It’s been a giant 12 months for anniversaries: anniversary excursions, reissued albums, social media posts with carousels of archive footage that includes artists of their teenage years, goofing off in a studio. It might be sentimental, a second shared between followers and musicians, a mirrored image of the years they’ve spent rising up side-by-side, tied collectively by the brute emotional pressure of well-composed songs and nostalgia. However, for San Diego’s Switchfoot, they weren’t going to let an anniversary be simply that — a second to cross as quickly as its time had slipped away, overshadowed by whichever “throwback” submit us common music enjoyers would obsess over tomorrow. This anniversary, particularly, the twentieth anniversary of their acclaimed album The Beautiful Letdown, could be a celebration, and a second in its personal proper as main as its preliminary launch.
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A Christian band at coronary heart, the 2003 album was their break, and extra — it shattered no matter ceiling alt-rockers had constructed to shelter them from music that swayed too “spiritual.” Twenty years later, they’re giving it new life with The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version) [Deluxe Edition], a 25-track celebration of‘ their staple record, featuring newly recorded tracks from iconic Switchfoot fans, the Jonas Brothers, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Jon Bellion, Ingrid Andress, twenty one pilots’ Tyler Joseph, Owl City, Dayglow, and extra, along with Switchfoot’s re-recorded model of the album and new, unreleased B-sides.
We spoke with the band about discovering inventive solace of their hometown of San Diego, becoming a member of forces with the Jonas Brothers, and the way the sentiment of the album’s title nonetheless holds true, all these years later.
How is it going again into this album? What did it convey up for you?
My first thought is gratitude. I’m so grateful to be trying again on the journey that we’ve been on for the previous 20 years. So grateful for everybody world wide who’s been singing these songs with us. Diving again into this album brings up a number of recollections for me. The story of The Beautiful Letdown is fairly humorous, trying again. At the time, it wasn’t humorous in any respect: We acquired dropped by our label earlier than the album ever got here out.
It was a turning level for us as a band. We believed on this album, and despite anybody else’s opinion, we have been going to combat for this album. So we put the songs out on a smaller label, RED — a label that believed in us and fought for us. We rented three automobiles in Florida and began taking part in as many exhibits as we may, on the best way to get again dwelling to California. It was a horrible plan. But someplace alongside that tour, one thing magical began to occur… People began resonating with the album, burning CDs, singing alongside, and telling their buddies. Shows began getting larger, and certainly one of our songs was even getting performed on the radio.
I’m grateful for all of it, even getting dropped. Because the music was connecting with folks in a easy and profound manner that solely music can, relatively than succeeding due to an enormous file label or an enormous finances. And that’s the place the concept for this album got here from: The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version) [Deluxe] is our method to say because of the entire wonderful individuals who have given us the privilege of this wild journey that we’ve been on. Even 20 years later, the album’s title holds true: What an exquisite letdown certainly.
What are some standout recollections of creating this album in 2003?
The album occurred so quick. I bear in mind assembly John Fields, the producer of the album, every week or two earlier than we began monitoring. We borrowed amps from our pal Matt Beckley, borrowed a number of drums from our pal Aaron Redfield, and set off for LA in a Cadillac that we borrowed from Chad [Butler]’s grandfather. Fast ahead to some weeks later, and the entire album was recorded and combined.
We have been so younger, however we had clear targets. Lots occurred in that brief span of time. I suppose among the many extra memorable experiences of the album have been by accident barging right into a Radiohead session, and an impromptu go to with Courtney Love.
What has been the spotlight of the anniversary expertise?
Connection is close to the highest of the record as to why I make music — and this tour and album have been stuffed with simply that. So many wonderful conversations, group, strangers arm in arm singing one tune, watching music convey folks collectively. My favourite factor is once I put down the mic and the tune continues. The deluxe model of the album and the tour have been precisely that.
Obviously, it’s a really deep album — what nonetheless feels on-the-nose for you in these lyrics, and conversely, what has shifted in the way you write/file/and see the world for the reason that first recording, and the way did you transmit these shifts and development into the re-recorded challenge?
Some issues are fixed. For instance, my favourite lyrics and songs are nonetheless those which are born from ache and curiosity. I nonetheless see the tune as a vessel to get from darkness to gentle. So that continues to be the identical, even all these years later. Most of the lyrics nonetheless resonate deeply inside me. Some of the lyrics may even imply extra to me now than they did again then. For instance, “We want more than the wars of our fathers” [from “Meant To Live”]. That lyric hits totally different in 2023 than once I wrote it.
And but, a lot has modified since 2003. The world is a distinct place. I’m a distinct individual. We make music in a different way now: in our personal studio in San Diego, relatively than in a studio in LA.
We toyed round with reinventing the songs, however then we figured the deluxe model of this album would try this.
Instead, we approached this challenge as if it have been our very personal time machine. We needed to benefit from the course of, like fixing a riddle or a homicide thriller. We have been stepping twice into the identical river with older toes than earlier than. We have been very conscious of the unusual quest we have been endeavor, a file full of the laughter of irony and gratitude. I imply, who will get the possibility to do that type of factor? To recreate an album from scratch? We needed this album to be a love letter to everybody who’s supported us for the previous 20 years.
How did every of the options on this album come to be? What was your expertise like working with the Jonas Brothers?
The entire factor occurred fairly organically. I despatched a textual content out to Tyler [Joseph] from twenty one pilots, Jon Bellion, and some others. I knew that this file was significant to some people, however I wasn’t positive that anybody would have time for this type of factor. The response we acquired again was overwhelming: plenty of outdated buddies and new ones placing their hand as much as sing these songs. What an honor to have such wonderful voices leaping in on an album like this. Musical heroes!
Stylistically, we dealt with this assortment of songs very loosely, giving full management to the artist with little or no musical course. We figured, “We’ve already recorded this album twice.” So we needed this assortment of songs to replicate the heartbeat of the artist concerned. I bear in mind when Joe Jonas stated he needed John Fields concerned to supply their observe, “The Beautiful Letdown.” I cherished the concept. John is unbelievable. He created the unique album and is a very wonderful pal of mine.
So I gave him a name. He picked up considering this was going to be an A&R dialog about musical course. He was bracing himself for a clumsy chat the place I instructed him what to do and what to not do. I simply laughed and stated, “No, I just wanted to say hi!” It was an incredible expertise listening to these songs sung again to us. So a lot love and respect for everybody concerned.
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