Review
SWITCHFOOT – DARK HORSES
Released 26th September 2011 (Atlantic Records)
Words: Tom Willmott
Unbelievable to think that Switchfoot have made it to their eighth record when you consider this is a band who are only really known for having a single hit, “Meant To Live”, and only then because it was featured on the Spiderman 2 soundtrack. In the US, the band are still pretty much a rock radio staple, but that success hasn’t really translated to the UK, where the biggest venue they can expect to play over here is Shepherd’s Bush Empire in November.
“Dark Horses” is the first single taken from forthcoming album “Vice Verses”, and it is exactly what we have to come to expect from the band. Yet another polished and shiny tune that was clearly designed for the mainstream audience but also comes with a very post-grunge feel – fortunately, without the cringe factor that you usually associate with the likes of Nickelback and Creed. This has a more straightforward pop rock sound that you might expect from Foo Fighters and Green Day. The only real fault to be found is the uninspiring lyrics. As if we really needed to hear about another artist “being to hell and back again” but I suppose the band, throughout their fifteen year career, have never rooted to be another Morrissey.
It is difficult to tell what the new album will showcase. There is a chance it will contain some slow numbers but it would be nice to hear some similar sounding tunes to “Dark Horses” which is a good example of what mainstream rock can offer. For me personally, it is more of a filler track on my Ipod, however if it was radio playlisted, I certainly wouldn’t switch stations.
