A Best Live Show Nominee in the 2010-2011 Awards
(Photo Credits: Ember)
Live Show Rating: 5 & 1/4 Stars. 
Category: Music
The Wedding – The Sound The Steel (EP)
The Sound The Steel EP kicks off with “Receive”, an energetic rock track that is a solid opener.
Next is “Return”, an excellent track with very dynamic music and vocals.
“Renew” begins with fast piano, the other instruments jumping in before the second verse. This track has an excellent, memorable chorus and uplifting lyrics.
“Reveal” is another excellent, dynamic heavy rocker with more great lyrics.
And “Redeem” is a beautiful, musically-building ballad with a chorus that you’ll be humming later. It’s the perfect finale to the main portion of the EP.
Bonus Track:
There is also one more track that you can only obtain by buying the entire EP (which we of course would recommend anyway! 
): an acoustic, live performance of “Receive”. It has completely different music— mostly acoustic with just a few electric touches, yet very layered and full-sounding— and brand new vocals, as well as some new lyrics. It’s yet another great track.
To sum it up, The Sound The Steel EP is excellent (in fact we even considered bending our Music Award rules for it!), and it’s definitely recommended.
Our rating for The Sound The Steel (EP): 5 & 1/2 Stars. 
The Wedding – Polarity
BEST SECOND RELEASE 2007 Award Winner! 
Runner-Up: Manic Drive (Reset & Rewind).
Honorable Mentions: Eleventyseven (Galactic Conquest).
The Wedding’s second release is an astonishingly huge upgrade from their previous album— so much so, it was instantly the top runner in the 2007 Best Second race. (And, as you can see, it held that spot easily. ) This album is polished, solid, and very good.
Polarity begins with the interesting intro “The Call”, which is short and totally instrumental, featuring brass instruments and drums. It flows into the next track without a pause.
“Say Your Prayers” kicks in the excellent Rock, and lyrically it has a straightforward message.
“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” (featuring bagpipes by Josh Robieson of Flatfoot 56), another excellent rocker, lyrically encourages you to live with a purpose and give it your all, no matter what.
“Staring At The Light” firmly guides you to true hope. It fades from rock to a piano at the end.
“This One’s For You” is a love song that begins with upbeat piano, then quickly Rocks. It’s yet another great track.
“I-540” (featuring Davy Baysinger of Bleach) is the first slower track. It begins with piano, and slowly builds until the guitars enter in the final bridge.
“It’s Time To Rock (OK?)” (featuring Justin Driggers) does indeed get back to the excellent full Rock. In fact, the vocals near the end (courtesy of guest Justin Driggers) dip into very heavy territory.
“Rebound” is another rock song that lyrically explains true love, among other things.
“Schizophrenia” begins with a slightly suspenseful intro, after which it of course rocks. Lyrically, it describes the tug-of-war between good and evil that exists, to one extent or another, within everyone.
“The Last Stand” is a powerful tribute to the men and women serving in our Armed Forces, from the lyrical perspective of one. This is an excellent, rocking track all-around, and it’s one of the most memorable of the CD.
“Misery Loves Company”, another good rocker, reminds you that guilt can be released, and though there are consequences for your actions, you’ll always have the possibility of a second chance.
“Southside”, while lyrically a bit vague, is however another musically-solid track.
“Revelation”, featuring only piano and orchestration, is a beautiful song about a wedding.
And the final track “Fireworks” is a medium rocker with the surprise of a fast fiddle solo (courtesy of guest Chris Carmichael) at the end. Lyrically, it describes how leaving a false relationship can sometimes be difficult, but it is always necessary.
There is also a hidden track afterwards, a very humorous folk song that they made up about their home state of Arkansas.
[Note: The album also contains a pregap hidden track, consisting of about a minute and a half of “Southside” outtakes. ]
In all, Polarity is a great CD, and it’s worthy of Best Second Release.
Our rating for Polarity: 5 & 1/3 Stars. 
