001
Switchfoot
“journey to 1999. i was 14. somewhere, i picked up a music sampler cd called simply spectacular. its opening track was “new way to be human” by a band named switchfoot. it was catchy and i was hooked.”
2023-05-07: This was also the name of their second studio album, “New Way to Be Human” which I purchased in 1999. It contained another gentle masterpiece, “Only Hope” which I often had on repeat and still resonates today (24 years later). I am listening to it now as I draft this section of the recollection.
A year later (2000), I bought “Learning to Breath” upon release. When reviewing the songs, I was going to highlight the ones that I gave the most traction. I found myself still remembering the words to every song as I skipped forward through the album. It was a no-skip listening experience growing up. To highlight a few, “Dare You To Move”, “Learning to Breathe”, “Playing For Keeps”, and wrapping up the album with its closing track “Living Is Simple” were strong favorites.
In 2003, Switchfoot outdid themselves with the release of “The Beautiful Letdown”. At 16, I drove myself to the nearest Berean store to purchase this new release. Later on, I also bought the “Switchfoot - live in San Diego” concert DVD. This album was on repeat for years. It was beautiful, quite the opposite of a letdown. As an aspiring guitarist, I had pages of printed tablature from Guitar Tab Universe scattered throughout my room. Whether it was the powerful riffs from “Meant to Live”, chords from “Dare You To Move”, the harmonies of “On Fire”, or the emotional pleas while closing out the album singing “Twenty-Four” these songs were everything to a teenager trying to find themselves and their place in this world. It was not always about answers, but the hope that carries us to our next breath.
Fast forward 24 years from my initial discovery of Switchfoot, I am thrilled for the release of “The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version)”. I was able to replenish my Beautiful Letdown merch that I bought in 2004 (somehow this survived lots of wear and multiple moves), immediately following the release of this album. I cannot wait to add the vinyl to my collection.
I have been fortunate to see Switchfoot numerous times throughout the years. There are fantastic albums released beyond this article, but wanted specifically to focus on the early years.
When attending concerts, I carried my trusty pocket camera, the Minolta Dimage G400 that shot at 4 MP with 3x optical zoom.
The following are some of the photos that I captured during the original “The Beautiful Letdown” era taken at the Alive Festival, Canal Fulton, OH in 2004. These are not particularly tack sharp, but represent memories and the multi-decade impact that Switchfoot continues to bring to the world.
