"Mess of Me" storming the globe! Also, first "Hello Hurricane" review

Talk about distribution! Switchfoot's new single, "Mess of Me," is emerging all over the world! From Brazil to Canada, the UK to Russia and Iceland. It has appeared on the Golden Gate Bridge, Mall of America, at churches, in schools, campuses, in Chik Fil-A restaurants, under palm trees and on ocean piers, as well as dozens of other places you wouldn't quite imagine seeing a cd single in.

That's the genius of this whole plan by Switchfoot. The giant, world-wide hunt for "Mess of Me" has created a frenzy, and almost without any financial charge, Switchfoot has gotten their music out across the globe. That is what I call utilizing the fanbase to extreme effect. And it's only going to get crazier as more and more people start getting and hiding the song.

If you have gotten the song, make sure you make more than one cd to hide around. You are by all means allowed to hide multiple copies, and are also allowed to share it around online. BUT make sure it makes it to other people one-at-a-time. Mass-transfer of the song will ruin the game. In a few days perhaps it will be ok, but for now, respect what Switchfoot is doing and play along!

By the way, they expect us to keep the ball rolling:

Twitter:
- OK, #messofme is going too fast now! search #messofme &/or @switchfoot to find one in your area, enjoy & pass it on!

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Also, the first official "Hello Hurricane" review is in from Stereo Subversion:

Sometimes you have to simplify and do whatever the hell you want. Switchfoot had this epiphany shortly before leaving Sony Records in the summer of 2007, when they decided they just couldn’t get any traction with a company that fired people so often it was impossible for the band to build and maintain any relationships. So they fired themselves, went independent and sought to re-inject some of the life back into their band that had been lost over the previous few years.

Hello Hurricane, their first release of new material on their own label, lowercase people records, is a jarring experience. From the punchy, crunchy guitar rock of “Mess of Me” to the soaring vocals in the ballad “Sing It Out,” Hurricane covers such a broad spectrum of sounds and feelings that it’s not immediately apparent what kind of album this is, and the themes aren’t blatantly obvious either. But listen to this one a few times and a clearer picture begins to form.

One of the central themes present is the two-fold notion of discontent and choosing to do something about it instead of allowing yourself to wallow in it. “Mess of Me” talks about reclaiming the rest of yourself from the wreckage of bad decisions and choosing to live each day with new purpose, while “This is the Sound” is the heavy, raucous song that love uses to put a beatdown on the pain and numbness in life that try to squelch it. Similarly, the title track stands in calm, happy defiance against the trials this life, knowing that they can’t beat this man down.

Lead vocalist/songwriter Jon Foreman has long been known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve (not to mention being so prolific that he has to be a cyborg) whether doing his solo work, tunes for Switchfoot, or his recent collaboration (Fiction Family) with Nickel Creek’s Sean Watkins. Hello Hurricane is no different. At times his vocals soar melodiously into the heavens (“Needle and Haystack Life”), at others they scream cacophonously to whoever will listen (“Mess of Me”). They match the tenderness of a song (“Always”) or the soul’s desire to burst forth into action (“Bullet Soul”). As always, there’s no question that Foreman is a passionate singer.

In a way this album is like a meeting of A Beautiful Letdown and Nothing is Sound, with touches of modern jangly powerpop rock thrown in for good measure. There are moments when Foreman and Co. seek to propel you forward into new, exciting facets of this life, while at others there is a struggling, melancholic introspection of the frailness of the human condition (a detail that is explored most fully in the dark tune “Free”). The lightness of Oh! Gravity is non-existent, and with each successive album the band further distances themselves from the whimsical, clever, self-aware content and themes of their earliest work.

Hello Hurricane isn’t so different that you won’t recognize it as a Switchfoot album, but it has added enough new colors to its palette that it might take a couple listens for the album to really grow on you. The deeper messages of the soul’s longing for more in this life than the everyday are still intact, and the energy vibrates through both halves of the album’s odd structure (the first seven tracks are almost completely rock ‘n roll, while the final five tracks are mostly ballads and subdued numbers), but the way these elements are presented are unfamiliar enough to make you do a double take.

Hello Hurricane is a solid entry in the Switchfoot discography. While lacking the “change your life forever” appeal of A Beautiful Letdown, the cathartic soundscapes and lyrics of Nothing is Sound, or even a catchy and clever single a la “New Way to Be Human,” it nonetheless stands as a testament to their faith in the power of life over merely existing, and the hope that this fact will always be enough to withstand any and all hurricanes that come their way.

