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New Way to Be Human

Switchfoot - New Way to Be Human Audio CD

A fair review of the Switchfoot "New Way to Be Human" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Switchfoot reviews here, or go back to the Switchfoot tabs.

Band: Switchfoot
Title: New Way to Be Human
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-03-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: New Way to Be Human 2: Incomplete 3: Sooner or Later (Soren's Song) 4: Company Car 5: Let That Be Enough 6: Something More (Augustine's Confession) 7: Only Hope 8: Amy's Song 9: I Turn Everything Over 10: Under the Floor

Another good work of Switchfoot
It reminds of the hope God has promised and the fact that He hears our prayers. I love very much the song "Only Hope" in this album.

Earlier Great Music of "pop crossover" Christian Surfer Rock Group 'Switchfoot,' the next U-2, Third Day
--> The CD titles 'Learning to Breathe' and 'New way to be Human' were 95% very good to excellent. At bargain basement prices, I decided to work my way back from Switchfoot's 3 recent LP works to their earlier titles and was very pleasantly surprised. Most people do not realize their cross-over power as of yet (e. g. , witness their powerful theme song to "Narnia:Prince Caspian"). Fact is, and it's' been written about elsewheres, truly great bands with new unique sounds can take 2-5 years to catch on, and so can their record sales and reputation, despite a dedicated core following; and I truly believe that is what's going to happen w/ Switchfoot!
They've really got something on the ball, or in their case- the surfboard! They have a synergistic energy with a new never-before-seen-nor-heard combo of instrumentational sounds, truly talented & authentic musicians (rare these days), powerfully creative yet poetic home-run lyrics, and uniquely strong vocals -- therefore, arguably, making them the U-2, or new Audio Adrenaline (or take your pick) if you will, of Christian Rock. So, if they keep up the flow of cover to cover super albums that include the striking lyrics, hard hitting new musical sounds, continue to probe their range (not just duplicate it), and perhaps broaden just a tad those pleasing vocals of their lead; then, all they need do is stick together, write strong original songs that keep spinning off into singles in the Christian Rock arena, get a few more cross-over hits, /ballads if not anthems, and maybe even a movie them song (wouldn't hurt, now that they've broken that ice). . . then, just keep touring on & off (as the spirit moves them): then, I sincerely believe, they could indeed become the next Third Day. And my prayer would be that they do some real good with those kind of resources, and become Ambassadors --like Bono-- and do the Lord's work on the world scene, but down in the details. {Because Switchfoot's lyrics and music have been a real inspiration to me thruough my illnesses, spine surgeries, and recovery & physical rehab this past 2 years. Keep up the good work boys. I've dusted off my keyboards once again because of groups like you and a whole host of other new Christian Rock groups out there now, and have been asked to join a local CR group. . . Thanx--it's all your fault! I meant that in a good way!}
Anyhoo, that's how much I think of them and can't seem to get enough of them. If you like to rock out, you'll fall for them too; and be sure to keep them next to you Thousand Foot Krutch, P. O. D. , and your RED CD's. Those jam good n' hard. Plus, next time you listen to them, "I dare you to move" to their lyrics page (web or Cd insert) -if you haven't already- and see how truly brilliant they are. Next for me is on to 'The Early Years' when I find a great price. . . 'cuz I got a huge CD Collection w/ hundres of Christian Rock & Pop CD's from BMG/S&S, CBD, & Amazon, but never never pay more than $5 a CD.
Rock on w/ a positive message; these tunes are doing just that at it's BEST, no lie, no joke! Live long and prosper. Best part for real people who appreciate music and who don't want cottom candy for Jesus, this type of Christian Rock is NOT AT ALL smarmy sugary-saccharin sickeningly sweet nor heavy handed w/ their message, and you have to listen up a bit to even kinda tell it's positive, optimistic music with a heavenly eternal spin. . . So, you can play it anywhere for anyone without getting into trouble, embarrassment, nor barfing anyone out. Pretty clever, poetic, talented musicians. . . and not too shabby for a bunch of west coast surfer boys! --Yours in good rock ON the rock, WT *** P. S. AND whatever you do, sample (and get) Switchfoot's most recent 3 CD's; they are absolute must have's; you'll copy/burn them & play them over & over & over---I guarantee it.

Most Wonderful Production By Switchfoot
I still love Switchfoot's New Way To Be Human even today; I'm listening to it right now as I'm writing this review. I've been around this album since it's original release date back in 1999. Switchfoot is said to be a Christian group, but don't let that scare you away. Switchfoot's music is not preachy in any way, and you don't hear them praising Jesus or anything over and over again. This music is meant for people of all religions; even Switchfoot's lead singer Jon Foreman said, "Christian is a belief, not a genre. " So that tells you they're not all over the Christian genre. As a matter of fact some of their songs sound more like love songs anyway, which is something that pretty much almost every band does anyway, so nothing unusual there.

It's quite an experimental album; each song sounds different and wonderful in it's own way. There is a variety of acoustic and electric guitar sounds, synthesizers and many other elements of tone for each song. Some songs like Company Car, Incomplete or New Way To Be Human sound optimistic and happy, some of them are songs about emptiness like Sooner Or Later or Let That Be Enough. Switchfoot manages to slip their variety of music tastes into each song while altogether being consistent in their production. Everything fits nicely and transitions to each song beautifully. I cannot possibly point out any highlights, as each song is equally powerful in quality and meaning. But I will review each song individually.

