Happy Saturday, friends, and welcome to a lil fangirling session over the re-release of Switchfoot’s 2003 album, “Beautiful Letdown.” They’ve been promoting it for a few months now, and I was intrigued by the different artists that took part in this album. Like, The Jonas Brothers and a member of OneRepublic made an album with Owl City and a member of Twenty One Pilots?! This has gotta be good! And it is 🤩😎🎧 Keep reading for my first impressions of the “Beautiful Letdown (our version)” album by Switchfoot and friends. Hope you enjoy!
1. Meant to Live (Jon Bellion version)
My first impression of this song was: Why is it so quiet? I was listening with headphones and had to turn the volume way up just to be able to hear it. My second impression, though, was that this guy has a LOVELY voice, and I’m loving the more ballad-like style with strings behind his vocals.
2. This is Your Live (Noah Gunderson version)
Okay so they kept some of the original instrumentation (duh duhduhduh duh duhduh) of this song, but he added piano to it which I really enjoyed. He also added some electronic notes to it, especially in the chorus, which I really, really appreciate as a lifelong fan of Owl City.
3. More Than Fine (Monica Martin version)
This version of this song is much, much different than the original — much slower, and the first female vocals on the album so far. It has a sort of twangy zylophone (or some kind of bell-like percussion instrument) sound. The second half becomes just super chill coffee shop style, and I can actually understand all the words, unlike the more rock-style original version.
4. Ammunition (Relient K version)
This one sounds the most like the original which makes sense because they have similar eras and timelines of when they were popular. It’s also the most rock-style but with harmonizing voices and some pauses where it’s just bocals.
5. Dare you to Move (Ryan Tedder – OneRepublic version)
The original vocals are included on this song and there isn’t a super obvious “transforming of the ingredients” to borrow the Chopped phrasing. I think he’s playing a little with the underlying beat and he comes in on the second verse. I think it’s really cool actually, because Ryan’s voice is more soulful and expressive than the original singer, and then they sing TOGETHER and it’s really nice.
6. Redemption (Colony House version)
This song is abruptly much louder than the others, probably caused by a mishap in the equalizing or sound adjusting (or whatever the actual term is) mixing maybe? IDK but it is a very lovely version, with piano and drums working together to make a nice texture.
7. The Beautiful Letdown (Jonas Brothers version)
Oooooh, plucked guitar on bass and more strings!! I really enjoyed this song right from the beginning, and it’s gotten stuck in my head multiple times since the album released. Whoever starts (I’m not a JB fangirl, IDK who’s who lol), his voice gave me CHILLS because it was so beautiful. And then the other bros join in on background vocals and it’s so nice. Then somebody else takes over for verse 2 and he’s so expressive and lovely and the STRINGS are also very nice. One of my favorites for sure!
8. Gone (Owl City version!!!)
I know I’m biased, but this song is SO GOOD!! The trademark Owl City sound blends SO WELL with the original. He added some electronic elements and some lil tappy drums and harmonizes with HIMSELF and that guitar line from the original is just another layer in his multi-layered style. And the bridge has one of the epic keytar solos that have shown up in most of the new songs by Owl City that you can tell he has a BLAST with. And something else that I appreciate about this song is the fact that Adam continues the ending past the original: instead of just fading it out, he adds one more lil crescendo to it which is really really nice to me.
9 On Fire (Ingrid Andress version)
Ooh I like this, with the (not raspy, but richly textured) female vocals and an almost country-style instrumental with the steady rhythm and guitar and the beat picking up when the chorus hits. This is one of the artists that I’m less familiar with, so I’m interested to look into more of her music.
10. Adding to the Noise (Dayglow version)
This song is the peppiest I think, and has the fastest tempo. They have an almost AJR-like style to them, but with some different electronic bits and techniques, like distorting voices.
11. Twenty Four (Tyler Joseph – Twenty One Pilots version)
First of all, it’s kinda funny that a member of a band with the number 21 in the name made a song called 24, but that’s beside the point lol. Another slower and more pensive song with the soulful vocals that I remember from the old 21P songs, like in their self-titled album. The lyrics of this song are super poetic too, which I really liked, and again, we have the piano + strings + drums combo that I enjoy about this album. A line I like: “You’re raising the dead in me”
12. Monday Comes Around (Sleeping At Last version)
The last song on the album, and I’m loving the nostalgic instrumentals mixed with some of Sleeping At Last’s trademark tones and soulful vocals, plus there’s a really heartfelt message to it that I appreciate.
Well, two weeks since it released, I’m thinking I need to re-listen to the “Beautiful Letdown (our version)” Switchfoot album now. How about you? Did you listen to Switchfoot back in the day? Have you listened to the new album yet? I’d love to hear what you thing!
Happy jamming!
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