[Inked in Blood]

Tracks
1. Oh! Gravity.
2. American Dream
3. Dirty Second Hands
4. Awakening
5. Circles
6. Amateur Lovers
7. Faust, Midas, And Myself
8. Head Over Heels (In This Life)
9. Yesterdays
10. Burn Out Bright
11. 4:12
12. Let Your Love Be Strong

[NotOfThisWorld]

..."These San Diego-based rockers broke out on the pop charts tellus that we were "Ment O Life" for so much more. They wanted to "Dare YOu to move" because salvation is here. While those lyrics may have been too subtle for some weaned on a steady diet of modern worship, it was clear to most that Switchfoot was seeking to address existeial longings of a generation disappointed with pleasure-driven materialsm and consumer-focused expressions of psuedo-individuality. Throughout Oh! Gravity. crunchy guitar riffs set the tone, while Jon Foreman's voice proves up the callenge of forfing memorable hooks that don't melt on contact. Catchy yet durable, Switchfoot manages that delicate balance of rocking out without losing the songs in the process. But The Issues and insights haven't changes. in a country where "success is equated with excess," the band affirms "that aint my American dream." Failed by the stuff we but, the title track asks, "why can't we seem to hold it together?" Left to our own devices, we're merely "Amateur Lovers" with "Dirty Second Hands" who "need love like drugs." But, lik the failt stories alluded to in "Faust, Midas, And Myself," with its moving use of orchestral strings, we sell out the things that give life purpose and meaning for out "pick of pretty things".....

From CCM Magazine's Brian Quincy Newcomb.

[burningtr33]

awesome band. awesome record. and one stoked fan.

[tl_guitarnut]

I love it, I think they really worked hard and created a record unlike anything they have before.

[DKelly]

This is, in my opinion, the best CD they have made thus far. After Nothing Is Sound, I wasn't quite sure if they would ever make something great again. Thankfully, they did.

This CD is very solid musically, sounding like a clash of the creativity, raw energy, catchiness, and upbeat sound of the band's earlier records with the louder rock sound of the last two CDs. The band as a whole sounds more refreshed and renewed than I've ever heard them sound. Jon has greatly improved upon his vocals and his lyrics over the last CD. Jon's lyrics are much less cliche-ridden than on NIS and his vocals seem much less tired and limited than it did on that CD. Any band would be proud of a CD like this. I'm just happy Switchfoot made it first.

This CD gives me great excitement for the future of the band. My favorite songs include "Oh! Gravity", "American Dream", "Amateur Lovers", "Faust, Midas and Myself", and "Burn Out Bright".

An easy 10.

[Adam K]

Awesome. I give it a 10. I love "Amateur Lovers".

[akaukal]

This is pretty good, but I don't think it's much more than solid. It's grown on me, but I still like Legend of Chin way better. 7.

[monkeysmile]

This CD is awesome,I gave it a 10.

[nbfan]

7. Good comeback from NIS, but there's something about it that just doesn't come easy to me. I don't know. I'd rate it higher, but it's one of those CD's where I like 3 or 4 songs, and the rest I just skip.

[HolyRockJfreak]

I like it a lot....it doesn't sound as produced as nothing is sound, but it has this fresh sound.....awakening is probably the best track....it totally shows true joy....oh gravity, dirty second hands, yesterdays, and let your love be strong are also sweet....

[Adam K]

I love the Awakening.

[thud]

Switchfoot is a great band and Jon is one of my favorite bad singers. But this cd isn't much fun to listen to. The constant griping about how everybody is beats me down. Theology 101 - humans are fallen, have no hope without a saviour, and won't believe you no matter how many times you tell them. I hope they find something else to sing about for the next cd.

Awakening and Circles are great Switchfoot anthems. Yesterdays is a beautifully done song about the death of a friend that doesn't bum you out. That's the easy-to-listen-to part of this cd. The upbeat songs on this cd would prolly be good live, and I bet Dirty Second Hands is way better live than on the cd. There is just too much un-melodic ranting and it's the goofy stuff like "success is equated with excess" and "waking up at 4:12" that sticks in your head. I've really enjoyed Switchfoots softer songs for their passion and ability to carry you away, but Let Your Love Be Strong is just crap - a bad melody and goofy lyrics.

I'm sure the idea was to make this cd more raw and somehow more artistic than the last few, but it's just not as much fun and fails to compel me to change anything about the way I live. I miss the polish and uplifting songs.

[InLovingEmery]

Originally Posted by thud

Switchfoot is a great band and Jon is one of my favorite bad singers. But this cd isn't much fun to listen to. The constant griping about how everybody is beats me down. Theology 101 - humans are fallen, have no hope without a saviour, and won't believe you no matter how many times you tell them. I hope they find something else to sing about for the next cd.

Awakening and Circles are great Switchfoot anthems. Yesterdays is a beautifully done song about the death of a friend that doesn't bum you out. That's the easy-to-listen-to part of this cd. The upbeat songs on this cd would prolly be good live, and I bet Dirty Second Hands is way better live than on the cd. There is just too much un-melodic ranting and it's the goofy stuff like "success is equated with excess" and "waking up at 4:12" that sticks in your head. I've really enjoyed Switchfoots softer songs for their passion and ability to carry you away, but Let Your Love Be Strong is just crap - a bad melody and goofy lyrics.

I'm sure the idea was to make this cd more raw and somehow more artistic than the last few, but it's just not as much fun and fails to compel me to change anything about the way I live. I miss the polish and uplifting songs.

I think Switchfoot did a really good job with this album. It's different. Sometimes it's the close-minded listener with the issue. So switchfoot did some crazy stuff on this record, that's ok. It still sounds great. The crazy ending to 4:12, Amateur Lovers, it's different but great. I'm aware it's my opinion and all that, and you're totally entitled to yours. But I'm just saying one can't get stuck in a single opinion of switchfoot assuming they'll always come out with the same type of album.

[Keiran Halycon]

Awesome Album!! Way better than Nothing is Sound. on NIS my only favorite songs were Stars and Polititions. Oh! Gravity has many more great songs like Awakening, Oh! Gravity, Circles, and American Dream.

[AdamWest]

Hey THUD,

I completely understand what u are saying i was expecting someone to say that because the cd is different.

As for me 10. If I could give it an 11 I would. I still like all the songs on the album.