The Switchfoot guys always have a song that takes a great poke at society (see Gone, Poparazzi, Company Car from previous albums) and this time it deals with the commodity of sex and how it is Easier Than Love. Love is extremely hard but sex sells. It's kind of the big "duh" song but it needs to be said.
The rest of the songs offer a mix of different tempos but everything is listenable and pretty darn good. There are less electronics than TBL and everything they've previewed live for NIS comes out quite well, which didn't happen for On Fire on TBL. This album has a lot of potential singles and I'm hoping to see Politicians get on some hard rock stations.
Nothing Is Sound has at least one or two songs that many types of listeners would like a lot but if you are a Switchfoot fan or someone who likes variety in their albums then this is for you. There are twelve songs total and they all bring a little something different to the table. If you like just Meant to Live from the previous album then there are probably only two or three songs for you.
I think one thing that Switchfoot needs to be careful of is the perception that they are becoming brooding naval gazers who are pretty well off but feel guilty about it. You do have to listen for the optimism sometimes but it is there. They ask hard questions about "life, love and why" and as the Dread Pirate Roberts says "Life is pain, princess. . . anyone who says differently is selling something". They may be selling you something but it's honest, thoughtful and excellent.
Cross-posted at Broken Masterpieces.
edited: ME
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Thanks for the preview- really looking forward to this one myself.