Review of Fall EP

This is song-by-song review of Jon Foreman's new Fall EP.

1. The Cure for Pain

This is probably my favorite melody from this album. The lyrics are a personal reflection on the trials of human life. Water and gravity play an important role in this song because of their relentless nature. It's hard to fight against these strong forces of nature, just as it's difficult to fight one's own human nature. This is a similar idea to the gravity references in Switchfoot's Oh! Gravity. This is the only song on the album to feature horns, and I like the warmth they provide.

2. Southbound Train

The intro to this tune uses the cello and harmonica to simulate the sound of a train. This is significant because the lyrics use the train as a metaphor for hopelessness. Jon feels driven toward something, but is unsure of what. He is in an intermediate state, between two cities of stability and peace.

3. Lord, Save Me From Myself

This is a prayer that laments the materialism of our culture and asks for an escape. Jon identifies the problem as an internal one, blaming no one else for the state of his life. I really like the organ, harmonica, and shaker in this song because they add some texture not found elsewhere in the album.

4. Equally Skilled

In this song, Jon paraphrases Micah Chapter 7. This is a great song because it contrasts God's love and provision (both of His hands) against the evil and sinfulness of mankind (both of our hands). It starts pessimistically, saying "all the godly people are gone," but concludes hopefully with "he'll take my case, bringing me to light and justice." The rhythmic signature of this song is the clapping/slapping on every fourth beat. It is a bit jarring, which is good because tone of the song is meant to make listeners feel slightly uneasy. If it weren't for this sound, the music would be too soft and flowing for the subject matter at hand.

5. The Moon is a Magnet

This the most beautiful song on the record. It begins with some delicate guitar picking and is joined by warm bass clarinet. Jon uses an unusual time signature here, which is becoming increasingly common in his songwriting. The lyrics speak of a longing for love, and the tune ends with a suggestion of hope.

6. My Love Goes Free

"A tune that only caged birds know." This bit of tender singing is a very sad song, written about the end of a relationship. It takes a lot of love to realize that you have to let that person go. I especially appreciate the background vocals toward the end of the track, and I wonder if Jon played the piano part himself.

Overall, I am quite pleased with this offering from Jon Foreman. The songs are soft and heartfelt, making them perfect for quiet moments. As I listened, however, I found them to be entirely too short. The songs all ended too quickly, leaving me wanting another verse. It will be interesting to see how his planned Winter, Spring, and Summer EPs compare.

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