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^That review sounded fairly favorable. Judging by the tone of the writer, the album seemed to make a solid impression on him, but not a lasting one. That's why he only gave it 6.5 stars.

Also, when he says that it lacks the "catchy and clever single," I would disagree highly. Every song I've heard from the record so far has latched its way into my head for long periods of time. But perhaps, it's all a matter of opinion.

So far, from the two reviewers we've heard from, "Hello Hurricane" hasn't been INCREDIBLE, and still falls to "The Beautiful Letdown," (for them). Of course, any work by Switchfoot is going to indefinitely be compared to Letdown, so we shall see…. I'm just hoping "Hello Hurricane" can help bring Switchfoot from under the shadow of "The Beautiful Letdown." But that's just my opinion.

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GIANT "Hello Hurricane" Album Art; Join the Facebook Event!

We have found the largest copy of the "Hello Hurricane" album art on the web. Tada!



Isn't it beautiful? (Click to enlarge)

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Our friend Byrant and I have started a Facebook event for "Hello Hurricane." It's not an actual gathering, but rather, the goal is to spread the word to everyone you know about the new record coming out. So, if you're on Facebook, attend the event, and invite ALL you friends.

We'll keep updating you on the exciting news coming up through there as well as on here. :]

Oh, by the way, Bryant designed some pretty sweet banners and flyers that you can print or post online! Check em out:




Feel free to save the files to your desktop and print them out if you'd like!

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Top-40 Charts has a news story on Switchfoot. No new info there.

BRENTWOOD, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Sparrow Records) - Switchfoot's new studio album, HELLO HURRICANE, is now scheduled to release on October 6, and the multi-platinum San Diego band is already hinting at several exciting pre-order deals (to begin in August) here.
Pre-order option formats include digital download, standard CD, vinyl (including digital download), deluxe CD/DVD, and a collector's edition with CD, DVD, B-sides, a hardcover 84-page photo book, and exclusive poster.
'HELLO HURRICANE acknowledges the storms that tear through our lives,' says Switchfoot front man Jon Foreman.


'This album is an attempt to respond to those storms with an element of hope, trying to understand what it means to be hopeful in a world that keeps on spinning.'

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No Switchfoot show yesterday, but Jon Foreman played a solo set at Bippy's in Boise. Here's a photo of the packed house from Twitter:

- jon just fully took over bippy's. pretty sure this place is at capacity. luv, @andybarron http://twitpic.com/c32aw



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"Hello Hurricane" Intro clip!; Youtube Assault Aftermath

So, if you've been dying to hear the actual, entire intro for the song "Hello Hurricane" in all its studio-glossy glory, look (and hear) no further! Thanks Jon Foreman for these tweets from July 16 and 17:

- About to take the stage in little rock, AR. http://yfrog.com/7hrtoj



- a video of our night in Little Rock, thanks for a great evenin' -jon http://twitvid.com/4164C



be sure to follow them, if you haven't already to see more updates like this.

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As a final tribute to our dear old friend, the "Oh! Gravity. guitar," here is a video of it's death at the hands of Jon Foreman, who seemed a bit too happy while destroying the poor thing. Well, here it is:



^Rest in pieces (sorry, a bit soon?), old friend. :)

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AH ok. Now onto the here and now. "Hello Hurricane" promotion season was kicked into high gear quite rapidly yesterday when Corey Vidal posted the first video in his series. We had a giant call-to-arms, and you all delivered ADMIRABLY.

Here is the damage we Footsoldiers inflicted on the video:

HONORS (as of Sunday, July 19, 2009 at Midnight)

#1 - Most Discussed (Today) - Canada
#13 - Most Discussed (Today)
#1 - Most Discussed (Today) - Entertainment - Canada
#5 - Most Discussed (Today) - Entertainment
#54 - Most Discussed (This Week) - Canada
#10 - Most Discussed (This Week) - Entertainment - Canada
#73 - Most Discussed (This Month) - Entertainment - Canada
#95 - Most Viewed (Today) - Netherlands
#93 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Canada
#75 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment
#10 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Netherlands
#86 - Most Viewed (Today) - Entertainment - Sweden
#9 - Top Favorited (Today) - Canada
#1 - Top Favorited (Today) - Entertainment - Canada
#42 - Top Favorited (Today) - Entertainment
#33 - Top Favorited (This Week) - Entertainment - Canada
#11 - Top Rated (Today) - Canada
#1 - Top Rated (Today) - Entertainment - Canada
#44 - Top Rated (Today) - Entertainment
#52 - Top Rated (This Week) - Canada
#6 - Top Rated (This Week) - Entertainment - Canada
#85 - Top Rated (This Month) - Entertainment - Canada

^Phenomenal work friends!

