Swichfoot's Hello Hurricane was a fantastic return to form after two lackluster records following up their breakthrough smash Beautiful Letdown. I was really afraid that they had lost the plot a bit. But a solo set of e.p.'s by lead singer Jon Foreman convinced me that their was still life in the "Foot" crew, and Hello Hurricane rewarded that faith.
Opener "Needle And Haystack Life" roars with abandon, and repeats the phrase "you are once in a lifetime alive" and "you are once in a life time." Foreman can write an inspirational song that feels real and not like a greeting card. In "Always" he notes that "every moment is a second chance." In lesser hands this kind of sentiment would cause most hipsters to roll their eyes loudly, but Foreman and crew can pull off the kind of U2 inspirational song that get you through a day.
My personal favorite song is "Your Love Is Strong", which we sing at my church as a worship tune. In concert Foreman plays a harmonica in this song, and the effect is wonderful. "Your love is a song, your love is strong."
I love the encouraging nature of this album, it goes along with how I'm wired. Switchfoot's next album is a keeper too (Vice Verses), but that is for another day.
5 stars
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