The Edge of the Earth: Unreleased songs from the film "Fading West"

At first glance, this seven-song EP might appear to be a rarities package of interest to diehard Switchfoot aficionados only. In fact, The Edge of the Earth—a selection of tracks written for (but not included on) the band’s Fading West album—is worthy of wider attention. The tracks here are best approached as individual pieces rather than a unified statement. That said, the EP’s contents share common lyrical threads (the search for personal meaning and the love of family among them) and a willingness to play with familiar pop/rock forms. Fans of lead singer Jon Foreman’s expansive vocal range and the band’s collective penchant for indelible chorus hooks will latch onto “Fading West” and “Liberty.” More atmospheric tracks like “Against the Voices” and “What It Costs” take the listener to moodily inspirational soundscapes. “Skin and Bones” and “Slow Down My Heartbeat” are bathed in electronica, while the title track has an engaging acoustic folk feel. It's sonically intriguing and lyrically provocative.