#71: Semi album review: Switchfoot, "Nothing is Sound"

Switchfoot's 2005 release "Nothing is Sound" has really grown on me. I bought it the day it came out, almost two years ago. My initial impression was that is was filled with dark and depressing songs.
But now, almost two years later, I realize that this album is based on Ecclesiastes. The song "Happy is a Yuppie Word" (I though it was "world" until just a couple months ago) starts like this:

Everyone dies
Everyone loves a fight
Nothing is sound
Nothing is right side right

And later...

Happy is a yuppie word
Nothing in the world can fail me now
It's empty as an argument
I'm running down a life that won't cash out

Everything fails
Everything runs it's course
A time and a place, for all of this loving war
Everyone buys, everyone's got a price, and nothing is new
When will all the failures rise?

And how about the song "Politicians"? Pluggedinonline.com said "Politicians" is mired in bitter hopelessness. And it's easy to mis translate the lyrics (which is a weakness on Switchfoot's part).

Everything is bleeding
Everything is bleeding
Everything is breaking down, breaking down

Entropy and Aching
Where have we been aiming?
Everything is fading out, fading out
We are the faded, splitted, and sedated
Everything is fading out, fading out

I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
We are broken, we are bitter
We're the problem, we're the politicians
Watching for our sky to get torn apart
C'mon and break me

So what is this politicianless country referred to? Most would probably say USA. That would be wrong. USA's got plenty of politicians running around. I think this country is God's country--heaven. So that turns this song from a bitter rant to a bitter-sweet yet hopeful anthem. Look at it this way:

I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians (i.e., heaven)
Watching for my sky to get torn apart (as in Christ's return)
We are broken, we are bitter
We're the problem, we're the politicians
Watching for our sky to get torn apart (those of us who are saved)
C'mon and break me (a dare to those who think material--this body--is all we have for our existence).