Always trying to shake off the stigma "Christian rock" or "CCM" label, San Diego-based alt rock band Switchfoot have long been a band with an identity problem. Being seen under a religious microscope, their lyrics have constantly been scoured for religious connotations and subtexts, but surely the most annoying thing for them must be having every review of their output beginning with some abitrary paragraph on the topic. ...whoops!The Best Yet is the band's first proper compilation, their only other one being a collection of their first three albums. At 18 tracks, it's a fairly thorough introduction to their back catalogue, which comprises six LPs, most recently including 2006's Oh, Gravity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the whole Jesus thing never overtly manifests itself in any of these songs, which instead are cleanly-produced, widescreen pop rock songs of the sort that lots of other Californian bands have long peddled effectively. What makes Switchfoot a bit more unique is their inspiring, philosophically-tinged lyrics and the often distinctive voice of their lead singer Jon Foreman. The Best Yet is a good showcase for both of these features, and even if some of the songs can sometimes be a little too sugary for some tastes (like "This Is Home" which you might expect to be a little dodgy, given that it was recorded for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), there are plenty of driving ballads and crunchy rockers here to at least partially satisfy anyone of the rock persuasion. The big hit "Meant to Live" is definitely one of the highlights, being more musically aggressive and self-assured than some of the other songs, but there's a lot to like here.Whilst not always enthralling, The Best Yet is consistently enjoyable. Some may find the band's glassy production tastes a little frustrating, but this compilation will be a good introduction to the band for anyone who is seeking such a thing. 78%Switchfoot on MySpace