Reviewed by Paddy Hudspith

2008 saw Switchfoot mainman Jon Foreman stretch his creative muscles outside the arena of the band proper, by releasing four acoustic EPs (on two CDs): 'Fall/Winter' and 'Spring/Summer'. Despite the speedy arrival of a second side project in their wake (Fiction Family, alongside Sean Watkins of bluegrass band Nickel Creek, earlier this year), the EPs do not, Foreman assures us, spell the end of Switchfoot, rather a different way of expressing himself: "Switchfoot is more of the public address with the lights and megaphone, whereas these songs are more my confession." 'Limbs And Branches' collects 10 of the best from the EPs (including the likes of catchy anthem "Your Love Is Strong" and the classy adaptation of Psalm 23 "House Of God, Forever" including additional vocals by Sarah Masen) and adds two new songs for good measure, namely "Broken From The Start" and the piano lilt of dreamscape "Over The River". Switchfoot fans have probably picked up 'Fall/Winter' and 'Spring/Summer' already, but for the uninitiated this CD is a great sampler of Foreman's intriguing extra-curricular output.

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