Switchfoot’s new album debuts atop ‘Billboard’ chart Print
Written by Jeremy Burns   
Thursday, 23 January 2014 04:07 PM America/New_York

FadingWest-webSwitchfoot’s Fading West (Atlantic Records/Word Distribution) debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian/Gospel chart, as well as hitting No. 2 on the overall Rock Album chart and No. 6 in the Top 200. The new album, which hit stores Jan. 14, has already passed the high mark set by the band’s 2011 album, Vice Verses, which peaked at No. 8 on the Top 200 chart.

Two hit singles from the album—“Who We Are” and “Love Alone Is Worth the Fight”—as well as the band’s recently released Fading West feature film, are helping to fuel the new album’s success. The film is currently available on video-on-demand platforms in the U.S. and offers behind-the-scenes footage of the band on- and offstage, including scenes of band members surfing—the pastime from which Switchfoot derives its name.

The band will launch a full U.S. tour on Feb. 20 in support of the new album.