Jon Foreman's seasonal EP set, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, gave a new look at the Switchfoot frontman as it was released over the past few year. Stripped-down acoustic arrangements show us the "living room and a guitar" side of the renowned rocker. Anyone who felt Switchfoot was overly subtle about their faith lyrically will notice the straightforward content of the project. While there are some beautiful poetically obscure lyrics, each EP has blatantly Christian worship/prayer songs, such as Winter's "White As Snow":
Create in me a clean heart, oh God / Restore in me the joy of Your salvation
The first EP to be released was Fall. Opening the project with the honest melancholy of "The Cure For Pain," Foreman sings:
I've spent ten years trying to sing these doubts away / but the water keeps falling from my eyes
The standout song is the Derek Webb-style "Equally Skilled," a lament about our injustice towards each other and rebellion against God.
The Winter EP followed with "Somebody's Baby," reflecting on the sad life of a homeless woman:
Her name was November / She went by Autumn or Fall / It was seven long years past / Since the autumn when all / Of her nightmares grew fingers / And all of her dreams grew a tear // She's somebody's baby / Somebody's baby girl / She's somebody's baby / Somebody's baby girl / And she's somebody's baby still
Spring takes a more positive turn to renewal as new life springs from the coldness of winter. "Baptize My Mind" speak of the death that leads to life, while "Your Love Is Strong" is a beautiful version of the Lord's Prayer. "Love Isn't Made" features Jon's wife Emily on vocals along with her sister, songstress Sarah Masen.
The last song, "Revenge," seemingly ends the EP on a less-than-positive note until you examine the lyrics:
So I stopped for a moment / To look at the sun / Dying a day / That's when the irony hit me / That this was revenge / Love had descended / And stolen our pain / Away / We consumed heaven's Son / I drew first blood / I drew first blood / My hate was undone / Here's a story / How a thief had been robbed / How a murder had stolen my rage / Think of me, Lord / I'm a few breaths away / As my lungs finally rip from the / Cage...
Summer, just released two weeks ago, concludes the set. "Resurrect Me" is one of my favorite songs of the entire four-disc project, although it seems to be more of a Switchfoot song than fitting the overall feel of the seasons EPs. "Instead of Show" again calls to mind Derek Webb, and certainly Keith Green's "To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice":
I hate all your show and pretense / the hypocrisy of your praise / the hypocrisy of your festivals / I hate all your show / Away with your noisy worship / Away with your noisy hymns / I stop up my ears when you're singing 'em / I hate all your show / Instead let there be a flood of justice / An endless procession of righteous living, living / Instead let there be a flood of justice / Instead of a show
On his web site, Foreman says, "These are simple songs, but they're mine. There's blood and joy and anger and laughter in them. My reasons for living. My hopes and fears. And pain. These are my fight songs."
Still, it's impossible to separate Jon Foreman from Switchfoot, and that alone will sell numerous copies. Fans of Sufjan Stevens, Derek Webb and the like may find they enjoy this project even if they're not into Switchfoot's music.
The EPs are now bundled in Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer pairs with packaging that cleverly ties them together physically.
Visit Jon Foreman for more.