Hoobastank’s latest tops debut release

The Reason

Hoobastank

Island Records

3 stars

With harder guitars and vocals that… The Reason

Hoobastank

Island Records

3 stars

With harder guitars and vocals that soar with harmony as well as angst, the members of Hoobastank takes another step towards removing themselves from the label of “imitation Incubus” that has haunted them since their start.

The follow up to their platinum, self-titled debut, The Reason has songs to rock to, including the first single, “Out of Control,” which is getting more than its fair share of airtime on radio and television.

Along with the heavy songs that drive the Hoobastank faithful to raging mosh pits are the softer tracks that shine a light on a more emotional side, a side that doesn’t need a loud, throat-tearing scream to be moving.

The overall sound of The Reason blows their debut out of the water with powerful lyrics and vocal harmonies, along with a driving rock sound that has grown up since the release of their first album in 2001.

“Same Direction” opens the album with a powerful punch, a strong right hook that is followed by the uppercut track of “Out of Control.” Both tracks share the common theme of religion, a lack of it and not understanding the need for it when there are so many holes in the reasoning.

The chorus in “Same Direction” questions who’s wrong and who’s right. “But I’m not ever going to know if I’m right or wrong/ ’cause we’re all going in the same direction/ and I’m not sure which way to go because all along/ we’ve been going in the same direction.”

The album’s title track is one of the softer cuts, filled with beautiful lyrics and a soaring vocal line, an apologetic love song that fits in perfectly. “I found a reason for me, to change who I used to be/ a reason to start over new, and the reason is you”

The Reason balances itself on both the hard and more emotional sides of the road. But the album definitely travels the harder side of the road more, and drives with power all the way through.