release (third for mainstream label Columbia), the band doesn’t waste time reinventing the wheel. Why mess with a winning formula and music that sounds this fun to play?

Jon Foreman & Co. have won hearts both in and beyond the Christian audience with bold, melodic rock and smart, culturally-adept lyricism that addresses the vacuous nature of modern existence without getting all preacherly up in our faces on The Beautiful Letdown (’03) and Nothing Is Sound (’05). Like the best bands of this genre—think dada, Third Eye Blind and, obviously, U2—Switchfoot digs a little deeper, rocks a little harder and reaches up for the next rung of the ladder only to find a fresh handle for familiar themes.

These San Diego-based rockers broke out on the pop charts telling us that we were “Meant to Live” for so much more. They wanted to “Dare You to Move” because salvation is here. While those lyrics may have been too subtle for some weaned on a steady diet of modern worship, it was clear to most that Switchfoot was seeking to address the existential longings of a generation disappointed with pleasure-driven materialism and consumer-focused expressions of pseudo-individuality.

Throughout Oh! Gravity., crunchy guitar riffs set the tone, while Jon Foreman’s voice proves up to the challenge of forging memorable hooks that don’t melt on contact. Catchy yet durable, Switchfoot manages that delicate balance of rocking out without losing the songs in the process.

But the issues and insights haven’t changed. In a country where “success is equated with excess,” the band affirms “that ain’t my American dream.” Failed by the stuff we buy, the title track asks, “Why can’t we seem to hold it together?” Left to our own devices, we’re merely “Amateur Lovers” with “Dirty Second Hands” who “need love like drugs.” But, like the failed stories alluded to in “Faust, Midas, and Myself,” with its moving use of orchestral strings, we sell out the things that give life purpose and meaning for our “pick of pretty things.”

Faced with the emptiness of our choices, we learn that “life begins at the intersection,” when the protagonist cries out for a chance at real meaning: “Before I die, I want to burn out bright.” That creates the possibility of an “Awakening,” where Foreman sings, “I want to know my heart is beating.”

Crisp and compelling, Switchfoot hasn’t wandered from the path that brought it this far, but the band is not merely going through the motions either. No reinvention was necessary. So, this time, they crank the wheel up, suggest modifications and adjustments and, then, take it off-road, freewheeling on unsullied hills and vales. Reliability is not to be mistaken for predictability, and this sixth expression celebrates the vitality in the form, the fun that thrives in the functioning of this great little rock & roll band.

Don’t you love it when Mama’s right?

BRIAN QUINCY NEWCOMB- CCMMagazine.com

Average Rating:

8 of 28 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)

Reviewed by Danielle (IL), July 04, 2009

What an incredible cd! Jon Foremans vocals flowed from the fast pace punk sound of Oh Gravity! to the beautiful lyricism of Let Your Love Be Strong and Head Over Heels (the latter two would make great worship songs to possibly be sung in church!) To all you music lovers out there, from Coldplay and U2 fans, to Green Day fans, who want to find a very Christian album that speaks honestly and intelligently to todays culture: This Album Is FOR YOU!!! The only weak spot on the cd is possibly Amateur Lovers, which yes speaks about meaningless love, but doesn't sing about a way out. However, as preacher's kids they wrote other songs included on the cd pointing to God, and indeed borrowed some references to the Bible. They are, in my opinion, still strong in their faith and coming up with positive new tunes that still end up finding their way to mainstreem music stations. My bottom line is: they might now have a strong mainstream appeal but they haven't lost their Christian roots or their faith. They have updated their sound but haven't lost their soul in the process. Go for it Switchfoot! By the way Hello Hurricane is coming out later in '09. Don't miss it!

Reviewed by Abinya Clark (Coventry, RI), June 01, 2009

Switchfoot is a very good band. Their songs are catchy, and lyrics good. I don't know how anyone can not like Switchfoot!

Reviewed by Maximus Christian (Australia), February 21, 2008

After reading many of these reviews, and seeing that most are very positive, it makes me sad that I have to give this one a negative review. Having said that, this is why I say that this release from Switchfoot is bad. Don’t get me wrong – I like Switchfoot. I have liked their previous 5 albums. There are a few good songs on this album that are lyrically thought-provoking and flow well, such as “Dirty Second Hands” and “Awakening”, which to me are the picks of this album. The rest, well, they seem to be very mainstream and average. “Amateur Lovers” seemed to live up to it’s title – it sounds very amateur-ish in its lyrics and song flow, as did “Circles”, “Yesterdays” is ultimately very depressing to listen to, and as a result, I always skip it, “American Dream” doesn’t seem to apply for anyone living outside of America, and the rest seemed to lose their flow midway through the song! Many of these songs are not catchy enough, and I think that really does count against this album badly. Although I don’t think that Switchfoot have lost their Christian faith, this album seems to show otherwise in some areas. If you are looking for a mainstream/secular album, this may fit the bill for you. If you are looking for a Christian music album, this is not an album to buy. I was overall disappointed with this release, and I hope Switchfoot does better than this in future.

Reviewed by michael hildreth (LaGrange,Ky), January 30, 2008

Switchfoot is the best band i have heard in a long time. They have given me christian music that even the people who are secular and have secular music can relate to. This is a very catchy album that anyone could could get used to in the first time listening to it. I cant wait until there next album comes out it'll be the best one yet

Reviewed by Katy (Spokane, Washington), November 18, 2007

I thought that this was even better than Nothing is Sound! They kinda changed their sound from rock to punk rock but I think that they sound even better than before! People have reviewed this and said that the song "Oh! Gravity" has no meaning but it does. It's a cry for peace and love. I personally think that this CD was easier to understand than Nothing is Sound. I never get tired of listening to this! It's awesome! SF ROX!

Reviewed by Steven Miracle (Waterford Michigan), August 30, 2007

I, like many others have been a big Switchfoot fan since their incredible mainstream breakthrough album of 03', "The Beautiful Letdown". The thing about Switchfoot is some of their songs you love right off the bat at first listen, and some of them you have to listen to a few times or more before you develop an affection for them, but almost all of their songs have the ability to grow on you. The thing I love about Switchfoot is like some previous "christian" (I use this term loosely) bands who also went mainstream like Chevelle or Lifehouse, who either no longer sing about spiritual things at all or you can't even tell what they are singing about, Switchfoot doesn't appear to have lost their spiritual focus. Although their songs may not be what some would call "bold" in nature, there is, for the most part, no doubt about what they are talking about. And even for those who are not Christians or "religious", their music definately points you in a divinely inspired direction. I, at first listen, was dissapointed by "Oh! Gravity", but a few listens more and I was hooked. Although it is not as "catchy" as "The Beautiful Letdown" or "Nothing Is Sound", it is a little deeper musically & lyrically than those two previous albums.

Reviewed by Leslie (california), May 13, 2007

I LOVE SWITCHFOOT! Their lyrics are great and so is the music! I love the album Oh Gravity. It's really good you have to buy it! GOOD BLESS SWITCHFOOT!

Reviewed by Ashley (Pompton Plains, NJ), April 17, 2007

I was really REALLY MAD when i got this CD. The only good songs were "oh! gravity/american dream" and they were a little weird. I thought that Switchfoot was going to make an awesome CD~ like in nothing is sound, "politicians/stars/lonely nation"~ and they didn't. So, if you like the hard rock/punk style, you're PROBABLY NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS CD!!!!

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