Hello Hurricane
by Switchfoot
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Nov 10, 2009
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 38
  3. Negative: 5 out of 38

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  1. Tispower
    Nov 5, 2010
    10
    It's hard to judge, but this is probably Switchfoot's best album. There isn't a bad song on the album; from the rocking "Mess of Me" to the beautiful melody of "Your Love is a Song" each one is filled with inspired creativity.

    The title track of the album, "Hello Hurricane" is my personal favourite of the album. It's crying out that with all the disasters, hurt and pain surrounding us,    It's hard to judge, but this is probably Switchfoot's best album. There isn't a bad song on the album; from the rocking "Mess of Me" to the beautiful melody of "Your Love is a Song" each one is filled with inspired creativity.

    The title track of the album, "Hello Hurricane" is my personal favourite of the album. It's crying out that with all the disasters, hurt and pain surrounding us, that we can face it, and that it cannot silence our love! When we're battered by the storms of this world, sometimes we need to hold on to truths like that!

    The band said when they were putting together the album, if the song didn't make you cry, what's it doing on there? And this is evident in the album, the band have poured their heart and soul into this album and ended up with something fantastic!

    God Bless!    … Expand
  2. SchroederRock
    Jan 16, 2014
    8
    Hello Hurricane is Switchfoot loosening their ties and pulling in a little bit of that old school west coast grunge. Hurricane every bit as catchy as it is edgy. It carries a bit of the rock edge of Nothing Is Sound but doesn't open up to the pop tendencies of Switchfoot's past quite as much. Switchfoot are some of the most consistent and true artists of the alternative rock scene.Hello Hurricane is Switchfoot loosening their ties and pulling in a little bit of that old school west coast grunge. Hurricane every bit as catchy as it is edgy. It carries a bit of the rock edge of Nothing Is Sound but doesn't open up to the pop tendencies of Switchfoot's past quite as much. Switchfoot are some of the most consistent and true artists of the alternative rock scene. Their humble beginnings and will-not-compromise approach to their core sound is what eventually made them a breakout success with The Beautiful Letdown. So consider Hello Hurricane Switchfoot growing up a little more and experimenting just a bit more than they would have six years ago. The results are quite rewarding.… Expand
  3. merize9
    Dec 8, 2010
    9
    Switchfoot always comes up with somehting amazing to here. Something that you would want to here over and over. The band've created rock music with all their souls and heart and one listen is like a therapy session. This album is really saying Hello to the Hurricane that is our life. With all the ups and downs. And at the end of the album, the listener can agree that, hey, life's quiteSwitchfoot always comes up with somehting amazing to here. Something that you would want to here over and over. The band've created rock music with all their souls and heart and one listen is like a therapy session. This album is really saying Hello to the Hurricane that is our life. With all the ups and downs. And at the end of the album, the listener can agree that, hey, life's quite good after all! Let's give it another try. Or listen.… Expand
  4. WhiteFire37
    Sep 7, 2011
    10
    Easily one of their best albums! They put as much effort into every song equally, unlike most modern albums when they focus on 2 or 3 songs in particular, its all good!
  5. ijstonehouse
    Jan 18, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is still, and might always be my favourite Switchfoot album. The album starts off with a triumphant 'Needle in a Haystack Life', and the album just keeps on going from there.
    'Mess of Me' keeps the mood rocking and up high, which transitions into a softer, but still upbeat 'Your Love is a Song' with a strong message I still love. It then goes up to full tempo with the next song 'The Sound'. This grunge feel song is one I absolutely love, and is defiantly the loudest and guitar controlled song on the album. It then mellows down into "Enough to Let Me Go', a song with wonderful guitar parts, and even the light snare hits on the drums in the verses really add to the song as a whole. The next song is possibly my favourite on the album, 'Free'. And upbeat but almost dark song, has a strong message, and is incredibly catchy. The instruments work very well together on this song, and I just love the overall song for what is is. It then transitions into, what I would say could surprisingly be the weakest song on the album, 'Hello Hurricane". Although the message and lyrics are conveying, the feel for the song in general has just never completely worked for me. But maybe that's just me. Then we go into 'Always", which starts off with wonderful vocals and piano, and later on, the band comes in at the perfect time to give the song the perfect punch. The album then goes up in tempo one last time, for the rocking 'Bullet Soul". With an almost Led Zeppelin feel to it, this song has it all. A sweet bass line, strong guitars, huge drums, and raging vocals. We then go down in tempo once again for the song 'Yet', which although the tune and lyrics itself are quite cliche, the song by itself is still great. You could listen to it over and over, and never get tired of it. It then moves into one of my favourites on the album 'Sing it Out". Starting off with a more dark feel, and then slowly building to the end of the song, it's a favourite of mine. And it sets the mod for the final song, 'Red Eyes', which I think is a perfect song to end. The final minute of the song has the echoing lyrics "We are once in a lifetime.." which were also sung in the first song on the album. Cool idea!
    To conclude, this album is a statement. A wonderful pieced album, and I don't think one song on this album was out of place. Keep making music Switchfoot, love ya!

    Stand-out Tracks: Needle And Haystack Life, Free, Bullet Soul, Sing It Out    … Expand
  6. tuonni
    Jun 3, 2020
    10
    In 2020 this phenomenal album finds even more relevance than the year it was released. In particular, the alt rock single "The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)" gives voice to the tangible feelings of despair our country is currently facing. This album calls for justice, but it also calls for love. This is an album to lean on right now.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. AllMusic
    70
    Hello Hurricane is by far the San Diego rockers' most natural, effortless outing to date.
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  2. Alternative Press
    70
    An uplifting, hope-giving affirmation of resurgence from a band who might have been down at one point but were definitely never out. [Dec 2009, p.117]
  3. Boston Globe
    70
    More than a couple of the mid-tempo light rockers here lack teeth, some of them even lack gums. We’ve heard Switchfoot as weepy soundtrack peddlers before, but Switchfoot the rock band, it turns out, is pretty darn good.
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