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Tuesday, 31 January 2006 04:51

While the overall sound of the album is nothing new—crunchy guitars, pounding rhythm section, and hooky riffs—the passion of the band is what stands out.

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Hailing from the same place that gave us such musical legends as the Breeders and Tommy James & the Shondells, Hawthorne Heights is determined to add their name to the illustrious list of rockers coming out of Dayton, Ohio. On their second album, If Only You Were Lonely, the punk-pop quintet give the masses more of the same rip-and-burn melodies that garnered attention with their first album, The Silence in Black and White.

While the overall sound of the album is nothing new—crunchy guitars, pounding rhythm section, and hooky riffs—the passion of the band is what stands out. JT Woodruff’s silky smooth, borderline boy-band vocals lull the listener into a state of harmonic bliss, as the rest of the band members shove their razor-sharp rhythms down your throat. The combination not only works, it gives the band their edge.

In a musical landscape already overstuffed with punk-pop legends, Hawthorne Heights set themselves apart by writing great lyrics coupled with catchy music. For example, on the apologetic track, “I’m on Your Side,” Woodruff coos, “End this now, we’ve gone too far/let’s take back words that turned to scars/if I could find a way to turn back time/had to let you know, I’m on your side.” Not only do Woodruff’s vocals make me want to take him back, the entire song reeks of emotional sincerity rarely found in mainstream music today.

Still, I’m left thinking these boys need to toughen up. I like my punk-pop with a side of testosterone, but on this album, I think the boys are trying to be just a tad too sensitive—the majority of the songs deal with relationships and broken hearts. I also could have done without the last track, “Decembers.” The wimpy ballad didn’t fit with the rest of the album and left me scratching my head, wondering why such a hard-rocking band took a chance on this song. Perhaps after the band matures over time they will shed their adolescent skin and turn their writing skills to meatier subjects.

Supposedly, the band is releasing the album with two different covers so that you and your friend can each buy an album, put the covers together and “reveal a tragic storyline.” This stunt is surprising, seeing how the album is full of solid music that can stand on its own two legs rather than rely on a silly gimmick. Still, the reasons you should buy this album far outweigh the reasons you shouldn’t. The album is full of fun, lighthearted tracks sure to keep your toes tapping and spirits high. Despite the band’s need to grow up a bit, these lads from Dayton prove that the Midwest is alive and kicking with talent.