Switchfoot were a band who were getting kind of used to wallowing in the suburbs of indie music, releasing three albums to low-key receptions before coming to the end of their contract with re:think Records. For most bands this would spell the end of their music careers, they would start seeking a different day job whilst having a big fat question of “what if?” hanging over their heads for years to come.
However, Switchfoot took this opportunity to sit back and enjoy their music without the pressure of a record label breathing down their necks. It made them feel like four regular guys, doing what they loved doing the most, but most importantly giving them the time and space to write the music they wanted to write.
The resulting outcome? The Beautiful Letdown. Contrary to what the title suggests, it wasn’t a letdown, however they did indeed create something beautiful. What was unique with Switchfoot on this album was that even though they wrote songs that meant so much to them, they have that special quality where the songs feel like they were wrote specifically for us, the fans.
The legacy? A major label debut breakthrough, countless weeks spent on the Billboard Hot 200, over 2 million album sales in the US and the priceless spot in the mainstream they had been yearning for. They also had two songs, “Meant To Live” and “Dare You To Move” on the film soundtracks for Spider-man 2 and A Walk To Remember respectively, further pushing their music out to a larger audience.
There’s also a very diverse mix of songs on The Beautiful Letdown. It offers you songs that really touch your heart, but before you can well up with emotion you’re bouncing off the clouds to the next song, accompanying your tapping foot with a massive grin on your face.
For this very reason I find myself often coming to the conclusion that The Beautiful Letdown is exactly like a best friend, a lot of fun at times but also very touching.
Highlight tracks: Dare You To Move, Meant To Live, Adding To The Noise.
Did you know? Even though it took 3 years to release The Beautiful Letdown after their previous album, they only spent 2 weeks actually recording it.
2004: Franz Ferdinand- Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand arrived on the scene in 2004 determined to influence music, exactly like their namesake did with the Austrian army. The boldness of this album made people sit up and take notice and see that Franz Ferdinand’s pulsating songs told a story that they were here to stay.
It just oozes coolness, with Alex Kapranos singing as if it’s not just a song but a statement to society, a fashion trend that people need to urgently pick up on. He also seems to have an uncanny knack of sounding clever yet steering clear of conceit, and has that aura about him that isn’t dissimilar to that of the popular kid at school that everyone wanted to hang around with.
They’re brash but not in-your-face, their lyrics are wild and intrepid yet it’s easy to listen to. The music sounds distantly like something you’ve heard before but the sound is distinctively Franz Ferdinand. The guitar has a funky feel to it, the drums feel disco inspired and the piano is so corny it could double up as an everyday breakfast cereal. If anything else, Franz Ferdinand will have introduced a whole new world of dancing to people who were once as rigid as a telephone, with many of the tracks forcing your body into a routine that sways in time with the heartbeat of the album.
The band ended up winning the 2004 Mercury Music prize, and although this is always a coveted award that bands take pleasure in winning, it all but confirmed Franz Ferdinand’s status as the hottest indie band at the time.
It was Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination that initiated World War I and like for like it was the band’s personal mission to kick start the post-punk revival in Britain. With this masterpiece of an effort it’s safe to say that they were successful in their attack on the music scene.
Highlight tracks: This Fire, Take Me Out, Cheating On You.
Did you know? Their debut led to the band receiving two BRIT awards to accompany the Mercury Music prize that they had already won.
2005: Kanye West- Late Registration
For a while, when I thought of rap music I thought of it being rather drab and dull, with it all sounding the same like one big bland mess. However, after catching a glimpse of Kanye’s single “Touch The Sky” on the radio one morning, I was instantly hooked. I hastily bought Late Registration later on in the day and I remember not being able to put it down for days, at my homework’s expense.
It’s never what I imagined a rap album to sound like. It’s as if Kanye West has grabbed the genre by the scruff of the neck and injected a shedload of soul into whilst adding a splash of swagger. West takes the bare bones of rap music and adds sprinkles of string arrangements, poignant harmonies and thumping beats to create a new face to the genre, one that extends boundaries and produces a stunning piece of music.
Of course, the production of the record is impeccable as well, and this can only be down to the genius of Jon Brion, but it is Mr West and his band of friends who have orchestrated it’s undeniable quality. Notable mentions include Adam Levine, Jay-Z, Jamie Foxx and The Game, who all seem to add something extra to this bubbling pot of an album.
Yes, Kanye West’s head has ballooned to new extremes, but it is his egotism that draws people to his music, and with this effort his doting audience has also grown to the same level as his self-esteem. West also craftily works his songs to fit the impressive cast of MCs he has hired to join him in his quest to bend and break the barriers of rap music.
The accolades followed, with the album winning two Grammy awards and oodles of critical acclaim with many people labelling it classic. I’m inclined to agree with them and so would West himself but no one can doubt the way he has gone about expanding rap music, and in line with his aspirations he has touched the sky with Late Registration.
Highlight tracks: Touch The Sky, Bring Me Down, Hey Mama
Did you know? The success of his debut album The College Dropout enabled him to afford his very own string orchestra for Late Registration.
Check back in the next couple of days for part three, covering the years 2006-2008.
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