Now, here's a bit more background explaining all this chaos, direct from Switchfoot.com

7.16.09: "Hello Hurricane - The Beginning"


Switchfoot's new album is now 100% finished. To insure its safe transport from NYC to the band, we have enlisted a good friend to hand deliver the CD to the band on the west coast. The best part....our friend is up for playing some of the new tracks for you. Click here to learn more about our friend - http://www.youtube.com/user/switchfootpodcast



Here is his proposed itinerary across the US (http://tinyurl.com/youtuberoadtrip). As you can see, his journey has already begun. You can follow this adventure via Switchfoot.com, where the guys will be "tweeting" about it. Make sure to sign up to receive all the band's "tweets", as Corey's itinerary may change. And, if you haven’t emailed us already, please do so at hearhellohurricane@gmail.com. If you are chosen to host a listening party, we will reach out to you via email. Please make sure to include your city, state and zip code.

Corey has also let us know he may be stopping at certain stores, restaurants, parks, venues, etc…and simply blasting the new album from his car…we will let you know when that happens as well.

As always, thanks for listening. 
- Tim, Chad, Jon, Jerome and Drew

Hopefully that clears things up a lot better for those of you who are still confused about it all. I think its a genius idea and will net SO MUCH exposure for the band and for Corey Vidal, the new Youtube manager for them.


We didn't reach our goal with this first video (namely, to reach No. 1 on at least one world-wide honors category to reach Youtube's home page), but we came pretty darn close. Next time, when video no. 2 comes out, we are going to hit them even harder and accomplish our goal!

For now, give yourselves a nice pat on the back for a job well done. We'll get it next time.

"Sweet? Sweet." - Andy Barron

Have a great Sunday.

"lets make this new album do even better!"

Amidst the wondrous elation amongst the Switchfoot fams on the official boards, I noticed one sound bite of wisdom from a guy screenamed lilguitardude:

hey everyone we need to make sure we actually buy this album instead of downloading it (or download it then but the actual copy) cuz oh gravity isnt even certified gold, which is sad. so we need to make sure HH sells more like the Beautiful Letdown which sold 2.6 million. we can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lets make this new album do even better!

^Way to be man. That one post in particular lit up my day a little brighter amidst all the great news that has been pouring out of the Switchfoot camp these days. Let's keep his philosophy in mind friends. ;)

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Alright. We have heard the new album name. We know what it'll be called now. What you may not have known though, is that a few weeks ago, some people on the official message boards decided to start a thread for the song titled "Hello Hurricane," which had been mixed on Tuesday, April 7. None of us knew what the song sounded like, much less whether it would be any good. The group was based on the merits of such an epic song title alone. Yesterday, we found out the ALBUM was going to be named that, much to the joy of many of Switchfoot fams.

So, I would like to invite you to join the movement. As you can see on our sidebar, we've got links and banners to the two incarnations of the "Hello Hurricane Fan Club": Facebook and Switchfoot Boards.

This will be the first step in our long-awaited promotion cycle for this new album. Friends, we are going to need EVERYONE'S help to get the good word out to the world about the new and upcoming Switchfoot album. So join the movement. And, KEY to the group's significance and success, please invite ALL of your friends to join the group on Facebook. The more people join, the more people will hear about the album, and possibly be equipped and excited to spread the word about Switchfoot and "Hello Hurricane." Thanks folks. And also, LOBH did the banners on our sidebar, but if you would like to post them as forum signatures or on your own websites, here they are:






Here's the link to the Facebook group:

HELLO HURRICANE

REMEMBER. Invite all your friends. The movement starts with us.

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Indie Vision has another article/news piece about Switchfoot's album announcements. Read it here

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And lastly, Switchfoot update their Twitter with a post that closes the book on the "Hello Hurricane" sessions. It's been great guys. We wish the Switchfoot boys all the best.

April 24, 2009

- Mixing the final track now: red eyes. This record has been an emotional and spiritual journey. So eager to share it with you, friends.