1. New Way To Be Human - Wonderful opening about how much the world has changed it's outlook and opened up a new meaning to life in priority and performance.

2. Incomplete - I love the optimistic sound of this song. This one talks about always running away from your problems and trying to leave it all behind. But the song cuts to the chase and says, "Cause you're a missing person now, step outside your doubt and let yourself be found!"

3. Sooner Or Later (Soren's Song) - Sooner Or Later is supposed to be based upon the Danish Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. Jon Foreman displays Soren's thoughts upon the emptiness of the world lyrically in Sooner Or Later. Soren's Song is about having to face the world's problems and interfaces Sooner Or Later. Sooner or later you'll find out there is much wrong with the world we live in today.

4. Company Car - This one always puts me in a happy mood whether I'm angry or sad. A good song for almost any mood whatsoever.

5. Let That Be Enough - Another song about emptiness; don't you just love those songs? This one is about being young and under prepared to face what lies ahead (AKA real world). It's a sad but wonderful acoustic song well written.

6. Something More (Augustine's Confession) - Another song based upon a philosopher; this time it's about Augustine's book series called "Confessions. " This one talks about living with the same things in life and having to cope with them. Asking the world if there is "Something More" in store for him in life (at least that's the best I could interpret the song).

7. Only Hope - This song was beautifully written; Jon begins the song telling the listener he's been trying to write the same song over and over again to get things right. The song is about hope for acceptance from the one you love, basically. It's hard to say for sure though.

8. Amy's Song - like a sequel to Concrete Girl from The Legend Of Chin (Which by the way, is also a masterpiece). Amy is a fictional character that according to Jon Foreman is based upon all the heroes in his life. She is a modern day rebel who "Burns to live and inspires these flames in everyone she meets. " As Jon said.

9. I Turn Everything Over - This one just makes me want to ride my bike, don't ask why. This is a fun song about having to deal with more of the same problems and eventually turning everything over. Sounds like another song about problems but it sure sounds fun.

10. Under The Floor - The meaning behind this song is quite a mystery; but that's just what I love about it. The way it's written is kind of creepy; he talks about a strange presence in the room that can hear him, even when he sings. Not sure what it is he's talking about, but it's there, under the floor.

Overall, everything ranging from the sound to the overall production of this album is all great. I don't think I've ever heard any other music album as much as New Way To Be Human (other than Snowflakes Are Dancing). And this is coming from someone who has well over 7 days worth of music on itunes (over a dozen albums). New Way To Be Human is one of my top 5 favorite albums ever. So anyone with the slightest interest in anything Switchfoot, if any one CD of theirs to buy, get this one. Better yet check out the 3-disc package "The Early years 1997-2000" which comes with the first three Switchfoot CDs (including this one) all for the price of one.

Only fleeting glimpses of greatness
At that point, I decided I would revisit their older stuff and see if I was missing out. I'd heard of the band way back with their debut LEGEND OF CHIN but I'd kind of forgotten about them until "Meant to Live" exploded at alternative radio. At this point, the band lineup was a trio consisting of lead singer/guitarist Jonathan Foreman, drummer Chad Butler and Jon's brother Tim on bass and backing vocals. Jerome Fontamillas (Keys & Guitar) and Drew Shirley (Guitar) weren't yet part of the lineup.

To be honest, I can only hear glimmers of the wonder that THE BEAUTIFUL LETDOWN is here. Many of the songs are tuneful but tend to drift into the background. Only on a handful of occasions (all of them rockers) do they really grab my attention. It wasn't until LETDOWN that the band started to write ballads that could move me.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"New Way to Be Human" practically skips out of speakers on a whistling keyboard riff. Foreman takes aim at a disillusioned generation ("And where is our inspiration?/When all of the heroes are gone/Hey, kids, could WE be the ones?") noting true transformation will only come when we look outside ourselves ("The God of redemption could break our routine. . . ") "Company Car" blasts empty materialism as the song's protagonist gives up wider hopes for "that which is attainable" finally realizing he's lost his moorings entirely ("I've become one with the ones that I never believed in". ) "Something More (Augustine's Confession)" renders a first person look at St. Augustine's Confession in contemporary language. ("At 31, his whole world is a question mark/All this time he's never been awake before. . . in a quiet desperation of the emptiness he said/'There's gotta be something more/than what I'm living for/I'm crying out to You'")

LOWS:
"Only Hope", "I Turn Everything Over" and "Under the Floor" are all fairly non-descript filler.

BOTTOM LINE:
Ignore those saying this one's the band's best. They would go on to do MUCH better art than this one. If you're already a big Switchfoot fan you may like this but it's not one you can't do without. Hear it first and download the best bits off ITunes.

Their best albulm?
I haven't listned to Switchfoot's two most recent albulms (Oh! Gravity and Nothing Is Sound) but I think this is the best of the four I have listened to. I to have disagree with reviewers who say this albulm is not as good as The Beautiful Letdown. (And by the way, Learning to Breathe is also better than The Beautiful Letdown in my opinion). This is an excellent albulm both musically and lyrically.
I will agree with a previous reviewer: if you're not a Christian don't let that turn you off. Sure, you may not agree with everything Foreman's lyrics say, but you can still appreciate this for being great music and a lot of the lyrcis are about existential experience and things we all deal with. He is a talented lryicist and whatever he says, he says it well. I am an atheist and consequently don't listen to much Christian music, but Switchfoot is the one Christian band I listen to often.

You can see a complete list of all Switchfoot discography, or go back to the Switchfoot tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.