Switchfoot frontmanIt IJon Foreman is one of the great songwriters of modern music. His insightful observations of the human condition have fueled Switchfoot's many hits and albums, bringing to the mainstream a thoughtfulness not often present in radio pop. Yet when compared to Fall, the beginning of Foreman's 4-part series of EPs (thematically categorized according to the seasonal changes in a year), it seems that his best is only now being revealed. The pulsating alternative rock of Switchfoot is completely removed from this EP, replaced with a stripped down, acoustic-folk sound. And I'm glad to say, for the most part, it works.
Track Listing:
- The Cure For Pain
- Southbound Train
- Lord Save Me From Myself
- Equally Skilled
- The Moon Is A Magnet
- My Love Goes Free
Fall is generally associated with the steadily increasing cold; the dying rays of summer painting the dead leaves in different shades of brown and gold. With this in mind, Foreman begins his journey in the beautiful yet brutal honesty of "The Cure For Pain". The repeated acoustic guitar riffs underpin Foreman's impassioned vocals well; the (intentional) tiredness is accentuated by the bareness of the sonic landscape. His lyrics, somewhat surprisingly, are much more pointed than they are in Switchfoot songs. "Oh my Lord, to suffer like you did, it would be a lie to run away" he sings, but his emotion arms the track with a mainstream accessibility. "Southbound Train" opens up with some traditional Americana harmonica and gives way to Foreman's guitar and the occasional violin, and you could almost picture him sitting in a lonely train carriage, head leaning against the window as his seemingly never-ending journey continues. "Lord Save Me From Myself" is probably the most upbeat of the lot; it's also the only one that (sparsely) implements a drum kit. "Equally Skilled" is undoubtedly the pick of the lot, with perhaps a tad more of a layered but nonetheless still acoustic sound. The human ability to do evil and wrong is contrasted against God's ability to do right; "Both of his hands are equally skilled at loving the loveless", sings Foreman near the end of the track. There is, as already has been said, a denser feel to this track which is perhaps what makes it loveable; the drum loops adds some solidity to that already provided by the vocal harmonies and the background violin alongside the guitar. The next two tracks differentiate quite starkly; "The Moon Is A Magnet" is almost an abstract afterthought, a quirky little muse by Foreman on his ever-reliable guitar about what, I can't exactly decipher (I'll leave that up to you, the ever-discerning readers). The most heart-wrenching track is saved till the end; "My Love Goes Free" emotively describes a long range relationship. The end allows for a nice (potential) segue into Winter.
One aspect I had to focus on is Jon Foreman's lyrical aptitude. Filled with poetic imagery and symbolism not that present in Switchfoot's releases, he really has brought his maturation in the last ten years to the fore. Whereas The Legend of Chin (Switchfoot's debut album) contained tracks such as the goofball "Chem 6A" (no offense to that song, I actually enjoy it), all the tracks here have outer references and are rich in honest yet discerning conclusions about the world as a whole. Foreman creates a paradox in this EP; The references to God are explicit, and yet many secular people praise the EP on the internet and by word of mouth. "Lord Save Me From Myself" is possibly the only song in which tired clichés are exposed: "And sex is a grand production, but I'm bored with that as well". That could be inserted into Easier Than Love without much hullabaloo.
The youthful exuberance of people tends to disappear when they reach their 30's. They have to actually consider being role models to others, while working hard to advance themselves on the corporate ladder, all the while progressively realizing that the world isn't the great place they were told it was. Foreman's youthful exuberance has by no means disappeared (anyone who has seen a Switchfoot concert will find it immensely tough to disagree with me), but he has shown the way his perceptions have been altered in Fall. Coupled with his sometimes-raspy-sometimes-smooth vocals and acoustic instrumentation, his songwriting skills shine through and cement him as one of this generation's major creative inspirations. Acoustic fans will find it hard to be displeased, as will hardcore Switchfoot fans. I look forward to consuming Foreman's other offerings as he takes us on his ride, the ride of his seasonal life.
Rating: 5/5
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