Vice Verses

Switchfoot | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B005DKGNTE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,795 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #98 in Music > Christian > Pop & Contemporary

Track Listings

1. Afterlife

2. The Original

3. The War Inside

4. Restless

5. Blinding Light

6. Selling The News

7. Thrive

8. Dark Horses

9. Souvenirs

10. Rise Above It

11. Vice Verses

12. Where I Belong

Editorial Reviews

With its play on words, Vice Verses, the title of Switchfoot's 2011 album, coherently suggests the album's theme: everything has two sides. If 2009's Hello Hurricane suggested a new chapter in the musical book that is Switchfoot, consider Vice Verses to be a sequel of sorts.

Songs like "Afterlife" and "The War Inside" take the harder-edged approach of Hello Hurricane a step further, creating what Billboard has called "powerful, anthemic rockers... like an amalgamation of U2's Achtung Baby, Linkin Park." Overall, Vice Verses is a more eclectic collection than its predecessor with quiet gems like "Souvenirs" and the title track butting up against the infectious "The Original," reminiscent of Foo Fighters, and the biting, largely spoken-word "Selling the News."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, nearly flawless release from Switchfoot September 27, 2011

By JoeAZ92

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

With seven quality studio albums, millions of album sales, and a Grammy win, Switchfoot has repeatedly proven to be a band worth listening to. All those accolades aside, there are few, if any, other rock bands out there that find such a strong combination of thought-provoking lyrics and diverse, excellently crafted music. Hello Hurricane, the band's 2009 release, was a grand return for the band after nearly three years without a new studio album, and as fantastic as it was, it's now clear that it was a necessary step towards something bigger, bolder, and possibly even better, and that is where we find the band's latest offering, Vice Verses. If the clever title and the band's impressive track record aren't enough to convince you to give Switchfoot's latest a listen, maybe this review will.

The core of every Switchfoot album is still intact in Vice Verses, for those that might be wondering. Jon Foreman''s lyrics are still as insightful, thought-provoking, and meaningful as ever; that quality has always been a staple in Switchfoot albums and it's still strong here as they ponder the polarity of life. The sonic diversity also hasn't been lost: you'll get some of Switchfoot's heaviest rockers yet ("Dark Horses," "Afterlife"), but never at the expense of the inclusion of some beautiful, mellow tracks ("Vice Verses," "Thrive").

Every member of the band is truly at the top of their game on this record: from a performance standpoint Vice Verses is easily Switchfoot's strongest effort. Tim Foreman''s bass and Chad Butler''s drums provide the groundwork for these songs, unlike on past albums; to be honest I had never realized how awesome these guys are in the rhythm section until I heard their incredibly skillful parts carrying songs like the infectiously catchy "The Original" and the more beat-driven tracks including "Selling the News" and "Blinding Light." Jerome Fontamillas'' keyboards also add some awesome pieces to the music, especially his "time travel" keyboard line in "Souvenirs" and the epic warlike background noise in the later choruses of "The War Inside." Guitarist Drew Shirley is also as brilliant as ever at finding the perfect guitar sound for each song and providing some fantastic riffs and background noise, while Jon Foreman's vocals have never been stronger, striking the right level of intensity for the heavier songs and hitting that sublimely delicate zone for the quieter tracks.

There are so many highlights on Vice Verses, we'd be here all day if I talked about them all at length, so I'll try and keep this relatively brief. "The War Inside" is one of my personal favorite tracks with its driving beat and clever lyrics which are thematically reminiscent of "Mess of Me" from Hello Hurricane ("Ain't no killer like pride / no killer like I / no killer like what's inside"). The simply delightful "Blinding Light" features a musically uplifting chorus and hopeful lyrics and the worshipful "Restless" is probably Jon Foreman's most poetically stunning song to date. "Souvenirs" will soothe you with its lovely guitar work even when the pace picks up as the band sings, "Nothing lasts forever..." while the fantastic lead single "Dark Horses" is easily Switchfoot's heaviest rocker to date, serving as an inspiring underdog anthem. "Selling the News" also stands out as the boldest step outside the norm for the band, but it's also one of the strongest tracks on the album with its spoken word verses and infectiously catchy pop chorus. And of course, the title track features some incredible songwriting and solid acoustic guitar work.

What might be the best part of the album, however, is how it comes full circle by the way the last song connects to the first. "Afterlife" kicks it off strong with a fantastically intense rocker about truly living in this life, while the breathtaking closer "Where I Belong" sings about hope in the next life, using lyrics from the second verse of "Afterlife" in a similar yet also very different context ("I still believe we can live forever / You and I, we begin forever now"). While every song on Vice Verses falls somewhere on a scale from great to excellent, "Where I Belong" is in a league of its own. Drew's guitar work is simply stellar, the gang vocals soar, and the lyrics are beautiful and plentiful. "Where I Belong" is easily Switchfoot's strongest album closer, going on for nearly seven minutes but not dragging on at all and bringing such a majestic and conclusive feel to the album's end as the whole band echoes back the second verse of "Afterlife"... it's definitely a special song unlike any other the band has ever recorded before.

Vice Verses may or may not be Switchfoot's best album yet; as the years go by we'll have to see if it has the same kind of lasting appeal that Nothing Is Sound' still has. All comparisons aside, though, Vice Verses features some of the highest points of the band's career with its bold steps outside their usual style, excellent performances, and fantastic lyrics. Vice Verses is an absolutely excellent and nearly flawless addition to Switchfoot's already impressive discography that should not be missed.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed *every* minute of it... September 27, 2011

By C. Bergquist

Format:Audio CD

That's probably the best of part of any Switchfoot album -- really great, varying songs from start to finish. To me their albums never get old. "Vice Verses" is no different... It's an outstanding mix made for heavy rotation. This album takes Switchfoot in some new directions, while maintaining who they've been and what's made them great. There's just enough of what everyone has come to expect -- along with the new -- in the 12 songs.

One change-up is more driving/featured bass and drums. Previously Switchoot has really identified themselves as "guitar-driven." Secondly, I'd say the style and talent of Drew Shirley on lead guitar is more utilized. Awesome guitar sounds and more solos than I ever remember. Last of all, I hear some great moments of a brighter/"happier" sound (less angst?). Maybe it's just more upbeat/uptempo ("The Original") than their more recent releases. I do know that lyrically it's still as sharp and challenging as ever. "Blinding Light" (especially the chorus) may do the best job of showing what is I'm trying to say about this feel good sound.

Anyone who's listened to Switchfoot for long is very familiar with the theme of "hope..." This latest effort continues to uplift and even raises their bar for what hopeful or positive rock music can be.

A couple more quick comments: The spoken word on "Selling the News" and "The War Inside" is like nothing ever heard from them (in a wonderful way). I think "Dark Horses" rocks more than ever. "Vice Verses" is beautiful (rivaling "Sing It Out") and vulnerable. The last song "Where I Belong" is an absolute anthem for the album... and for the band for that matter.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All Good, All Switchfoot September 27, 2011

By PackerFan

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great albuum through my first listen. Standouts for me included "The War Inside," "Afterlife," and "Where I Belong." I even enjoyed "Selling the News" though it's quite the departure from their normal tunes. It's one of those Switchfoot songs that is oh-so-true, but still makes you feel a little uncomfortable...but the truth hurts us sometimes. This album has an Oh!Gravity feel to it, but is a collection of much better songs. Have Foreman's lyrics ever been better??