Review: Switchfoot – Fading West (2014)

By Spencer Saylor

“Dare You to Move”, “Meant to Live”, and “Your Love is A Song” are the Switchfoot chart toppers that we came to love over the early to mid 2000s. Little did I know that this former giant in the music industry was still not only together, but producing new music and touring the country for fans—both old and new. Their new album, “Fading West”, is long anticipated by fans of the band and they could not disappoint as they have not only released the album but also a commentary version, film, merchandise, and a 47 date tour of the United States—including both Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio (the chance to see one of my favorite bands growing up in concert again!). Sure to so many the band never left the game and continued to tour, but bear with me as I bask in the glorious sounds that I regretfully forgot about Switchfoot putting out.

MARK MY WORDS: This album puts out some of the coolest sounds, styles, and ideas that you will ever come across. Taking on a new age indie rock style, Switchfoot’s new album is in a whole new ball game. With a sound familiar for listeners of One Republic, “Fading West” puts a hip-hop style and rhythmic twist on alternative rock—taking our auditory skills through something many of us have never been through before. However, I do not want to scare away long-time listeners and those who love them for their old hits, like myself. This album still has tracks that will fulfill all of your Switchfoot needs in “When We Come Alive”, “The World You Want”, and “Saltwater Heart”. It really would not surprise me if we see this album and its songs on the pop charts, where their music once always was. A lot of their new album is comparable to that of what One Republic and the Neon Trees have been putting out and dominating the industry with. What is coolest about it is that Switchfoot never sold out to mainstream pop music and it puts the ‘real’ and ‘true’ feeling addition to their songs on “Fading West.”

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk9Pj3ID0UE&h=297&w=450]