Fading West

Fading West is the ninth studio album by the American alternative rock band Switchfoot, released on January 14, 2014 through Atlantic.[4][5] The album was promoted by four singles: "Who We Are" and "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight", released in September 2013, "Let It Out" released in February 2014, and "When We Come Alive", released in May 2014.

This article is about the album. For the accompanying film, see Fading West (film). For the EP, see Fading West (EP).

Fading West
Studio album by
Switchfoot
ReleasedJanuary 14, 2014 (2014-01-14)
Recorded2012–13
StudioSpot X Studio, San Diego, CA
GenreAlternative rock, pop[1][2][3]
Length43:19
Labellowercase people/Atlantic
ProducerNeal Avron, Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman
Switchfoot chronology
Fading West (EP)
(2013)		 Fading West
(2014)		 The Edge
of the Earth
(2014)
Singles from Fading West
  1. "Who We Are"
    Released: September 17, 2013
  2. "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight"
    Released: September 17, 2013
  3. "Let It Out"
    Released: February 12, 2014
  4. "When We Come Alive"
    Released: May 13, 2014

An accompanying film/documentary, Fading West, premiered on September 20, 2013 during the first concert of the Fading West Tour, and was released digitally on December 10, 2013.[6] The film features a behind-the-scenes look at Switchfoot, and follows the band members to their surfing destinations.[7]

Recording

In an interview with Jake Denning, drummer Chad Butler said: "It's been interesting you know – typically a Switchfoot record will start with Jon [Foreman] and a guitar, then we'll build the framework of a song around that. But this time there's been a lot more space to have new experimentation, finding instruments in the locations we go – for instance, Drew [Shirley] finding a guitar on the side of the road in Africa made out of a gas can, being inspired by the unique sounds that it had. (...) I guess it's allowed us to start from the ground up, and let the sounds that we're finding exist without necessarily melody or a lyric yet, and just have a landscape of sound. (...) I think there's going to be room to breathe on the album that we haven't allowed ourselves in the past. You know, I think there's that cinematic idea in the back of your mind that you're creating something that doesn't have to be a 3 minute pop song."[8]

According to Jon Foreman, the album will feature some Switchfoot friends, including his Fiction Family bandmate Sean Watkins and his sister Sara Watkins, saxophonist Karl Denson and Charlie Peacock (the co-producer of "Dare You to Move", who discovered Switchfoot and signed the band to its first record deal): "We want to just kind of pull on different people who play other instruments and can add colors to the score that we would never be able to add."[9]

Promotion

In December 2012, a tentative track listing for the album was posted by Switchfoot on Facebook and Twitter, saying "FadingWest soundtrack. Subject to change, like we all are..."[10] In March 2013, a new tentative song list was posted onto Instagram by Jon Foreman.[11] Another list, containing thirteen titles, was posted on Switchfoot's Twitter and Facebook pages on 5 June 2013.[12]

The Fading West Tour, held to promote the album, started on 20 September 20, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri, and will end on November 24, 2013 in Abilene, Texas. In each of 45 American cities, Switchfoot fans are going to see a special screening of the Fading West film, serving as the opening act for an intimate live show.[13][14] In June 2013, tour dates were published on Switchfoot official website.[15] Dates for other countries have not been announced yet.

The album was preceded by the Fading West EP, released on September 17, 2013. The EP contained three songs from the album,[6] including "Who We Are" and "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight", which were released as radio singles to different formats that day.[16] On September 18, 2013, a music video for "Who We Are" premiered on the Rolling Stone website.[17] A video for "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight" was released on October 1, 2013.[18] "When We Come Alive" was released as the third and final single to modern rock radio on May 13, 2014.[19]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk75%[21]
Allmusic[1]
American Songwriter[22]
CCM Magazine[23]
Christian Broadcasting Network[24]
Cross Rhythms[25]
Indie Vision Music[26]
Jesus Freak Hideout[3]
[27]
New Release Tuesday[28]
Slant Magazine[2]

