Customer Reviews

Fall and Winter

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the album we've been waiting for.

Every Switchfoot album comes with one or two of those incredible, personal, stripped down songs. "Let That be Enough," "Twenty-Four," and "Shadow Proves the Sunshine" come to mind. But those songs are just one facet of a larger Switchfoot sound.

In this EP, however, the bare, emotional songs are given a platform all their own. And Foreman does not disappoint. In the spare but lovely, "The Moon is a Magnet," we get poetic musings accompanied by only acoustic guitar, cello and a bass clarinet. "The Cure For Pain" sees Foreman at the peak of his songwriting abilities, reflecting on the last 10 years of his life. This track is sure to stand out as the strongest of the bunch. But, honestly, there is not a weak song here.

It's everything you could hope for from a solo Jon Foreman set. Honesty, beauty, stellar songwriting.

I've got to say that I was blown out of the water when I heard these six absolutely beautiful songs for the first time. Jon Foreman has combined stunningly gorgeous acoustic-style music with powerful, brutally honest lyrics. Being a fan of Switchfoot, of which Jon is the lead singer/songwriter, I have been exposed to his style of writing and music for a long time now- fans of Switchfoot, be prepared for something totally different than you have ever heard before.

The Cure for Pain- Possibly my favorite song in this current set. It is one of those songs that touches the soul and calms a troubled heart. Jon singing "And heaven knows, heaven knows, I tried to find a cure for the pain" sends chills down my spine every time.

Southbound Train- Another one of my favorites. Amazing harmonica and beautiful guitar rhythm come together to narrate the rhythms of the experience of riding home on a train with the one you love.

Lord, Save Me from Myself- This one is more "upbeat" than the other songs. A playful guitar rhythm along with Jon's lyrics, especially "Electric sun keep shining, ripen daughters of the chrome, This world is where I breathe, let it never be called home" explore the things in this world such as sex and riches which often cause the downfall of man.

Equally Skilled- Inspired by Micah 7 in the Old Testament- this song speaks about how the hands of mankind are "equally skilled" in doing things like evil, bribing the judges, and perverting justice, yet the Lord will still bring us to His light.

The Moon is a Magnet- The Bass Clarinet in the background gives the 1:54 song another musical dimension as it explores the role of love in human lives- "Love is a sadness, love is a madness, we are the addicts" and how being in love seems to be what everybody seeks- "what are we if we're not in love?"

My Love Goes Free- This track is truly different from the others and finishes this six-song EP very strongly. Jon's well-developed falsetto combined with keys provides a soothing piece of music. The analogy of the birds that Jon uses provides powerful imagery to accompany the music, which makes this song one of the most powerful in the set.

Oh Jon Foreman, how do you do it? Switchfoot is easily one of my favorite bands, proving that Foreman doesn't write a bad song - just great songs and REALLY great songs. This solo album is no exception (and no one is surprised). As another reviewer stated, we caught glimpses of a stripped down Jon Foreman through Switchfoot and now we get it in full effect.

Upon first listening to it, it sounds like a mix of Joshua Radin, Bob Dylan, Sufjan Stevens, and his vocals at times sound like Chris Martin of Coldplay (and of course, other times they sound like Switchfoot vocals!). I heard comparisons to Iron & Wine and Derek Webb, but in my opinion, not as much as the other artists mentioned before. I love stripped down acoustic folk music that really says something and is not full of cliche. And this album satisfies in every way. The lyrics are honest, beautiful, and the most overtly Christian lyrics we have heard from Foreman in a while.

The only complaint I could really think of is that it would have been easier if the CD would have just come on one disc instead of two (and on the back of the CD case, he could have written "Fall" in front of the first six songs and "Winter" in front of the last six songs.) But if that is the only complaint, then I think Jon is doing alright.

Some of my favorite songs (which were hard to pick since I liked them all) were "The Cure For Pain," "Equally Skilled" (very Dylan-ish), "White as Snow," and "In Love." But like Switchfoot, there is no song on here that you will hit the Skip button on. I am sitting here in utter anticipation for "Summer and Spring" to come out. Thank you Jon for continually writing fantastic, relevant music/lyrics!

Paralyzing, haunting, rending, disturbing. Like a stone being dropped into a well, you listen for the splash yet it never comes - it's too deep! Like being drawn into a deeply personal and intimate conversation you feel uncomfortable yet at the same time privileged.

Hauntingly beautiful, both lyrically and musically, the tracks on this 2-disc collection serve up a potent cocktail of melancholy realism, laced with an occasional ray of hope.

Love and life can be devastatingly painful, as anyone who's lived very long knows. The important insight Jon Foreman hints at in these simple songs is that much of our pain is self-inflicted, and our only real hope of rescue necessarily lies outside of ourselves.

The instrumentation is pleasantly sparse, but also somewhat unusual. When's the last time you heard an acoustic rock CD feature a clarinet on one song and a bass clarinet on another? As a former trumpet player I also enjoyed the tastefully understated trumpets that appear in the background of some of the songs.

It's very rare that a CD immediately captures my thoughts and emotions after a single listen the way this one did. All in all, this is some of Foreman's best work. Coming from a big Switchfoot fan, that's saying a lot.

Probably one of the best musical releases I've purchased in the least 3-5 years - certainly lyrically speaking. Foreman tells it like it is from his heart, paralleling the timeless truths of God's word.

i like the upbeat songs of swichfoot a bit more, but musically and lyrically jon foreman is a real talent. I typically don't listen to stuff this slow/mellow, but the lyrics are poetry and very touching. good album, just have to be in a mellow mood. the two dcs (one for fall and one for winter) is also a nice touch. lots of good material to work with.

Prompt delivery, CD's were in good condition (though the holder wasn't the highest quality...not the sender's fault, though).

I own all 5 cds in this set and just love all the songs. Jon Foreman of Switchfoot really let his talents come out on these cds, and its just such mellow and chill music. Lots of deep lyrics, and great sound. If you're a fan of Damien Rice, Jack Johnson, and the like, you'll probably like Jon's stuff. Listen to some samples, but I'll let his music speak for itself.

I highly recommend all 4 of Jon Foreman's 4 EP solo releases (Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer) for those wanting to dig deeper into some of Jon's most personal acoustic songs. Jon Foreman is a great song writer and compelling pop singer with an authentic voice and deep convictions. He sings of a God available for all, regardless of political affiliation, and other dividing lines. His lyrics speak of the human condition, universal psychological struggles and the need for hope, faith and love. Plus, this album's stripped down, mostly unplugged arrangements simply sound GREAT! Love especially those travelin' blues/folk/country guitar licks, which underlie and support the deep poetic lyrics....(CAUTION: Spin one of these disks twice or more & you'll be hooked).