The Beautiful Letdown is the album released by Switchfoot in early 2003 that launched the alternative rock band into the mainstream limelight. Three Top-40 singles were released from this disc: "Meant to Live" (top 20), "Dare You to Move" (top 20), and "This Is Your Life". After selling over 2.6 million copies, the album was certified double platinum by the RIAA and won for Album of the Year at the 2003 San Diego Music Awards. The album was re-released in 2004 with a slightly tweaked mix and new cover art as well.
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The Beautiful Letdown| Posted July 29, 2008
Ugh, I did it again. When will it end? When will I stop underrating bands or making assumptions based on a couple songs? Up until a couple weeks ago I thought I didn't like Switchfoot. I thought they made mediocre music that was very formulaic. Why? I don't know. I loved the first single off this album, 'Meant to Live' well before I became a Christian. I had heard 'Dare You To Move' back then but I'm guessing that because I didn't understand the lyrics it didn't really catch. Upon borrowing this CD (and then buying it a week later), not only do I love that song, since it means something, but I love the whole album.
Mediocre music? I didn't hear any. Formulaic? Pfft, what was I thinking? Every track has it's own sound, pace, and vibe to it that keeps you wondering what the next song will sound like. About the only similarity to the songs is they are all strongly produced, hook-laden pop/rock tracks that have powerful lyrics. The vocal hooks are different in every song and the chorus's truly shine in a very sing-a-long kinda way. Many people have probably caught me singing along like a fool in my car since I can't resist.
'Gone' is a great punkish rock anthem that changes the pace about 3 times in the song and has memorable lyrics singing about how material things will be gone eventually. The slower ballads like 'Dare You To Move' and 'On Fire' are just powerful songs that tug at the heart and do a great job of changing the tempo. I get chills down my back everytime I hear 'On Fire'.
I honestly can't think of anything wrong with the album either. There's no filler, no weak tracks, and the tracklist overall seems perfect. This album may move into the elite category as a classic album in time. I've only had it for a couple weeks now though and need to see if it stands the test of time. It needs to be said that this is an album that will likely grow on you. If you didn't give it enough time when you first got it in 2003 or whenever then you may want to go back and give The Beautiful Letdown it's due.
Gems of this album are: 'Meant To Live', 'Dare You To Move', 'Gone', 'This Is Your Life'
Switchfoot Isn't Wine| Posted September 04, 2007
When this album came out back in 2004, I thought is was the greatest thing ever. Now? Not so much, in fact, all the songs I thought were good, not so much. The songs I didn't like, I love.
But I do have to give credit to their guitar guy, some songs like "Meant To Live" would have been terrible without that opening solo. In fact, "This Is Your Life" isn't that great either. It might have good lyrics, but the musical quality is not so great. The opening part to that is just strange, future of music channeling is what I call it.
"More Than Fine," "Gone," "Adding To The Noise," are a bunch of great little ditties, and really should make up more of Switchfoot playlist, instead of the harder stuff. Lyrically and musically "Gone" is a real winner, however, it should also have been the last song about materialism. I mean really, can the guy write about anything else? That's one of the reasons their last two albums haven't been good, it's all about materialism. They should have just stopped here.
"24," and "On Fire" are great ballads, and amazingly the band excels here, making these the highlights of the album, especially "24." Why can't the band make more of songs like these? These songs are gems, and shunned gems at that.
The rest of the album isn't that great, filler material, including the title track. Overall, I like about half the album. The rest is throwaway. Sorry, Switchfoot, you could have done better. What's sad is this is their best album. Having said that, the album does have it's high moments, and depending on what you think of them, I would definitely recommend it.
A letdown| Posted August 24, 2007
The much anticipated (at the time) The Beautiful Letdown from Switchfoot is a rock CD, with a lot of disappointing songs.
Switchfoot's songs on The Beautiful Letdown are very raw from start to finish. The tunes don't flow well, and Jon Forman's vocal does not help things either. The "new" sound of the music becomes more disjointed than original and fun. The two songs that has an okay beat are "ammunition" and "adding to the noise". However even the hits "dare you to move", "this is your life", and the singles "gone", "more than fine", and "meant to live" and not very impressive musically, except for the opening of "meant to live". The title track is worse.
The lyrics definitely have a mainstream flavor to the album as there are only vague references to God. But there are positive messages here, about not wasting time (gone), living for something more than we are (meant to live) among others. However the focus is not on God.
This Switchfoot CD could have been a mainstream album easily, as there were songs that were released on non-Christian stations. Over all though poor music, vocals, and lacking lyrics makes this album an unbeautiful letdown.
Beautiful? Yes. A letdown? No.| Posted December 14, 2011
This album is what really got me into Switchfoot. From the awesome guitar solo at the beginning of "Meant to Live" to the last notes of "24", I feel that this truly is the best that Switchfoot can offer and it is understandable that this album is one of their best-selling and really got them mainstream attention. To say which tracks are my all-time favorites would be hard as each track adds it's own special taste to the album. Although, thematically, I would have to say that "Gone" and "Adding to the Noise" are my favorites because they deal with materialism, a pressing issue in our modernist society. Anyway, this is not a album that one should shrug off. The contents of this album is well worth the price.
Switchfoot| Posted April 16, 2010
this album was really good...back in the days. i still like it and i think switchfoot should have stayed with this type of music. my favorite on the album is '24'. 'dare you to move' is still a classical switchfoot fave. if you are looking for a switchfoot album, i recommend this one.
A Beautiful Piece of Music| Posted August 18, 2009
How old is this album? Six years? Most CDs are lucky if they get remembered a year later, much less listened to. I was just listening to this album yesterday. The Beautiful Letdown made a permanent impression on the genre of rock. I'm sure that the last chords "twenty-four" will be ringing for years more.
This is where Switchfoot really stepped it up musically. Learning to Breathe is great, but this is a different kind of greatness. I can only imagine that the band was completely exhausted after TBL. Creating that much art all at once must hurt.
By far, Switchfoot's best release to date. Goes without saying, for me. It's also one of the best albums, ever. Ever. Really. I don't play.
Forever good| Posted August 07, 2009
I know this cd came out a couple years ago, but it's still one of my favorites. I love all the catchy tunes and the guitar solo on "Meant to Live" is out of this world. Their songs are motivating and make you want to get up and go out in the world and be a testimony for God. I would definetly recommend this cd to anyone who is thinking about buying it.
Album without fillers!| Posted July 21, 2009
The Beautiful Letdown is an album that pushed Switchfoot to a new level of musical artistry. This album has no fillers and every song is unique in its own way. This is must for all Switchfoot fans. The lyrics are powerful and are perfect for today's culture.
A+| Posted December 30, 2008
If I ever come around with a person who never heard of Switchfoot, I would highly recommend this Album (other than The Best Yet).
All well written songs, I personally love the lyrics of "Twenty-Four", it's really honest and a lot of emotion in Jon's voice. Though this CD is packed with Switchfoot's hits like "Dare You to Move", "Gone", and "Meant to Live", the track that really sticked to me was "More Than Fine". It has a happy light hearted rock beat that makes your day.
"On Fire" is too one of my favorites, the thoughtful lyrics have a a way to grab you, it's those that make you cry.
In a world of copycat music and depressing lyrics, Switchfoot has released an original and outstanding Album that's worth your time and money.
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