Switchfoot

Many Christian music artists–Reliant K, Michael W. Smith and Third Day among them–have made no secret lyrically or publicly of their right-leaning views (which, it seems, would alienate many of the non-Christians they’d hope to evangelize). How refreshing, then, to hear Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman sing on “Politicians”: “I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians.” Elsewhere, the San Diego-based outfit picks up where their double-platinum album, “The Beautiful Letdown,” left off, with a bracing mix of indelible hooks, turbo-charged rhythms, and Foreman’s world-weary vocals. “Happy is a Yuppie Word” takes its title from a Bob Dylan quote. With his voice frayed as a serrated guitar string, Foreman shouts the refrain “nothing is sound” until his conviction froths into fury. That said, “Sound” sometimes tilts a bit too much toward the sheen, with its modern-rock mix of loud guitars and hammering drums creating a play-it-safe vibe. Not that Switchfoot is prone to throwing in a stray banjo riff or trombone part a-la “Pet Sounds”–but more serendipity wouldn’t hurt, either.