Tag: Live for Today

My Sunday Song – “Afterlife” by Switchfoot

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For My Sunday Song #469, we are talking “Afterlife” by the band Switchfoot. The song is off their 8th studio album ‘Vice Verses’ which came out on September 27, 2011. The song was the third single off the album and came out on February 28, 2012 and though it didn’t chart, it was such a powerful song and set the tone as it kicked off the album. It was written by brothers and band members, Tim and Jon Foreman. The song helped propel the album to #8 on the Billboard 200 album chart, #3 on the Rock & Alternative Charts and #1 on the Christian Charts!!

The song sends a powerful message. It reminds us that we are not here for very long, but if we want to feel like we are living forever, we must live our life to the fullest. How we do that is surrender to Jesus and live a life that serves him and others. Don’t be so focused on the future and what happens after we die. Believing in Christ will get allow you to live forever in the afterlife, but start living that way now to make it feel like you are already really living. We are all broken, so surrender now and experience the Joy and embrace the journey of faith.

The music is as powerful as the lyrics. The song is an anthem that starts off with an extended guitar note, then a distorted guitar riff with Jon Foreman singing that first verse like he is calling us to action. The full band comes in and the song goes to another level with an electrifying intensity. The chorus is bombastic and one big hook. Short and sweet. The guitar riff throughout is intense and the little riffs and notes tossed in throughout give the song a punch. The solo is not as in your face and more fit to the song. I like how near the end, there is a moment where the music softens and Jon belts out another verse before the band comes back in and they carry us home.

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Ratt – Ratt (1999) – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic29 Comments

After the album ‘Collage’ in 1998, the band signed with a label again and this time it was Sony. In July of 1999, they released their self-titled album “Ratt” or 1999 since their debut E.P. was titled ‘Ratt’.  The album was very bluesy and not quite the Glam rock (with a blues edge) as they had done before which is a good thing as we are in 1999 and not 1989.

The band was down to three original members…Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Bobby Blotzer.  There is still no Robbin Crosby or Juan Croucier.  Replacing Juan on Bass is Robbie Crane making his first appearance with the band.  They didn’t replace Robbin which means only one guitar and that is a one of the negatives of the album.  The dual guitar sound was always a “Ratt” sound.

Out of all their albums, this is the one I am least familiar with.  I had lost interest with anything new from them and what I heard I didn’t like.  So, I had passed and have not ever owned this album and still don’t. I will pick it up if I ever catch it in the used section of a record store (is that giving away anything on my review???).

This has been a very hard post to write for me.  I have had to take a lot of time as I wanted to give the album a fair shake as I really love this band.  I needed to be inspired to write something about the album and although I am writing this post now, I still don’t know really what to say.  I will do my best though.

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