Hoobastank Album: “Hoobastank [Bonus Track]”

It's not that I'm angry that he doesn't like Hoobastank, it's that he lacks professionalism. You don't rip an album to shreads -- you list good and both bad things and let the reader decide whether or not it's worth the purchase -- especially for a debut CD, you moron. Get a new job. This album is a colossal major debut with strong vocals and simple music to back it up -- simplicity can be good -- why should you have to go all out and technical when you can produce something just as great [if not greater] by keeping it minimal? Hoobastank is one of those bands that proves it. See them live when you can, they will make you respect them even more.

I had heard lots about this band called Hoobastank. My friends urged me to buy the CD, so I did. I just finished listening to it for the first time, and am already listening a second time. All the tracks can be played in entirety, and can be repeated. Crawling in The Dark is definitly my favorite song, but the lyrics on Let You Know is a good song for you guys to dedicate to a girl. If I were to rate the songs 1-10 (see bottom), no song would be below a 9. You may think you don't like a song, but you just keep listening and grow on it. They have a unique sound, one that reminds me of a metal version of Incubus. Any band somewhat sounding like Incubus must be good. This is probably one of the better nu-metal bands out there today. Here is my track rating:

Crawling in The Dark: 10 (The best song on this album)

This is truly a great CD with one disadvantage....it's only 39 minutes long.

I had heard lots about this band called Hoobastank. My friends urged me to buy the CD, so I did. I just finished listening to it for the first time, and am already listening a second time. All the tracks can be played in entirety, and can be repeated. Crawling in The Dark is definitly my favorite song, but the lyrics on Let You Know is a good song for you guys to dedicate to a girl. If I were to rate the songs 1-10 (see bottom), no song would be below a 9. You may think you don't like a song, but you just keep listening and grow on it. They have a unique sound, one that reminds me of a metal version of Incubus. Any band somewhat sounding like Incubus must be good. This is probably one of the better nu-metal bands out there today. Here is my track rating:

Crawling in The Dark: 10 (The best song on this album)

This is truly a great CD with one disadvantage....it's only 39 minutes long.

Hoobastank is one of those rare rock bands that only comes along every once in a while. You can't really compare their music to anything else out there. I've read some comparing them to Incubus, which is an accurate comparison considering lead singer Doug Robb's voice is almost identical to Incubus' Brandon Boyd and their music has faint hints of S.C.I.E.N.C.E in it. But other than that, Hoobastank stands alone.

Another rarity is that Hoobastank can appeal to a broad range of rock listeners. Whether you like Linkin Park, Incubus, 311, or Sum 41, chances are that you will find a few songs on this album that are listenable. Hoobastank uses catchy guitar riffs and hooks combined with melodic verses and choruses and a nice addition heavy bass on some songs ("Better" "Pieces"). Nearly every song on this album has the potential to be a radio hit. The only other album out there that had that kind of potential was Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" and we all know the success that it has become.

The best songs on this album are the first single and track "Crawling In the Dark" which pretty much sums up what the band's creative style will be like for the rest of the album. Another gem is the fourth track "Pieces", which has a wonderful, melodic chorus. "Ready For You" is also an extremely good song that implements a punkish tone in the verses and some great background harmony during the chorus.

Those are the best songs on the CD. Thats not to say the rest aren't any good. The rest are great. But I think that those three are so good that they are better than other bands' entire albums. The best part is that these tracks are combined with the other very listenable songs like "Remember Me", "Better", "Up and Gone", "Hello Again", and "Running Away" (great bridge) to produce a one of a kind album.

Hoobastank has already shown that they have great potential. They will be big.

To say that Hoobastank rides upon the coattails of So Cal brothers, Incubus, is like saying the Monkees were trying to be the Beatles.

It's exactly right. Still, to say Hoobastank and Incubus are the same thing is far from truth.

Hoobastank does have a remarkable similarity to Incubus. Lead singer Doug Robb's whine/wail voice is very similar to Incubus' Brandon Boyd. Still, aside from that and the hard rock edge (think Incubus' S.C.I.E.N.C.E. more than Morning View), there are few other similarities between the bands.

"Crawling in the Dark", the single, sounds much like Incubus without the turntable work of DJ Kilmore. This is a straight on rock band. "Hello Again" begins with what sounds almost like Smashing Pumpkins and drops a very catchy chorus. The whole track is very listenable, and would most likely make a good second single for radio. "Running Away" is the acoustic track of the album. Its intro is purely accoustic, but soon weaves itself into the crunch rock electric guitar. "To Be With You" is the calmest approach on the album and is very soothing. A close listen will quickly remove the similarities between Incubus' Boyd and Robb.

There is clear talent with this band. Instrumentally and with their sound, everything is in place for Hoobastank to join the ranks of new rock bands already growing in popularity. (Incubus, Staind, Linkin Park, Sum 41.) The Bottom Line is that this band is not an Incubus twin, though the similarities are evident. If you are a fan of Incubus, you will surely like this album, and if you are just into rock you would most likely enjoy it as well. Either way, expect to be pleased. The album is an impressive display of what So Cal has to offer the music scene.