Fading West garnered critical acclaim from seventeen music critics ratings and reviews; however, Metacritic reports that by using four selected independent ratings that the album has a weighted average Metascore of a 71 indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[20] Matt Collar of Allmusic rated the album four stars, and highlighted that the release "is an upbeat, uplifting affair. The band [...] returns to both its musical roots and its beach and surf culture roots. The result is an album that at once pushes Switchfoot's sound forward, while displaying the band's long-running knack for melodic, catchy pop songs." He also noted that some of the tracks on the album, like "Slipping Away" and "Let It Out", "fit nicely alongside work by more contemporary bands like OneRepublic," and that the album "moves from earnest ballads to dancey, groove-oriented cuts to breezy, sunshine-soaked rockers with an easy, athletic flow."[1] At CCM Magazine, Matt Conner rated the album four stars, and called it "the most fun and infectious Switchfoot album ever."[23] Christian Broadcasting Network's Hannah Goodwyn rated the album four spins, believing that "Fading West continues to push Switchfoot across lines, genres and cultures."[24] At Cross Rhythms, Mike Rimmer rated the album a perfect ten squares, writing that "It's the imagination, creativity and willingness not to simply retread previous triumphs that makes this one such a great album."[25]

At AbsolutePunk, Craig Manning rated the album a 75-percent, and affirmed the album to be "a great success, simply because it's the most optimistic, invigorated, and downright happy these guys have sounded in years."[21] Ian Zandi of Indie Vision Music rated the album four stars, and said this "should be considered [as] their passion project."[26] At Jesus Freak Hideout, Ryan Barbee rated the album four-and-a-half stars, and vowed that the release "isn't the album of albums for Switchfoot, it is most definitely a solid record" that contains "some of the best songs the band has ever put out."[3] Roger Gelwicks in a second staff opinion rated the release four stars, and wrote that it was "Fueled by the hope that comes with musical longevity," and it was "among the most credible works of its kind".[27] At New Release Tuesday, Mary Nikkel rated the album four-and-a-half stars, and called this a "suitable sound" at this juncture of the group's history, which this stage comes in with the band showing they are "more full of vivacious energy, wide-eyed joy, and earnest hope than ever before."[28] Rob Foster of Kill Your Stereo rated the album a 94-out-of-100, and noted that "The 11-track album is arguably the band's most eclectic, diverse collection yet."[29]

Bert Saraco of The Phantom Tollbooth rated the album four-and-a-half tocks, stating that "Fading West in many ways sums up what Switchfoot is all about."[30] Also, The Phantom Tollbooth's Michael Dalton rated the album three-and-a-half tocks, stating that "this has much more colour than the early and mid-period Switchfoot, but despite the fine production work, there are not as many great songs here as on either of the last two releases."[31] Jono Davies of Louder Than the Music rated the album four-and-a-half stars, and evoked that "The music is true, memorable and appealing."[32] At Christian Music Review, Amanda Brogan rated the album four stars, and noted that "Switchfoot delivers a new level of transparency, giving us a glimpse into their world while encouraging us in our own journeys."[33] CM Addict's Kelcey Wixtrom rated the album four-and-a-half stars, and alluded to how the release was akin to a "long road of finding who you are, learning to love through fear, understanding forgiveness, and starting again."[34] Joshua Andre of Christian Music Zine rated the album four-and-three-fourths out of five, stated that this "will be a classic in the years to come", and it does "seems to be the start of something special for the band."[35]

However, Caleb Caldwell of Slant Magazine rated the album two-and-a-half stars, and noted that "Jon Foreman's ability to write hook-laden melodies remains, and he's an often poetic and perspicacious lyricist, but the themes of redemption and hope on Fading West are too abstracted, frequently degenerating into cliché".[2] At American Songwriter, Hal Horowitz rated it likewise, and highlighted that "the bulk of these songs feature clichéd lyrics and arm-waving call and response construction".[22]

Commercial performance

Fading West sold 39,000 units in its first week of the release in the U.S., allowing it to debut at number six on the Billboard 200 chart,[36] and thus become the band's highest charting album since Nothing Is Sound (2005). Fading West also topped Billboard Christian Albums[37] and Top Alternative Albums charts,[38] and reached number two on the Rock Albums chart.[39] As of June 2016, the album had sold 94,000 copies in the US.[40]

The album also debuted at number 12 in Canada,[41] and at number 50 in Australia, becoming the band's first album charting there since Nothing Is Sound.[42] In Switzerland, it became Switchfoot's first album to ever chart, debuting at number 90.[43] It also debuted at number 38 in New Zealand, and reached number 27 in its second week.[44]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jon Foreman and Tim Foreman, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love Alone Is Worth the Fight" 4:35
2."Who We Are" 3:25
3."When We Come Alive"J. Foreman, T. Foreman, Drew Pearson, David Hodges3:38
4."Say It Like You Mean It"J. Foreman, T. Foreman, Chad Butler3:53
5."The World You Want" 4:18
6."Slipping Away" 3:35
7."Ba55" 4:45
8."Let It Out"J. Foreman, T. Foreman, Pearson3:17
9."All or Nothing at All"J. Foreman, T. Foreman, Tim Pagnotta3:46
10."Saltwater Heart" 4:04
11."Back to the Beginning Again" 4:21
Total length:43:19

