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The Beautiful Letdown |  | Artist: Switchfoot
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $0.81
as of 9/8/2010 14:56 PDT details
You Save: $7.18 (90%)
New (33) Used (96) Collectible (4) from $0.81
Seller: Seller632
Rating:  100 reviews
Sales Rank: 4692
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.8 x 0.4
MPN: 696998696723
UPC: 696998696723
EAN: 0696998696723
ASIN: B000189DW2
Release Date: June 22, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Meant To Live | | • | This Is Your Life | | • | More Than Fine | | • | Ammunition | | • | Dare You To Move New | | • | Redemption | | • | The Beautiful Letdown | | • | Gone | | • | On Fire | | • | Adding To The Noise | | • | Twenty-four |
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 100
 Building a better band... April 16, 2010
Andrew Ellington (I'm kind of everywhere)
I remember the first time I heard `Meant to Live'. It was exciting and catchy and meaningful. I loved the uplifting spirit of the song and the way that it embraced the `Christian' side of rock without being overbearing and annoying. It was Christian rock for guys who think Christian rock is `not for them'.
Like me.
So, I have actually been a fan of Switchfoot ever since hearing that song on the radio, and while I think that `The Beautiful Letdown' definitely represents a work in progress, I like this album and recommend it despite the seemingly low rating (it's a very high C+ if you're curious).
For me, this album lives and breathes in four songs. First you have the albums blistering opener, `Meant to Live', complete with a chant worthy chorus that solidifies this track as an anthem of the times. It carries a spiritual message, one that is encouraging, upbuilding and poignant. Second you have the follow-up track, `This is Your Life'. Another great message complete with lyrics that cut to the heart. We have all felt this way at least once in our lives, and this fantastic track challenges you to change for the betterment of yourself and those around you. The solemn quality of `On Fire' sends something chilling through my veins, and it still serves as the most haunting track on the album. But, personally, there isn't a single song on this album that `gets it' as perfectly as `Dare You To Move'. It is boisterous, memorable, meaningful, catchy and still remains one of my favorite pop/rock tracks of the decade.
Sadly, the rest of the album fails to really do it for me.
Tracks like `Ammunition' feel awkward and rather annoying. `More than Fine' and `The Beautiful Letdown' are just kind of boring and forgettable. `Gone' has its moments, but it feels a little amateur in parts. `Redemption' sounds generic and the closing track, `Adding to the Noise' fails to make an impact.
There isn't anything `wrong' with this album or these songs, but they don't add to any feeling of necessity to the band.
Like I said, this album is, for me, a work in progress. Switchfoot has grown to be a great band and their subsequent releases prove that. This is still a very commendable album and one that I recommend to any fan of the band or the genre. They work magic on some of these tracks and, truth be told, even the ones that aren't `great' are still pretty good.
 Very Good Album December 13, 2009
James W. Campbell (Bossier City, LA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I enjoyed this album very much in spite of the fact they are a bunch of Jesus freaks. I tend to listen to music for the sound rather than the supposed message. Switchfoot are cemptent musicians whose music is energetic and upbeat. Company Car from a few albums ago is still one of my favorites.
This is not a BEUATIFUL LETDOWN!!!!!!!!! October 7, 2009
D. Christensen (Mancos, CO, US of A)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Despte the title, this album was NOT a letdown, but it WAS beautiful. The "Big Three" in terms of best songs are: "Meant to Live" (which is the best song on this album), "Gone", and "Adding to The Noise". Despite the fact that Switchfoot claims not to be Christian, there are some Christian-sounding lyrics such as in Gone, it talks about gaining the world, but losing your soul, which is a statement of Christ and a biblical principle. It opens with the hard, head-bangin' guitar of "Meant to Live", but changes pace a little bit with "This Is Your Life". Then it's kind of a lull until "Gone", and then "Adding to The Noise". The last song, "Twenty-Four" is probably the worst song on this album. I think that albums should have a really up-beat intro on the first song to catch your attention. This, along with all of Kutless' albums, most of dc Talk's albums, and Switchfoot's sophomore album, "New Way To Be Human" have this attribute that is key, in my opinion, to a good album and to finding out whether a band really wants to get your attention or not. Pick up this CD, you will not regret it.
A true masterpiece July 30, 2009
William Dorfer
It's really rare that truly great music could ever break it into The Top 40, but Switchfoot seemed to have defied that with "The Beautiful Letdown". I got this at about the time it came out, a little over five years ago. Back then I enjoyed it quite a bit, but in between then and now, I've become a serious musician, albeit I'm still young, but have learned to enjoy this album tenfold more. Although the media loves to categorize bands, it's not that easy to define Switchfoot. On this album, they provide heavy guitar and drums that are reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, then go to acoustic guitars and industrial-sounding keyboards, then to a reggae vibe, and a mixture of even more. Read on to discover what a classic album this is.
"Meant To Live": A heavy, melodic guitar riff and groovy, hammering drums are featured throughout this song. A Switchfoot classic, with a huge-sounding, epic end.
"This Is Your Life": A beautiful, huge-sounding song that combines acoustic guitars with electronica-sounding keyboards. A steady, catchy pace with larger-than-life sounding choruses make this another classic.
"More Than Fine": Features an industrial-sounding beat with nice acoustic guitars, beautiful vocals and a positive vibe. A really beautiful and meaningful song, this one is really well-written.
"Ammunition": Starts off with a heavy drumbeat that always reminds me of Led Zeppelin. The throbbing bass comes in, then the guitars, which remind me a bit of The Police. This is a fast and energetic song in the punk vein, with quite social lyrics. Another perfect song!
"Dare You To Move": Another one of Switchfoot's biggest songs, featuring a slow, graceful beat, and acoustic guitars that go to power-chord electric guitars in the chorus. Another song that shows their skill for crafting huge-sounding songs, and how great they sound!
"Redemption": A shorter, faster song in the punk-sounding vein of "Ammunition", only this song's a little softer. I love the choruses in this song, they're lyrically positive and musically melodic.
"The Beautiful Letdown": The longest song on the album, with the lyrics being one of the big things here. Power-ballads reminiscent with a nice vibe to it.
"Gone": A personal favorite of mine, this one is a punkish song with a strong reggae influence. Again, the lyrics are crucial and go perfectly with the beat. A fun song and one you can listen to over and over!
"On Fire": A beautiful and inspirational ballad featuring lovely piano work. This is one of the songs on the album that I haven't heard in a while, and the first time I re-listened to it recently, I almost went to tears! Truly a wonderful ballad, one of those to play at weddings!
"Adding To The Noise": More industrial keyboards are featured here, and punk-metal guitar riffs are included, as well. A short, fun song that's got a steady beat and a good energy, another personal favorite of mine.
"Twenty-Four": A slower, reflective song that was written the night before one of the band members actually turned 24 years old. A nice way to close off a classic album.
Having re-discovered this album, this is going to be a hot item in my player for some time! Switchfoot truly is a great band and this is one of the best rock albums of this decade. Very highly recommended. Thanks for the time, and peace.
great cd June 15, 2009
Gregg Jenkins
i loved this cd. It is in amazing working condition and it plays perfectly. There are no problems what so ever and i love listening to it.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 100
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