Description
The Beautiful Letdown is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band Switchfoot, released on Sparrow Records in February 2003, distributed in the US by Chordant Distribution Group. Also released on Sony Music Entertainment, manufactured by Columbia Records, marketed by Red Independent Network, and distributed by Red Distribution. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by John Fields with the band co-producing (except track 1 mixed by Chris Lord Alge; tracks 2 and 5 mixed by Tom Lord Alge – with additional production and remix of track 5 by John Fields and the band; and tracks 3, 7, and 9 mixed by Jack Joseph Puig. Track 5 produced by John Fields, Charlie Peacock, and the band.) All songs written by lead singer Jon Foreman except tracks 1, 8, and 10 co-written by Tim Foreman and track 9 co-written by Daniel Victor. The album was certified Gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in December 2003 and Platinum (one million copies sold) in May the following year, and as well 2xPlatinum in December. In October 2023 the album was certified Triple Platinum.
Switchfoot features Jon Foreman on guitar and vocals; Jerome Fontamillas (formerly of Mortal, Jyradelix, and Fold Zandura fame) on guitar, keyboards, and background vocals; Tim Foreman on bass and background vocals; and Chad Butler on drums.
The band’s progression from the naïve trio of Californian beach bums who charmed us with their ‘The Legend Of Chin’ debut in 1997 to this band whose melodic-yet-gutsy sounds overflow with radio friendly hooks that America is at the brink of promoting them to become mainstream hitmakers is breathtaking. Anyone who was afraid their appearance in the A Walk To Remember movie was a signal they were softening up will be relieved by ‘The Beautiful Letdown’. If anything, their sound is harder and punchier than ever with award winning producer John Fields bringing out layers of rock’n’roll edge while lead singer John Foreman’s tones have never sounded more emotively keening. Stacks of highlights here – listen to Foreman’s take on the TS Elliot poem The Hollow Man, «Meant To Live»; the infectious «More Than Fine» which the band ironically describe “punk song disguised as pop”; or the breathtaking title track. All in all, a truly brilliant album. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, May 2003]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-beautiful-letdown-deluxe-version/270003831)
CD tracklist:
01. Meant To Live – 3:25
02. This Is Your Life – 4:18
03. More Than Fine – 4:15
04. Ammunition – 3:45
05. Dare You To Move – 4:11
06. Redemption – 3:07
07. The Beautiful Letdown – 5:21
08. Gone – 3:43
09. On Fire – 4:39
10. Adding To The Noise – 2:50
11. Twenty-Four – 4:52
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