Written by Susie Salva
San Diego natives Switchfoot has released their most poignant record yet exploring polarity in the dichotomy on their seventh album “Vice Verses,” on Atlantic records exploring both the dark side and the light. The cover art work uses both black and white scheme to play along with the ensuing thematic matter prevalent on this 12 song disc. “The whole thing is about polarity,” says frontman Jon Foreman. “We want to write about the polarity of what it means to be human, the lights and darks. I’m always intrigued by the tension that exists between life and death.”
Switchfoot is the little engine that could still breaking through with new friends and fans embracing their paradigms and still remaining true to their fan base who have come of embrace their alternative rock sound. “This record is as much about loss as it is about what we still have while we’re living,” explains Foreman.
The first cut “Afterlife,” is a gritty overture claiming mortality with a backbeat channeling the Foo Fighters. The vision of life and death pervades through out the album patching together songs that are black and white and not much in between.
“The Original,” has a 70’s vibe yearning to set yourself free and embrace who you are and be an original. “The Restless,” track exists as the ocean is relentless as the character is ‘looking for you’ as is left behind.
“Selling the News,” is a departure from their indie-alternative rock sound questioning whether life is fact or fiction a rap vibe where Foreman finds himself using the spoken word. “I think the song is inspired by a lot of different things,” says Forman. “We are bombarded by alot of talking heads and salespersons in terms of billboards and television. I began to ponder the idea that these enormous media machines are fed by advertisers and they are happy when there is something sensational going on in the world.”
Religion is a factor in their music as both Foreman brothers were born in a home where their father was a pastor. “Dark Horses,” a hard-rocking anthem where Foreman admits that “I’ve Made Mistakes,” and his audience has seemed to absolved him of any wrongdoings. “Rise About It,” has a crunchy guitar riff confronts the idea of waiting for a miracle to rise about it all. Feeling so typical bucking against the system.
“Vice Verses,” the title track on this 12 song CD looks at the dark and the light, good verses evil and injects some religious ideology where they invoke the word God. They make no qualms about their religious upbringing but no in a way to be forceful on others with their beliefs.
If 2009’s “Hello Hurricane” suggested a new chapter in the musical book that is Switchfoot, consider “Vice Versa,” to be a sequel of sorts. Foreman says that the album is “a brand new chapter, but would not exist without “Hello Hurricane” and refers to it as a “surgical procedure where everything is clean cut. “Like ‘Hello Hurricane,” it was recorded in the band’s own studio, where the comfort level is now much higher since the guys have been able to work out all the space’s kinks.
“Vice Verses,” the title track was actually one of the last songs the band wrote for “Hello Hurricane,” but it wasn’t quite right for that disc. “I was reluctant to put it on “Hello Hurricane, because it didn’t really fit with the other material. We decided then that it would be the title for the next record.”
“Vice Verses” expands the bands sonic palette by experimenting with a variety of sounds. There’s a great rhythm to the songs such as the groove-oriented “The Original,” and “Blinding Light,” which benefit from a hip-hop backbeat. “The War Inside,” really puts the rhythm section up front and the snappy “Rise Above It” recalls punk funk.
The San Diego band first formed in 1996 when Foreman and his brother Tim put a group together. Chad Butler (drummer) says the band members were all friends from their days at high school. Keeping true to their roots the band annually hosts Switchfoot Bro-Am, an event that benefits the San Diego-based Stand Up for Kids, a national non-profit helping homeless and at risk youth. The Bro-Am includes a surf contest, charity auction, and festival concert. The event has raised over $500,000 to date and this year’s event attracted 10,000 people.
“We love music and playing together,” Foreman says. “We thrive on the communal aspect of song and the stories that are invested within them. We’ve been through a lot together…Incredible, wonderful moments and also really destructive, painful moments. You can feel the weight of the songs. It’s an incredible dream-come-true to say, ‘It’s time for a new Switchfoot record and to be able to go into the studio and make an album exactly how we want to make it.” This album furthers their brand name recognition attracting newbies as well as their stanch and dedicated fans.
Switchfoot’s line-up is Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Drew Shirley, and Jerome Fontamillas. Please check them out at www.switchfoot.com.