The Wedding – The Wedding
“Morning Air” is about ending a false relationship, and its lyrics are about what you’d expect from such a topic. In fact, this track’s lyrics are actually quite different from the rest of the album’s, so we’re glad they got this out of the way first.
“Move This City” focuses on making a positive difference by stopping lies, watching your words, loving those around you, and never giving up.
“This Time I’m Leaving” reminds you to live in the moment and chase your dreams.
“Wake The Regiment” is a tribute to all of the men and women serving in our Armed Forces, and is lyrically from a military member’s perspective.
“One Eye Open” is musically a bit slower; its lyrics are apparently directed at someone who was dying or very ill, imploring them to hold on.
“Price For Love” describes… exactly that.
Curiously-titled “Death By Xanga” is a short instrumental track that is discordant and somewhat suspenseful.
“479HxC (Through The Night)” brings the energy back up. Lyrically it could be another military song, although this one seems to be more metaphorical.
“Joyride” has great lyrics, which encourage you to not be what the world wants you to be, but instead to just be who you are— and to follow your heart and your dreams.
“But A Breath” (featuring Matt Thiessen of Relient K) is a piano-driven track, beginning muted, then fading in; lyrically, it reminds you that you never know how much time you have left, so use every moment well.
“Water Underneath The Bridge” (featuring Suzanne Townsend and Stephen Kiehn) is easily the best track on the disc. Musically, it’s quite different at first (rather jazzy); then, after about 53 seconds, the music suddenly kicks in with powerful, heavy guitars, keyboard accents, and very strong vocals (especially when guest Stephen Kiehn joins in).
Finally, “Song For The Broken” is a good energetic song to close out the album, with lyrics that remind you to hold on to hope.
In all, this is a fair indie first release.
Our rating for The Wedding: 4 Stars. 
The Wedding – Live Show “Here the darkness meets the light…”
A Best Live Show Nominee in the 2009 Awards,
and a Best Live Show Honorable Mention in the 2010-2011 Awards
(Photo Credits: Ember)
Live Show Rating: 5 & 1/3 Stars.
The Newsboys – Live Show “Wherever we go, that’s where the party’s at!”
BEST LIVE SHOW 2008 Award Winner,
and a Best Live Show Nominee in the 2005-2007 & 2010-2011 Awards! 
Runners-Up: Family Force 5, tobyMac, Skillet, John Reuben, Showbread, Disciple, Children 18:3, Flatfoot 56 (Cornerstone Festival IL. set), Eowyn.
[Note: Choosing the Best Live Show winner for 2008 was particularly challenging. Most of the bands whose shows were already great enough to warrant previous nominations somehow improved their shows even more; and of course there were several new nominations as well. This made 2008’s Best Live Show an extremely close race to begin with. Then, complicating things a bit more, we knew that if we chose The Newsboys, we’d probably never review all of their records {as of March 1, 2009, they had 18 of them, with plenty more coming!}. In the end— after a great deal of thought— we decided to, indeed, give the Award to The Newsboys… because, although we may or may not get around to reviewing all of their music, and although 2008’s Live Show race was unbelievably close {we actually considered several ties}, The Newsboys really did deserve it.]
(Photo Credits: Ember)
The Newsboys’ show is so great for several reasons: First, of course, is their huge set, which among other things includes their own walk-out-into-the-crowd platform (for stages that don’t normally have one) and their famous dual drum stands. (We won’t tell you why they’re so famous, though— that’s something better seen than described. ) Next is their stage presence. The bandmembers are fairly energetic (especially frontman Peter Furler, who is rarely still); there is a good amount of crowd interaction and a bit of humor; and also some variety (including one point during the show where all 4 bandmembers move out onto the platform).
(Photo Credit: Ember)
And topping it off is their encore finale, with a ‘drum-off’ (featuring those aforementioned famous stands), and then Peter Furler’s incredible parting message perfectly layered over the accompanying music.
(Photo Credit: Ember)
Live Show Rating: 5 & 1/2 Stars.
Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane
A NOTABLE 7TH-OR-HIGHER RELEASE 2009 Award Winner! 
Runner-Up: Project 86, (Picket Fence Cartel).
