We missed a communication last week, but this week we hope to make up for
it. There's a plethora of new reviews on the site, and we have a very
special look at next month's major release, the much-anticipated new disc
from Switchfoot. And, as a cMusicMail exclusive, you get to read it first!
Also, check out info on many new releases, including a new disc from Steven
Curtis Chapman.

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THE BEAUTIFUL LETDOWN - SWITCHFOOT (2003)
by Rick Foux

As mere humans, we know failure only too well. And we should: we ourselves
are a failure. We were created to bring glory to the Father, and, because of
the intrusion of sin, fail to do so every day. Perhaps the reason that we
fail is because of our mindset that we can make it on our own, when in
reality we can't even get out of bed in the morning without God’s
assistance. All of this, Switchfoot says, is the reason that we are a
"beautiful letdown," - we are the Lord’s beautiful creations who have been
corrupted by sin.

The Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot's fourth (and easily their best) record,
brings to light the fact that "we were meant to live for so much more."
Unafraid to slam the truth in our faces, Jonathan Foreman issues the wake-up
call to humanity during the disc’s first four tracks. In the opener, "Meant
to Live," we learn that we've strayed so far away from God that we've lost
ourselves completely. This is not an accident. We lose ourselves
foolheartedly because we have failed to realize that we carry the answer
inside of us: "Everything inside / screams for second life." Borrowing from
this phrase, "This Is Your Life" feeds us more truth simply by saying we're
not getting any younger. Listeners are asked a series of questions about
life ("Are you who you want to be? Is it everything you dreamed that it
would be?"), but the real ponderance we obtain is "Are we seeking God’s best
instead of our best?" While our best is fine, God's best is "More Than Fine"
as Foreman stresses in the third track. Unfortunately, our selfishness keeps
us from doing so ("Ammunition"), but thankfully, God always freely offers us
the peace, grace, and mercy that can only come from Him ("Redemption") if we
are willing to take hold of it. Finally, Switchfoot drops us a 3-piece
bombshell during the title track. First of all, yes, we are in fact lost. We
are termed "the Church of the drop-outs, the sinners, the losers, the
freaks, and the fools." Secondly, the only way to overcome the world is to
turn ourselves over to God ["it was a beautiful letdown, when I crashed and
burned"]. Although we forfeit our lives and the earthly pleasures of
mortality, we receive the ultimate gift in the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
The last piece is where the record reaches fruition: while we ourselves are
a beautiful letdown, Christ’s death on the cross was the most beautiful
letdown in all history. Indeed, The Beautiful Letdown is a lyrical gem in
every sense of the word.

This project also ignites a new musical maturity for Switchfoot. While
Learning to Breathe was a well-blended recipe of alternative and modern
rock, the band really turns on the crunch during this record, giving them a
weighty rock/pop clamor. New member Jerome Fontamillas's presence is also
more than welcome at the keyboard, especially during "Gone," a Spin
Doctors-flavored cut about the brevity of a lifespan. For the hardcore, you
can't beat "Meant to Live," "Ammunition," and "Adding to the Noise." This
gnashing trio features the most intense rock Switchfoot has ever performed -
not to mention the loudest Jon Foreman has probably ever screamed. Still,
there are the mellow and worshipful cuts like "On Fire" and "24," a personal
favorite. These two songs place the keyboard at the forefront and meld
acoustic guitar with steady drums for a peaceful motif. "This is Your Life"
adds variety to the set with its inclusion of synthesizers. It's not exactly
a Joy Electric techno-fest, but the steady, variant toned pulses do enhance
Tim Foreman's flair with the bass. Surprisingly, the hit single "Dare You to
Move" from the band's last album reappears on The Beautiful Letdown, but
both versions sound nearly identical except for a stronger showing of
electric guitar and a piercing yell added by Jon Foreman at the track's
conclusion.

Since The Beautiful Letdown appears on both a Christian (Sparrow Records)
and a mainstream (Columbia Records) label, it's a step forward for the band
in more ways than one. Listeners looking for just another glamorous rock
album will be disappointed. However, if you want to be challenged to get
reconnected with God's plan for your life, then there's no better selection
to make. This is a CD that has shown me what an awesome feeling it is to
drop everything you’re doing only to crash and burn on God’s promises.

Find more about Switchfoot at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/switchfoot


OTHER NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM
Views: A Brief Spiritual Biography
http://cMusicWeb.com/views/archiveben/spiritualbiography.shtml

Review: Pigeon John Is Clueless
http://cMusicWeb.com/hiphop/pigeonjohn/isclueless.shtml

Review: Jesus Freaks Vol. II - dc Talk
http://cMusicWeb.com/books/jesusfreaks/index.shtml

Review: Mix of Life - ZOEgirl
http://cMusicWeb.com/pop/zoegirl/mixoflife.shtml

Review: Alien Youth: The Unplugged Invasion DVD - Skillet
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/skillet/unpluggedinvasion.shtml

Review: More Than Motion - Element 101
http://cMusicWeb.com/alternative/element101/morethanmotion.shtml

Review: The Beauty of the Unknown - Justifide
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/justifide/beautyoftheunknown.shtml

Review: The Right Amount - Bon Voyage
http://cMusicWeb.com/pop/bonvoyage/rightamoung.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

ALL ABOUT LOVE - STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
After over 15 years of making music and about 18 years of marriage, Steven
is releasing a disc all about a popular topic this time of year... love. And
with 13 new songs, two covers, and a remake of his timeless "I Will Be
Here," this disc will definitely get you in the mood for Valentine's Day.
It's also our PICK OF THE WEEK!

FALL ON ME: WOMEN IN WORSHIP - VINEYARD MUSIC
Since female worship leaders are harder to find these days, Vineyard decided
they needed a collection that has "women" in the title. Luckily, most of the
women in worship live in the UK, where Vineyard puts out some gems.

I COULD SING OF YOUR LOVE FOREVER VOL. 1 - VARIOUS
While the last two I Could Sing of Your Love Forever releases somehow don't
count anymore, here again is another great collection of modern worship,
featuring old songs from delirious? and Matt Redman, plus newer versions of
classics from such new faces as Fusebox, Charlie Hall, and Rebecca St.
James.

ISLE OF TIDES - EDEN'S BRIDGE
Eden's Bridge is one of the better known Celtic groups over here in the
states, probably for their rather droll Celtic Worship collections. But this
new disc looks like we may find some original easy listening tracks.

LET YOUR GLORY FALL - PHILLIPS, CRAIG, AND DEAN
Produced by one half of the amazing group Watermark, PC&D keep the music
flowing in upbeat worship, although the new tracks were a lot more
interesting than the old worship favorites.

MIXDOWN SIDE A - VARIOUS
The jury is yet out on this one, but we do know that a collection of
Christian pop/rock songs remixed for a party is well overdue, and this is
the best contender yet. We hope to have a review sometime soon.

SEISMIC - DOGWOOD
Dogwood is another hard rock band that has some pretty impressive and
exciting songs, occasionally. Their latest release likely is very similar to
the last couple, with nonstop rock action.

SHE AND I - FURTHERMORE
One of the most unique artists on Tooth and Nail's roster, Furthermore fuses
alternative rock with elements of hip hop, making for a disc like nothing
else you find anywhere.

VINTAGE - EAST WEST
East West is new to the Floodgate Records and working on their second album,
but to hold the fans over they have released this collection of remixed and
remastered tracks from their independent days. A must have for the die-hard
East West fans, but newcomers would probably like their debut better.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
- Relient K Available Via Internet
- New Glisten Album Coming
- And more!

View all the latest stories on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/


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