Fading West
by Switchfoot
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Jan 14, 2014
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
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  1. Schantzee
    Feb 13, 2014
    6
    Fading West suffers from a lot of things. The fact that the last album was released in 2011 and that every album since Beautiful Letdown has been good set up this album with a lot of hype. Not to mention that it was being advertised along with their feature length film by the same name. From the very first song on the album you can tell how different the sound is from their typicalFading West suffers from a lot of things. The fact that the last album was released in 2011 and that every album since Beautiful Letdown has been good set up this album with a lot of hype. Not to mention that it was being advertised along with their feature length film by the same name. From the very first song on the album you can tell how different the sound is from their typical work. Switchfoot has never been afraid to experiment with different instruments and other sounds in their songs but completely changing the sound of the entire album was a huge mistake. Each song maintains this trend of abandoning their typical styles. Say it like you mean it almost was a decent rock song if it didn't sound just like The Sound from HH but just much worse. Most of the songs are only average except for When We Come Alive which has a great chorus and Let it Out which is an inspiring song. BA55 is being praised by some but I personally HATED this song because it sounded so cool at first but it never took that rock turn as expected from Switchfoot and never hit a climax moment...just a dull and basic tune. Out of their 9 official albums, I rank Fading West 7th just above Learning to Breathe and just below New Way to Be Human. Seriously? Their album from 1999 is better than this over hyped identity crisis of an album.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Slant Magazine
    Jan 15, 2014
    50
    Jon Foreman's ability to write hook-laden melodies remains, and he's an often poetic and perspicacious lyricist, but the themes of redemption and hope on Fading West are too abstracted, frequently degenerating into cliché.
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  2. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jan 15, 2014
    75
    If the whole record were as explosive as these final two songs, it might have been Switchfoot’s best. As is, Fading West feels like a somewhat minor release from a band that has never lacked for dependability.
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  3. AllMusic
    Jan 15, 2014
    80
    Ultimately, much like riding a surfboard from wave to wave, Fading West moves from earnest ballads to dancey, groove-oriented cuts to breezy, sunshine-soaked rockers with an easy, athletic flow.
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