Customer Reviews

For(N)Ever

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Geez, who the heck remembers Hoobastank these days? They haven't had a really big hit since The Reason way back in 2003, and their last CD was lukewarm at best in terms of popularity. Most people didn't even know they were still making music.

Well, I did.

I'm a huge fan of Agoura Hills bands (which includes Linkin Park), and have been following Hoobastank since "Crawling in the Dark" back in 2001. They've maintained a similar sound throughout all their CDs, namely a particular kind of chord progression that solidly defines their sound. So, with that said, you'll easily be able to tell this is a Hoobastank album and not some imitator. It's very..."them".

However, it seems like the band is trying really, really hard to distance themselves from "The Reason", the song that basically labeled them as pop-rock for a few years, and move back into their post-grunge roots. You won't find any songs on here sounding like "The Reason", "Moving Forward", "If Only", "More Than a Memory", etc. Which, for me, is actually a downer since I love Doug Robb's voice on the softer songs. No, he's essentially yelling or wailing on every song in some form or another.

"My Turn" starts the record off with a decent hard-rocker akin to "Same Direction" or "Born to Lead". "I Don't Think I Love You" showcases a variety of vocal and guitar talents, with a laid-back groove, a driving beat, and equal parts yelling, grating and high-note wailing. "Slow Close, So Far" has a slower beat and a softer tone, referencing people watching the Iraq war on TV and looking for their loved ones in uniform. "All About You" is straight-up hard rock. If you liked "Without a Fight" you'll like this. "The Letter" and "Tears of Yesterday" are both slower rock songs, and could pass for singles easily. The latter has Doug singing in a non-yelling tone, but not quite to the crooning level he's had in past ballads. "Sick of Hanging On" is actually almost on the verge of metal, especially the hard-edged guitar riffs and less melodic chorus. "You're the One" is a nice ballad, though still harder than past affairs. The last 3 tracks, "Who the Hell Am I", "You Need to Be Here" and "Gone Gone Gone" almost make me think of country rock, especially the first. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but slow heavy drum beats and fast-paced vocals aren't exactly a staple of past albums. "You Need to Be Here" is my personal favorite, showcasing a slow beat, classic Hoobastank chord progression (think "Stay the Same") and some of Doug's softer vocals.

Overall, after 2 total listens my impression is that I need to have these songs grow on me, much in the same way that Every Man for Himself did. I'll still say my favorite album is EMfH: sure it was a little different but there were a LOT of standout songs showcasing not only beautiful vocals but excellent lyrics as well. For(N)ever, for now, seems almost like a step backward in terms of evolution for this band, bringing it back to the hard-edged songs of The Reason and the original Self-Titled. They've gone back to their roots, and I applaud them for making music for their hardcore fans first and bandwagon consumers second. I, personally however, prefer Every Man for Himself at the moment.

Against popular opinion, I absolutely loved "Every Man For Himself" and think it is their best album. So I was anxiously awaiting this newest release. I have to say, it is not that good. It really seemed like they started off with the best intentions and then just got lazy in the studio or time ran out, and they released this thing to meet a deadline. There are a few songs that are really good, but as a whole, this is a big let down. I love this band so I hope they can bounce back, but it is higly unlikely that they will be allowed to make another record. And what's with the artwork...horrible cover!

I liked their self titled debut, I really liked The Reason (the album, not so much the song), but after Every Man For Himself I was ready to never give this band another chance. Born To Lead and Without A Fight were the only saving point of that album. Surprisingly For(N)ever is a much more melodic attempt at an album than Every Man For Himself and is definitely worth a listen. Nice to see they decided to actually put some effort into their recordings again even if this cd isn't as heavy or hard-rocking as I would like it to be.

if you like hoobastank than you will enjoy this album it rocks and is up beat from start to finish i listen to the whole cd over and over more than once a day so if you like hoobastank this album is for you.

The cover art is atrocious just like their previous album, the songs are middle of the road with absolutely no standout having any chance at decent radio play. "My Turn" is already lost in the woods.

It's very obvious that this thing is going nowhere fast. They blew it big time. If it sells 200k copies I will be surprised.

a little bland, seemed like it was rushed. not really any songs that stood out as being great

It's always a good feeling when you find out a band you loved that you would have thought was dead and gone suddenly throws another album at you. While it maybe hard for a band like Hoobastank to find its place in the music scene it doesn't seem to bother them at all. That is why their new album 'For(n)ever' is here.

Hoobastank is a band that really doesn't know how to disappoint its fanbase. Their new album just Hoobastank doing what they do best. Putting out a great bunch of blast worthy songs. Hoobastank never was one of the best bands out there, but for what it's worth their cds are fun to listen to. It is great to know they are still around and rockin' hard.

Hoobastank has changed their sound over the years. From hard rock, radio rock, rock, and grunge. I feel this is a step back to their earlier sound. It reminds me of their older songs like "Too Little too late" or "To be with you" from their first released cd ("Hoobastank"). Depending on what kind of evolution you were hoping hoobastank would change into this time, there are going to be very varied opinions about this new direction. Alot of the songs are "heart break"and "needing someone back" songs which i find they have done a good job on. The songs progress through stages in an ending relationship. From hate, heartbreak, sadness, loneliness, anger, and recovery, this cd covers all the emotional bases of a "dreaded ending". The tempo is a little slow for the cd as alot of the songs are slow rock types but very soothing.

Don't judge the cd by "My Turn" cause you'll be missing the whole story/direction of this cd. I highly recommend a listen to see if you appreciate their new sound.

This is a great CD and showcases this band's great songwriting ability. Great guitar, vocal harmonies, catchy intros and unique rhythms. This CD will get you in the mood for some spring and summer partying. Leave it in the player and you'll be hooked in no time! Thanks Hoobastank!!!

First off, let me say that I am a huge Hoobastank fan. They are by far my favorite band (I have ALL of their songs including the old ones), and I even defended them from so-called "fans" who ripped their last CD, but For(N)ever is just not that good.

I have to come to grips with the fact that they are changing their musical style and it's just not the same as their previous CDs. Don't get me wrong, For(N)ever is a good CD, but it is just not anywhere near their earlier efforts. The songs are much slower and this CD has a lot to say about relationships, but I will admit I was a little disappointed. It pains me to say that, but it is true.