Hello Hurricane opens with “Needle And Haystack Life”, a medium-Rock track with fast-paced drums (especially in the chorus) and hopeful lyrics.
This is followed by the excellent full-Rocking single “Mess Of Me”.
“Your Love Is A Song”, another excellent track, is a beautiful Rock ballad with a very memorable chorus.
“The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” is a Rocker with verses that have a great, almost spy-movie feel.
While next track “Enough To Let Me Go” is somewhat laid-back, the steady medium-paced drums keep it from becoming slow.
“Free” opens with a great guitar hook and verse vocal melody; and its chorus has an interesting musical combination, as well.
Title track “Hello Hurricane” features low electronics in the verses and a rock chorus.
“Always” is musically driven by a muted piano, the song slowly building as it goes on; and it has deeply hopeful lyrics.
“Bullet Soul” is another great rocker, this one somewhat rhythmic.
“Yet” turns quite emotional; it describes being beset by doubts, but holding on and coming out of them even stronger than before.
“Sing It Out” is a darker, moodier track that is easily one of Switchfoot’s all-time best. (This one still gives us goosebumps— especially as it builds to its soaring, triumphant finale.)
And finally “Red Eyes” closes out the disc with medium Rock and an extended outro (which includes several lines from the album’s first track).
Special Edition Bonus Content:
The Special Edition comes with a DVD that has a number of features. The first is the almost 40-minute-long “Making Of”, which delves into the story behind the record and its production. Next come 6 music-video-like recordings of a live, in-studio performance (“Needle And Haystack Life”, “Mess Of Me”, “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)”, “Hello Hurricane”, “Always”, and “Bullet Soul”). Finally, there’s the nearly 8-minute-long “Photo Shoot”, which is at times interesting, cute, funny, and even a bit informative.
Limited Collector’s Deluxe Edition Bonus Content:
The Limited Collector’s Deluxe Edition includes the CD and Special Edition DVD, plus a large-square hardcover book, a poster, and an exclusive bonus CD called “Building A Hurricane”. The book contains artwork; an introductory message from the band, along with the lyrics/thanks and copies of handwritten commentary notes; and in-studio, live, and behind-the-scenes photos. The bonus CD contains demos, alternate versions, and a couple of outtakes of varying lengths and qualities— many of which are quite different, either musically or lyrically (or both!), and thus rather interesting (and some of them are fairly good, too).
Digital Deluxe Version Bonus Content:
The Digital Deluxe Version contains the regular-edition CD tracks, plus 2 acoustic-version tracks (“Mess Of Me” and “Always”), “Stitches” (from the Eastern Hymns For Western Shores EP), and— at least in iTunes— the live in-studio video of “The Sound…”.
The acoustic “Mess Of Me” is remarkably full-sounding, considering it uses only an electric bass and a few acoustic guitars; and— also unusual for a rocking track redone acoustically— it’s just about as good as the original! Acoustic “Always” does use acoustic guitars instead of electric, but interestingly all of the other elements are still there as well (even the steel guitar), though some of them are played slightly differently. And “Stitches” is another great, memorable rock track that closes the Digital Deluxe Version in style.
In all, this is a great album from Switchfoot, and worthy of this Award.
Our rating for Hello Hurricane: 5 & 1/3 Stars
Switchfoot – Oh! Gravity.
Switchfoot’s Oh! Gravity. is even more consistently rock than their previous release, although the lyrics are somewhat different and there is more experimentation on everything. The opening and title track “Oh! Gravity.” shows this immediately.
The next track “American Dream” has a message to live for more than just selfish ambition.
“Dirty Second Hands” begins with cool, almost Southern guitars (and possibly a banjo in there somewhere). It’s a very rhythmic and intriguing track, and it still rocks.
“Awakening” contains the first real slowdown of the album, during the verses; it apparently reminds you to catch (or reawaken) dreams and then follow them.
“Circles” is another rhythmic track, rocking during the chorus and last bridge. It lyrically describes modern life for many— joyless, endless work, etc.— but then shines a bit of hope by reminding you that’s not all there is.