Personnel

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[42] 50
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[41] 12
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[44] 27
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 90
US Billboard 200[46] 6
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[37] 1
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[38] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[39] 2
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[47] 19
Year-end charts
Chart (2014) Position
US Alternative Albums (Billboard)[48] 40
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[49] 9
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[50] 59

References
  1. Collar, Matt (January 13, 2014). "Fading West - Switchfoot". AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  2. Caldwell, Caleb (January 15, 2014). "Switchfoot: Fading West". Slant Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  3. Barbee, Ryan (January 12, 2014). "Switchfoot, "Fading West" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  4. "Fading West EP Tracklisting Revealed". Land of Broken Hearts. August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  5. "Fading West by Switchfoot". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  6. McKinney, Lauren (August 20, 2013). "Fading West EP Release + Timeline". Switchfoot.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  7. "New Albums and Releases". Land of Broken Hearts. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  8. "Switchfoot - 11.29.12 - Interview". AbsolutePunk. November 29, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  9. "Switchfoot to Share Surfing, Stage and Studio Footage in 'Fading West' Film". Billboard. April 2, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  10. "Twitter / switchfoot: #FadingWest soundtrack. Subject..." Twitter. December 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  11. ""Fading West" Potential Song List". Land of Broken Hearts. March 14, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  12. "The ever changing list of songs for the new album... #fadingwest". Facebook. June 5, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  13. "We're so excited to announce that this Fall, we'll be going on tour to share our new film Fading West!". May 15, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  14. "Fading West Trailer + Press Release; New Switchfoot Website; Fall Tour Dates". Land of Broken Hearts. June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  15. "Switchfoot :: Tourdates". Switchfoot.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  16. Zemler, Emily (November 29, 2013). "Switchfoot Hopes Surf Documentary Will Help It Crest the Charts Again". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  17. Luerssen, John D. (September 18, 2013). "Switchfoot Hit the Road in 'Who We Are' - Premiere". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  18. "Switchfoot -- Love Alone Is Worth The Fight [Official Video]". YouTube. October 1, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  19. "Alternative > Future Releases". allaccess.com. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  20. "Critic Reviews for Fading West". Metacritic. January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  21. Manning, Craig (January 13, 2014). "Switchfoot - Fading West - Album Review". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  22. Horowitz, Hal (January 13, 2014). "Switchfoot: Fading West". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  23. Conner, Matt (January 1, 2014). "Switchfoot: Fading West (Atlantic)" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. p. 43. ISSN 1524-7848. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  24. Goodwyn, Hannah (February 12, 2014). "Switchfoot's Fading West". cbn.com. Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  25. Rimmer, Mike (March 28, 2014). "Review: Fading West - Switchfoot". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  26. Zandi, Ian (January 22, 2014). "Switchfoot – Fading West | Reviews". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  27. Gelwicks, Roger (January 12, 2014). "Switchfoot, "Fading West" Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  28. Nikkel, Mary (January 11, 2014). "Brilliant Horizons". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  29. Foster, Rob (January 9, 2014). "Switchfoot - Fading West". Kill Your Stereo. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  30. Saraco, Bert (January 30, 2014). "Switchfoot - Fading West". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  31. Walker, Derek (February 4, 2014). "Switchfoot - Fading West (Walker)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  32. Davies, Jono (January 14, 2014). "Reviews - Switchfoot - Fading West". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  33. Brogan, Amanda (January 14, 2014). "Switchfoot "Fading West"". Christian Music Review. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  34. Wixtrom, Kelcey (January 14, 2014). "Review of Fading West by Switchfoot". CM Addict. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  35. Andre, Joshua (January 20, 2014). "Switchfoot – Fading West (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  36. Caulfield, Keith (January 22, 2014). "Bruce Springsteen Scores 11th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  37. "Switchfoot Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  38. "Switchfoot Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  39. "Switchfoot Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  40. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016.
  41. "Switchfoot Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  42. "Australiancharts.com – Switchfoot – Fading West". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  43. "Swisscharts.com – Switchfoot – Fading West". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  44. "Charts.nz – Switchfoot – Fading West". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  45. Information from the album booklet.
  46. "Switchfoot Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  47. "Switchfoot Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  48. "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2015. (subscription required)
  49. "Christian Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard.
  50. "Top Rock Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard.
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