Hear It First - Christian Music, Christian Music Video, Christian Music News

Username:	Password:

Not a member? Sign up now for free!
Forgot Password

Jon Foreman

Track List

Jon Foreman, the frontman for the multi-platinum band, Switchfoot is returning to his indie-scene roots by releasing four solo EPs over the coming months. These EPs, individually titled Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer, evoke vivid images of each...

Jon Foreman, the frontman for the multi-platinum band, Switchfoot is returning to his indie-scene roots by releasing four solo EPs over the coming months. These EPs, individually titled Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer, evoke vivid images of each season, making the collection a likely soundtrack to the year ahead. All four EPs will be released prior to the upcoming Switchfoot release in late 2008. “Because of the autobiographical nature of these songs, they became a self portrait that was far too personal for a band to release,” says Foreman. “Tim, Chad and the rest of the band have been pushing me to get these types of songs out there for years. So I decided to let them go.” According to Foreman the songwriting and production of these EPs were creatively intertwined. “Most of these songs were written and recorded the same night,” said Foreman. “I would sing and play my guitar late at night until I got a take that captured what the song meant to me. From there I would add instruments to the vocal to see what would be appropriate. It was a very therapeutic, lonely, cleansing process.” The Fall EP stirs up just this sort of sentiment — its stripped-down arrangements put Jon’s earnest voice and raw lyrics at the forefront of this personal set of songs. The frequent solo set Jon has recently been performing in many ways inspired these solo EPs. “For the past few tours we've done as a band, I've made a habit of playing a set after the show. Many of these ‘after shows’ have been incredible experiences, a chance for spontaneous acoustic music that is completely juxtaposed to the rock band environment: no booking agent, no light show, no amps or guitar techs – just Dylan covers, some sing-a-longs, and honest stories,” said Foreman. “These projects are an attempt to create a musical conversation that mirrors that experience.”

10/1/2008 - Jon Foreman Limbs and Branches CD Collects Most Popular Songs from Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer EPs

Nashville, Tenn., September 30, 2008 – Acclaimed Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman releases Limbs and Branches Oct. 28 on lowercase people records / Credential Recordings / EMI CMG. The full length, 12-song recording features two new tunes, “Broken From the Start” and “Over the River,” as well as the most popular hits from his widely acclaimed Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer solo EPs that have sold the equivalent of 150,000 copies to date.

Each EP serves as a chapter of Foreman’s stripped down, intimate and direct vision. It is one that begins with a foray into death and decay, but eventually transforms into reflections on growth and rebirth. All four discs were produced by Foreman with GRAMMY-nominated Charlie Peacock serving as the executive producer.

The EPs have been heralded as “Brilliant Sonic Works of Art,” “Impassioned,” “Brutally Honest” and “Fresh, New Sounding” in reviews covering a wide media spectrum from MTV, Performing Songwriter, and Plugged In to PopMatters, The Album Project and Relix, to Philadelphia Daily News, San Diego Union Tribune and Orlando Sentinel.

In addition to the critical acclaim, Foreman has developed a unique following with the best-selling EPs beyond his role as the lead vocalist for the multi-platinum selling rock band Switchfoot. Gathering over 1.4 million spins on his MySpace page, fans also helped select the songs for Limbs and Branches through www.JonForeman.com, including the current radio single, “The Cure For Pain,” from Fall. This song was also used in the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy.

“For the past few tours we’ve done as a band [Switchfoot], I’ve made a habit of playing a set after the show,” said Foreman prior to the release of Fall. “Many of these ‘after shows’ have been incredible experiences, a chance for spontaneous acoustic music that is completely juxtaposed to the rock band environment: no booking agent, no light show, no amps or guitar techs – just Dylan covers, some sing-a-longs, and honest stories. These projects are an attempt to create a musical conversation that mirrors that experience.”

What began as impromptu solo performances by Foreman at coffee shops, bars, café’s and alleys around Switchfoot’s touring worldwide has continued following the release of the EPs and expanded into noteworthy performances at SXSW, New York City’s Central Park, Koffeehouse 2008 “Evening of Independence” Music Festival, Tribeca Film Festival (NY), Fishmouth Live Event and more.

Inspired by his frequent, impromptu solo sets, Foreman is a man still journeying towards self-discovery, unafraid of questioning anything in his path. Some people write songs to get famous or gain respect, but Foreman writes songs to understand himself.

“I write questioning songs,” he says. “I’m interested in reading philosophy and trying to figure things out. The melodies come to me quite easily so it’s the poets, philosophers and psalmists that help me put the melodies where they belong. The songs assist me in the challenge of knowing who I am, so the shoulders of great writers are a good place to start.”

Called a “master songwriter” by the press following the release of his EPs, Jon Foreman is currently recording songs with Switchfoot for its highly anticipated new album slated for a spring 2009 release. “I really feel that the next Switchfoot album will be our defining record,” relates Foreman. He’s also on the groundbreaking 23-city major market “Music Builds” Tour with Switchfoot that benefits Habitat for Humanity.

More information about Jon Foreman can be found at www.jonforeman.com.

Limbs and Branches track listing: 1) Your Love Is Strong • 2) Behind Your Eyes • 3) The Cure For Pain •

4) Resurrect Me • 5) Southbound Train • 6) Broken From The Start * • 7) House Of God, Forever • 8) Instead Of A Show • 9) A Mirror Is Harder To Hold • 10) In My Arms • 11) Learning How To Die • 12) Over The River *

(* New songs)

What the critics have been saying:

“Brooding, sensitive folk pop… from the likes of Damien Rice and David Gray.” – Philadelphia Daily News

“…a great American songwriter… an exquisite craftsman.” – Lexington Herald-Leader (5 out of 5 star review)

“Switchfoot lead vocalist/guitarist has channeled his inner Vivaldi to take the power of four to a new level by recording a quartet of six-song EPs...” – San Diego Citybeat

“The EPs are a return to a renewed emphasis on Foreman’s remarkably and consistently perceptive lyrics, as well as the types of soundscapes which best frame his impassioned vocals.” – PopMatters

“…these are songs meant to be played stripped-down, solo or with friends, giving Foreman another club in the bag when it comes to musical versatility…. We’re just lucky Jon Foreman chose to document them for us.” – The Tennessean

“Jon Foreman in the last couple of years has mastered the skill of being brutally honest in the lyrics he sings, yet never letting the poetic element suffer.” – The Album Project (in a 5 out of 5 review)

“…Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman’s seasonal series, showcase an eclectic musical mind with a gift for meaningful, relatable lyrics…” – Dallas Morning News

“It appears he’s gone out on his own, into nature, into a stark, jutting precipice, to think about life, heaven and the pursuit of happiness - him and his guitar. The product is earthly introspection compacted into 4 album EPs.” – RCRD LBL

“Foreman’s solo material is more introspective in tone and folksier in style than Switchfoot’s full-bodied guitar rockers…great songwriting shines through even the most stripped-down musical setting.” – Toledo Blade

“What’s great about Jon Foreman is his originality of ideas, and the way he takes conceptual music styles and makes them tangible.” – Aced Magazine