Learning to Breathe

by

Switchfoot

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Switchfoot's first album (The Legend Of Chin) was great. Their second album (New Way To Be Human) was fabulous, an obvious growth and change, but it didn't make The Legend Of Chin look any worse for wear. And now we have Learning To Breathe, and the boys are better, more intelligent, and more mature than ever, while still hanging on to the humor and creativity that made the first two cds as good as they are. How they do it, I may never know.

LTB is, in a word, amazing. Not as simple as TLOC, not as excitedly eclectic as NWTBH, it is at once entirely new and at the same time distinctively Switchfoot sound. There is a clearer rock base to the cd. Not that it should even be classified...

Every song is completely singable. From the opening notes of "I Dare You To Move", something inside you will say "Oh, this is going to be good!" From the near-choir group power of "Love Is The Movement" to the cynical-happy "Poparazzi", not to mention the ballad "Economy of Mercy", which has a beauty (reminiscent of Switchfoot's "You" or "Only Hope"), every song is a gift.

If you've never heard Switchfoot, you'll love the style. If you've been a longtime fan, you'll be happy to hear that they're not just good, they're better all the time. Having met them, Switchfoot is three guys who are humble and genuine. And they're brilliant. And they know where to give the credit: up to the Ultimate Artist.

The above CCM review states the first cut is about as far from quirky as you can get. And that's a GOOD thing? Man, I really loved the first two Switchfoot Cd's because they were incredibly quirky and fresh. But there were also touching moments that moved my soul. I've had this 3rd release for a few months now and have waited to see if it would grow on me. It hasn't. I don't understand why people think a more straight-forward song means more maturity. That makes no sense to me. I found the lyrics on their previous efforts much more creative. One of the attempts at playfulness ("Poparazzi") comes off as tired and cliched. This is not a bad album, but it's not nearly as enjoyable as the first two CD's. I would recommend them first.