According to this blogpost, Switchfoot have debuted at #13 on the Billboard Top Charts with 39,000 copies sold of “Hello Hurricane”. I know that’s not as many as say Flyleaf or Bon Jovi but it’s still a pretty solid number and not too shabby. Kudos to the band for staying true to their beliefs and sound, and for not conforming to anyone Else’s standards. Switchfoot have always been a band that have gone their own way and have paved a path only they have set, refusing to play by any rule book standard set before them. I commend them for releasing a highlight of my year and a top ten favorite of 2009. I was going to say album of the year contender but I am afraid that The Hotshot Freight Train have taken that position unless of course Seabird edges them out, but I doubt that’ll be the case. So far my top two favorite albums of the year are The Hotshot Freight Train and Switchfoot. I still need to listen to other releases to get a feel for the rest of the year but I think I can only have a Top 25 list for 2009, I highly doubt there are more than 25 worthy albums released this year but I could be wrong…..You’ll all find out at the end of December.
| 09/02/2010 08:14 pm | News
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I Am Alpha and Omega 
Rodeo Ruby Love 
Hearts In Stereo 
With Life In Mind 
The Showdown 
For Today 
Righteous Vendetta 
You The Symphony 
Mercy Screams 
Underoath @ Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado
The Devil Wears Prada 
The Burial 
ForChristSake 
House of Heroes 
180 Out 
Meet Ryan Hayes of Righteous Vendetta
Josh Childers of The Showdown
David Marshall of The Burial
Adelaide
Newsboys
Interview with Divided by Friday
Meet Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer
Meet Ian McIntosh
Behind The Scenes of Ascend The Hills’ Hymns Record!
Meet Aaron Gillespie
Ted Bond of Craig’s Brother
Meet Mike & Jeremy of TDWP
Meet Joshua Paul of Confide
Wake Into The Nightmare
Meet Nick Nowell Of The Famine
An Interview With Stephen Christian (Anberlin) July 2010
Secret and Whisper shows IVM some love
Lee Marie of Children 18:3
Meet Will Nutter of Amber Pacific
Meet Jarrod Christman of Corpus Christi
“Kudos to the band for staying true to their beliefs and sound, and for not conforming to anyone Else’s standards. ”
Seriously brandog? Lol.
1. Ive been 2 many of ther shows wer they neva even mention a word about God or ther beliefs. Actualy, the last time i saw em they actualy did a “bad religion” cova, lol. Needless 2 say, many people wer shoct+ disgusted at that show, includin myself.
2. Seems 2 me like afta they signed 2 columbia the “conformed 2 sum1 else standards” given the fact that ther music got mor mainstream/ radio frendly, a la p.o.d.+ many otha bands that sign 2 major labels. Dont get me wrong, i liked “o, gravity”, but i hevent herd the new 1 or seen them live in the last 2 years since that infamous sd show.
Sorry Phil but my opinions side with Brandon. I’ve had to do research on the band as I was writing all their reviews and they speak of their faith a TON. At a point while they were on Columbia, post-TBL, they were very frustrated with that label and the whole ‘Christian music’ scene altogether. They aren’t the first band to not like that business side of things and they won’t be the last. I’ll agree that they weren’t as outgoing about their faith on NIS and O!G but it was still there. There’s nothing wrong with bands being more socially aware either.
Anyways, Hello Hurricane is, by far, their most spiritual album yet. It’s almost worshipful in nature at times and I love it. It’s definitely in my top 5 on the year and I’m glad to see it sell so well. This is considering it didn’t have a Gold Certified album prior like Flyleaf had and Bon Jovi definitely has. They disappeared as far as casual listeners were concerned and went indie but still sold a great deal. This is going to be huge for them.
Michael,
Fair enuf, howeva, i was just sharin my experience of first hand events. I wil chek out helo huricane since ive herd good things about it bein ther most solid album in years.
Thanks Brandon for linking to my site. :)
I think this is a solid debut, considering the fact that “Mess of Me” is still gathering steam on Alternative radio and “Always hasn’t taken off yet at Christian radio. I think once the radio play and other planned promotion starts picking up, sales will consistently increase. It’s one of the best records of the year.
Yeah, I have to be honest, there was a time when I was really upset with Switchfoot. I remember when Beautiful Letdown came out, and it was essentially a letdown. It was SO produced and radio sounding compared to their earlier stuff, and most of the songs just seemed flat.
To make matters worse, I saw them on tv on Pepsi Smash or something, and they were wearing all black with fancy done up hair and everything. I remember the previous cd where there is a picture of them and they just looked like normal guys having a good time.
Granted, they are better now since they decided to go back to their roots instead of trying to sound like a radio band. But it’s still disconcerting to me that Jon Foreman seems to only own a white V-neck and a fedora these days. He’s trying too hard to be indie.
To end on a positive note though, I do think Switchfoot has stayed true to their Christian message. Jon Foreman is a great lyricist and thinker who makes the Christian message (which can end up cliche) always fresh and relevant.
You’re bothered that he likes wearing white shirts and a hat?
I’m more disconcerted by the fact that you didn’t make it clear if he wears any pants.
this comment = win.
i kinda find it funny that Joshua thought that them wearing all black with their hair done was to “make matters worse.”
well, at first i typed out a rather rude rant about my thoughts on this.
but thought better of it and decided id just simply say that these arguments against switchfoots image are idiotic and stupid.
and thats about as much as i can say without getting sarcastic and mean spirited.
also, from here on out my screen name is cornelius.
i mean, i dont want it to be too easy to keep track of who i am. haha.