“Amateur Lovers” expresses the need for deeper relationships and true love, not the temporary (and eventually empty) false feeling that some unfortunately choose.
“Faust, Midas, And Myself”, a concept track, musically builds in steps; lyrically, it describes a night of successive dreams (one ‘waking’ into another), after which he finally truly wakes up to reality in a flood of relief and joy. Easily one of this album’s best tracks, “Faust, Midas, And Myself” has a very intriguing story and a great message.
“Head Over Heels (In This Life)” is an excellent rock love song, another of this album’s best.
“Yesterdays” is a fairly soft yet memorable tribute to someone.
The solid rocker “Burn Out Bright” picks the pace right back up, and its lyrics remind you to live life fully and always follow your dreams.
“4:12” encourages you to never despair.
And the final track “Let Your Love Be Strong” musically contains a very different acoustic guitar, and builds somewhat throughout; lyrically, it illustrates that love will be all you need if you lean totally and completely upon it and in it, no matter what else happens.
Our rating for Oh! Gravity.: 4 & 3/4 Stars 
Switchfoot – Nothing Is Sound
A Best Fifth Release Nominee in the 2005 Awards!
As with many bands who released CD’s in 2005, the members of Switchfoot have diversified their talents for Nothing Is Sound. (They have also now added a fifth bandmember.) This album’s rock tracks (“Lonely Nation”, “Stars”, “Easier Than Love”, “Politicians”, & etc.) are more rock than ever, and its ballads (“The Blues”, “The Fatal Wound”, “Daisy”, & etc.) tend to pull at you more, as well. Nothing Is Sound also generally contains the rawest lyrics that we have heard from Switchfoot yet.
The disc begins with “Lonely Nation”, and it’s a good opener. Lyrically, it provides a broad, ‘tired’ view of hollow culture, desperately wanting more. Musically, it’s a solid medium-paced rocker that vocally picks up a bit after the second chorus.
And if you liked that, the next track “Stars”— Nothing Is Sound‘s smash hit single— truly showcases Switchfoot’s brand-new, rich, full, “Yeah-we-can-heavy-rock-too” sound. And what a welcome sound it is!
“Happy Is A Yuppie Word” has almost dark music during its verses, which switches to a different, lighter melody for the choruses.
In “Easier Than Love” Switchfoot delivers a cutting message, speaking boldly and unashamedly about one of society’s biggest problems (hence the Content Advisory).
“The Blues” is one of this CD’s excellent ballads. Its
melancholy-yet-somehow-still-uplifting lyrics and rhythmic, anthemic music make it a definite favorite.
“Politicians” is another pleasant shock— it’s the hardest rocker on the CD [and indeed the heaviest track Switchfoot has done so far]. With a good pace, cutting lyrics, and excellent guitars, this is also one of the CD’s best tracks.
And then there’s “The Fatal Wound”, which is, in our opinion, one of the finest songs Switchfoot has ever recorded. Featuring an acoustic guitar and a harmonica as the main instruments and then adding in the others during the course of the song, this somewhat dark and moody track is amazingly catchy. (We actually had to play it twice in a row to get our fill.)
“We Are One Tonight” is an easier, medium-paced song with uplifting lyrics.
And to cap off the album is “Daisy”, another excellent ballad with lyrics of surrender. Near the end, the music and vocals build spectacularly and then fade away, a finish that gave us goosebumps.
DualDisc Version Bonus Content:
The DualDisc version of this album comes with the regular CD on one side and a DVD on the other. The DVD side contains the entire CD again in 5.1 surround-sound for those with home theater sound systems; and it also contains a great, interesting, and fairly funny behind-the-scenes making-of video.
Our rating for Nothing Is Sound: 5 & 1/3 Stars.
Switchfoot – Switchfoot: The Early Years (1997-2000) (Compilation)
This compilation combines Switchfoot’s first three albums (The Legend Of Chin, New Way To Be Human, and Learning To Breathe) into one package. For the individual ratings of those records, please see their reviews.