Switchfoot
Learning to Breathe
Sparrow Records
2000

The third album by this California trio should be enough to raise Switchfoot's status to one of Christian music's elite rock bands. Like the two previous albums, Learning to Breathe combines driving rock with gentle ballads--the difference is the experience. The trio of Jon and Tim Foreman, along with drummer Chad Butler, has matured musically since it's last album. The group has added a more modern sound to compliment their style. Some electronically enhanced vocals, which only add to the unique vocals of Jon Foreman, make for an interesting sound. Modern harmonies can also be found throughout the album with some grungier guitars than previous albums.

Learning to Breathe is an album full of different styles of music from beginning to end. Yet the album still has a flow because each style of song has its own "Switchfoot touch" which separates if from sounding like other songs from that genre.

One thing that hasn't changed from their two previous albums is the intriguing lyrics provided by vocalist and primary songwriter, Jon Foreman. From 'Poparazzi,' a fun song about pop culture, "This is a tune for the poparazzi / the who's who and the so's so / this is a tune for the graven images of Marilyn Monroe / we saw you face on a magazine / we heard the song on mp3," to the amazement of God's mercy in 'Living is Easy,' "Living is dying / Your mercy, Your mercy / Is how I believe / Living is dying / I can't understand it / I'm down on my knees / Confessing my needs again."

The album does have a tendency to sound like music of the times. Some of the music almost sounds familiar the first time through because it is so much like mainstream modern pop.

I think Switchfoot has found their niche in this album. A very good combination of instruments, vocals, and lyrics should get Learning to Breathe a couple Dove Award nominations. If you're looking for a Christian group that will intrigue both musically and spiritually, this is the album. This is definitely one of the better Christian rock albums released in the past year. (Dean M.)