=]
I was avoiding this discussion because I thought it was rather childish and lame. I have a heck of a lot to say but to stay polite and civil I’d rather not go into it. I think Phil was out of line for ripping on switchfoot in the manner he did but whatever.
Wats so “out of line” about it brandon? Did u not read my response 2 michael? No wonda i was banned by yur “out of line” mods on the forums, u probly signed off on it if u think people r “out of line” just cuz they share actual life experiences as proof and/ or hav diferent opinions than u.
Just because a band doesn’t shove Jesus down your throat every second doesn’t mean they aren’t strong believers. We all share out Faith in different ways in this life and I’m not going to get into it further but I think Switchfoot’s music has probably touched a lot more lives than some bands of teenagers who struggle through songs half drunk on stage. I know you have a different opinion than me Phil and I respect that disagreement we have, I am sorry you feel that way. I’m not going to critisize you further.
1. I neva sed they werent strong believas, but do u realy think playin a BAD RELIGION cova (of all things)+ not even 1 mention of God or bein a Christian band, is the rite way 2 present yurself as a “Christian” band wile playin a show? I dont, nietha did many people at the show that nite.
2. I agree that our faith can b shown in a diferent way/ manner and sum “Christian” bands decide 2 b mor subtle about the mesage, howeva, wen a band goes from bein a openly blatant, Spirit filled Christian band like they wer bak in the day, 2 wat i personaly witnessed that nite was prety shokin.
3. I also agree that ther music has probly touched alot of lives in a positiv way, i was just sharin my experience of wat i observed at a particular show that disapointed me.
4. Thers no “criticism” here, just a diference of opinion, wich is wat an “open forum” shud b about.
dude, man just let it go.
so you have no intention of criticizing switchfoot. cool.
i do know though that youve made personal attacks on the staff here at IVM.
i get it, there are just some people we dont get along with, and thats just sort of the way things are.
just please, keep any “opinions” about people on the staff at IVM to yourself like everyone else. you dont like someone, thats fine. no ones asking you to.
i certainly dont like every person i ever met or spoken to.
but there’s no benefit to undercutting them on a public forum.
ESPECIALLY when it is the very public forum that they volunteer their time to keep running.
and let me stress that, they take time out of their lives totally by choice just so you can have access to an “open forum”
and i say all this as someone who ISN’T on the staff here. just a reader and poster like yourself.
i just want to run some interception here for them cause you put them in a lose-lose situation.
either they let you post whatever the flip you want, on a few occasions, making these forums less enjoyable to everyone.
or they ask you to be just a little bit nicer and get insults hurled at THEM because of it.
so man, im not trying to insult you, attack you, demean you, or discount your opinion in any way. im just asking that you have just a little more respect for those who take their time and money to provide this luxury.
as far as what’s been said about switchfoot, im sorry you’ve had such a bad experience with them. they arent perfect people so its totally possible they lost sight of what theyre here for at some point.
but i also KNOW, for a fact, that they are some of the most precious people in the music scene today. you will not find many greater groups of guys then them.
so please just show some respect to their image. people in their position dont need any help getting their mistakes plastered all over the media outlets of out nation.
“Dude, man” im prety shure i was guna “let it go” til u posted. The only “personal ataks on the staf” wer in response 2 ther “personal atax” on me, nice try tho. U can only turn the otha cheek so many times til thers nun left, and i only defend myself wen absolutely necasary, therfor, i dont “atak” anybody til they decide 2 “atak” me first.
As far as i know, ive known+ worked wit brandon 4 much longa than u hav, so therfor i think ive erned the rite 2 discuss my disagreements wit him any way i c fit, and the same goes 4 him. Nobody asked yur opinion, it was a simple disagreement between old frends, chime in all u want, but i dont apreciate yur “interception here” on behalf of yur budys at the forums. They know the situation, they know they wer wrong, and y they feel the need 4 u 2 b ther lil brainwashed mesenja boy once again shows ther imaturity+ lak of class.
I duno wat side of the trax u grew up on, budy, but wer i come from, u giv respect wen due, erned+ given. This means that i giv people the benefit of the dout, but once yur on my poop list, its prety hard 2 get off of it. Its much esier 2 4giv than 4get in my book. And i dont respect anybodys “image”. I respect people of integrity+ honor who stay tru 2 ther beliefs n go against the grain, no mata wat they may b, as long as they r not folowin a trend and think 4 themselves.
Hav a nice day, “cornelius”
Hmm….
On my side of the tracks, we learned about grammar and spelling.
welp, guess i’m on the “poop list”
sorry you feel that way man.
i wish you the best and will be praying for you. truly.
and if, in any way, i responded inappropriately, i sincerely apologize.
and i feel that this debacle has gone on long enough, at least on my part, and so i will not say anything else on the matter.
the public forums are really no place for my or anyone else’s disputes of this particular nature.
i also apologize to everyone else on here for any tension i may have caused.
that really is my most sincere sentiment and not simply an empty gesture for piety’s sake.
I think everything that could have possibly been said, has been said. This discussion has turned into a big ole’ message board post and for that I am locking it into oblivion. If people have anything further to say, please join our forums and discuss it there or feel free to email me.