Posted: February 1st, 2008
Contributed By: Nick

	Purchase @ Amazon.com Release Date: January 27th, 2009 via Island
	Hoobastank is: Doug Robb (Vocals) Dan Estrin (Guitar) Chris Hesse (Drums)

Overview: A little before Christmas in 2001, I was sitting in my new car blasting my most recent CD purchase for friends. I told them, “These guys are gonna be huge, watch.” Their reply-”This band isn’t gonna be shit Nick.” So a few months later, Hoobastank had conquered rock charts with “Crawling In the Dark” and were watching “Running Away” gouge away at top 40 radio, en route to platinum sales. A little before Christmas in 2003, I was sitting at work blasting my most recent CD purchase for my then girlfriend. I told her, “This album is gonna make Hoobastank even bigger.” Her reply, “Nothing on here is gonna do anything.” By early 2004, Hoobastank was sipping from the top 40 cup once again thanks to the title track from their second album ‘The Reason‘, and, needless to say, the girl and I were no more. Along came 2006 and Hooba’s third album ‘Every Man For Himself‘, which satisfied few expectations, despite sporting several quality tracks and achieving gold certification. After some time to catch their breath, Hoobastank returned to the studio with their longtime producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, Seether). More than a year of meticulous crafting went into Hoobastank’s fourth album for IDJMG, entitled ‘FOR(N)EVER‘, which is in stores now. First single “My Turn” can be heard on rock radio and the band is currently on the road with Seether.

The Good: ‘FOR(N)EVER‘ rises and shines with the first single “My Turn.” Assertive and full of vigor, “My Turn” is no frills vintage Hoobastank, and a perfect way for the band to jump back in the ring. “I Don’t Think I Love You” is a slab of powerpop written in a shade of blue, its ambient mood and bittersweet rhetoric evolving into a loaded break-up anthem by the song’s end. You can really feel the longing and the charm of “So Close, So Far”, a radiant and breezy tune that shows heaps of dynamic professionalism. The intro of “All About You” tosses around some Skillet insinuations, laying down some spacey, atmospheric verses that segue into bulldozing choruses. The back end of “All About You” keeps the throttle button pressed, pumping it all the way to the finish line. “The Letter” is personal and purgative, with the soul of a ballad dressed up in a shoe-gazing suit; “The Letter” is my sleeper from ‘FOR(N)EVER‘, as I feel it could come out of nowhere and make radio waves. If you fancy the last couple Silverchair records, then you will fall for “Tears of Yesterday”, a song that’s gently sun-kissed and hella animated thanks to orchestral embellishing. Sick riffage is the staple of “Sick of Hanging On”, a surging incisor that wears its Incubus-filled heart on its sleeve. “You’re the One” is a 2009 version of a late 80’s arena power ballad, boasting chunky, sweeping choruses and majestic, trippy verses loaded with texturing. “Who The Hell Am I?” is built with a sizzling crunch and trailblazed with bukoos of attitude. The tune’s bridge rehashes a 311, ‘Transistor‘ style vibe which is frickin’ sweet. “You Need to Be Here” is sparkling, pure, and downright angelic. ‘FOR(N)EVER‘ bids adieu with the aptly titled “Gone Gone Gone”. With a sound that’s as organic and earthy as it is booming, “Gone Gone Gone” not only waves goodbye but flashes some teeth as well. The song’s final line “By the time this song is done/I’ll be gone” is a clever cliffhanger, leaving the listener to ponder if this is the end of Hoobastank or just an invitation to stick around. After hearing ‘FOR(N)EVER‘, most will choose the latter.

The Bad: Specifically, there isn’t too much to griping to do about ‘FOR(N)EVER‘. “Tears of Yesterday” shows no real progression or fluctuation, which is a shame because it has the potential to be one of the album’s stars. Doug Robb’s vocals are the bane of “You Need to Be Here”, trashing a gentle power-ballad with the raspy, fuzzed-up effect strangling his delivery.

As for the big picture, there are three big generalizations I’ve heard/seen/read about Hoobastank/’FOR(N)EVER‘ I’d like to utilize here:

1. “Hoobastank is just an Incubus rip-off.” This was a common one around the time the band’s debut was released and I never, ever thought myself that Hooba was a ‘Lil Incubus. However after hearing ‘FOR(N)EVER‘, the Incubus influence cannot be ignored. In fact, a pair of songs sound a little too close to Incubus. Enter “Sick of Hanging On” and “Gone Gone Gone”. I hear a tremendous amount of ‘A Crow Left of the Murder‘ and ‘Light Grenades‘ going on here, so much so that it’s distracting.

2. “The new single ‘My Turn’ is going to get Hoobastank back on their feet.” Sadly, this hasn’t been the case. And I’m not saying it’s a bad song, because I think it’s great and should be doing much better than it has. However, we live in a time and place where people just forget, specifically regarding bands. Even though Hoobastank might have ruled with “My Turn” say in 2002-2005, they have been off the radar for too long for people to really cozy up to their music again. It’s sad, but it’s true.

3. “‘FOR(N)EVER‘ is a make it or break it record for Hoobastank. They’ve worked harder on ‘FOR(N)EVER‘ than any other album.” Really? I hope that’s not the case. Sure, ‘FOR(N)EVER‘ is a solid album, but it doesn’t hit the way it should-especially after how much it was pumped up by the band. There’s some solid tunes on here no doubt but is there anything on here that can buoy ‘FOR(N)EVER‘ and help revitalize Hoobastank’s career? Unfortunately, I don’t hear it.

Bottomline: Hoobastank have returned with another enjoyable album in ‘FOR(N)EVER‘. Now, the fate of Hoobastank rests in the hearts, minds, and wallets of rock fans. That being said, the band has a bumpy road ahead of them. While ‘FOR(N)EVER‘ has some rocks to throw, there just might not be enough to topple down the hard place behind which Hoobastank seems to be stuck.

TuneLab Rating: 7 out of 10