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There is one word in the title of Switchfoot's latest project that could accurately describe the entirety of the CD – and it is not "Beautiful." The Beautiful Letdown begins with the band just now discovering the creative differences between mono and stereo, featuring continuous and annoying guitar riffs alternating from the left speaker to the right. As the album progresses, the entire vocal selection has so much of an echo that it appears to have been recorded in an empty high school gym or in an underwater studio. The rest of the songs and instruments are also watered-down with mediocrity. That is not to say that every aspect of the project is negative, though. Although bland, The Beautiful Letdown is at least very well produced, and the recordings come off sounding crisp and solid, but machine-fed and extremely CCM. One positive aspect is the continuous presence of quirky digital effects and odd instrumentations; it is almost as if Self's innovative all-toy record, Gizmodgery, is playing behind most of the songs. The Beautiful Letdown is not as bad as New Way To Be Human, but it lacks the catchy creativity of their freshman release, Legend of Chin. [SPARROW] CHRIS ROSE

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