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
