AL INGHAM

Hello Hurricane is the 7th studio album by Switchfoot. And it’s a stunner.

It delves into those rock roots of Switchfoot, as well as adding those mellow tones we’ve come to know and love. There are hints of Audio Adrenaline, All Star United as well as Wolfmother and Fall Out Boy all mixed into one. Their title track, Hello Hurricane is to Switchfoot what November Rain is to Guns and Roses. It reflects on the albumns they’ve made in the past, and turns a corner for the future. The album isn’t as wacky or as over-dramatic as Oh! Gravity, but instead returns to the roots of Beautiful Letdown, whilst still pushing for a new sound in Christian music.

Many of the topics covered are Christian views in a secular world. Christ isn’t necessarily proclaimed, especially in those songs aimed at the mainstream market – Mess of Me being one of them. But they speak of hope in a world of darkness, which one cannot slag them for.

****
4 out of 5 stars

This latest album release from David Crowder pushes him further into musical genius, but further away from a more traditional view of what contemporary church music is. Whilst his earlier albums have been ground breaking in the way that we view worship, this latest piece leaves very little in the way of practical songs that could fit into a contemporary church. The overload on electronica in this record distracts from the pure worship trying to be expressed.

The songs are good. They are well constructed, and are a typical display of the honest lyrics David Crowder has become known for. The chorus lyrics do seem to repeat a lot, and maybe this can be seen as a chant; the earliest form of church music.

As a whole, I am impressed at the ability of David Crowder to push the limits and push the stereotype, but for me, it fails to meet my expectations of what I initially thought the album might be.

* * *
3 out of 5 stars