Review Summary: Yes, their name sucks. Can we get to the music itself?
Few bands get away with having a terrible name. Oftentimes they come under fire for this reason alone and, generally speaking, the demeaning regards aren't warranted. Then we've got a group like Hoobastank who, by all counts and measures, are one with a lousy name and a sound that is arguably fitting to such a title. But are they really as terrible as the reputation which precedes them?
The Reason is the group's second LP release, succeeding their self-titled debut. There's an interesting/uninteresting relationship to find with this album when comparing it to
Hoobastank. Where the band's debut was usually slow and dragged on from being a dull listen,
The Reason steps things up and sounds like a group aiming to be an occasionally loud alternative band. The uninteresting realization is that the music is still unremarkable.
Distortion is in frequent use here, with opening tracks "Same Direction," a fairly stellar kick-off, and "Out of Control," almost completely overbearing, being among the key culprits. Then we get the slower moments, which are almost all saved for the second half, including the much-played title track "The Reason." Though it clearly suffered from the familiar overplayed syndrome, the reality is that, for all of its inherent problems, this is a nicely handled song that is the best offering the album has, unsurprisingly.
Now that the two best moments on the album have been established (unless you count the fun climax to "Just One"), it's time to look at the rest of what we have. And who knew? Almost everything else is a gigantic piece of bait for catchy hits that, if aspired towards, could have likely been milked more than a Greatest Hits compilation. If anything can help defer this issue it's the all-too-prominent catchiness that every song goes for and, more times than not, is at least tolerably accomplished. Each band member is also given enough room to play, if without being the least bit remarkable or interesting.
Hoobastank are one of the biggest and easiest targets for disdainful comments, with the success of the title track being all that people might point at as sufficient reason. While it is true that the band don't come close to bringing a single innovative idea to the table, they aren't nearly as bad as most might insist.
The Reason is a very negligible album that will likely be called nothing but filler fodder by those who give it an honest listen. But there are a few moments that are enjoyable and, if expectations are left at the door when going in, more songs avoid being skippable than those that succumb the listener to one more tap on their iPod.
