Customer Reviews

Smile It's the End of the World

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have to admit. This album is NOT Letters to the President. But I am COMPLETELY fine with that. I find it lame when album after album sounds the same.

Before continuing I want to say that I understand that everyone has their own opinions. I do believe that those opinions can be voiced too harshly though.

Let me begin by saying that there was one review that said Hawk Nelson stood for "unintelligent lyrics and really boring and standard music." Actually...I was quite offended by that review. First, It mentioned conformists and so on. In my opinion, listening to Hawk Nelson is NOT conforming. Listening to all of the other secular and what-not music that is out today is conforming. I am sure that the vast majority of my high school has never heard of, or heard Hawk Nelson. Second, I don't believe there is any mention of boys and girls clapping on the whole CD. Thank You. I personally love Relient K also, but would not compare them to Hawk because they are two totally different bands. I would also like to point out to that person that they spelled Relient K incorrectly. Obviously you don't love them THAT much. J

To anyone who complains that the lyrics are lacking, or not "deep enough," please get over it. Not all music has to make you question or reflect on yourself, life, or whatever. There is some stuff that is just FUN. Plus, I don't find this album to be completely this way... at all. The same review claimed they "like bands like reliant k and fall out boy" because "at least they have SOME depth" Relient K, yes, but no more. Fall Out Boy....yeah, a little more, but some songs are un-deep also.

I'll expand my thoughts on the CD one song at a time.

1. The One Thing I Have Left - 9/10
A good solid song. I find it easy to relate to, and defiantly not fluffy.
2. The Show - 10/10
A fun song. I admit it. But tell me...what is wrong with that? And if you actually listen.
It isn't THAT fluffy. Geeze. Some people are harsh. It even says "come on if you're feeling alright" obviously some people aren't feeling alright.
3. Bring `Em Out - 8/10
A flat out fun song. I have to say I was not sure about this song at first. But it grew on me and now I like it quite a lot. Although I do have to admit. It doesn't make much sense. Oh well.
4. Everything You Ever wanted - 10/10
I cannot personally relate to this song, but I still love it. I don't really think this is light stuff either.
5. Something On My Mind - 9/10
Good solid song. Easy to relate to. I like to sit and think to this song. I know that sounds weird, but oh well. And I LOVE the "You'll neva eva pull my leva!" part. I'm a sucker for sort of lame very catchy phrases.
6. Is Forever Enough - 10/10
An awesome song about society, and also a self reflection.
7. Zero - 8/10
I'm not really sure how people labeled this CD as lacking depth.
8. Nothing Left to Show - 9/10
I still don't understand the lacking depth. They are just easy to relate to. Is that bad?
9. Head on Collision - 11/10
I LOVE this song. I find it easy to relate to also, and catchy, and just flat out lovely.
10. Hello - 12/10
Someone said this song's lyrics stunk! I hate them! I'm totally kidding of course, but this is my favorite song on the CD! It's just so FUN. And I admit...I can relate to it.
11. It's Over - 11/10
I just LOVE this song too.
12. Fourteen - 7/10
My least favorite song on the album. Not enough words, too many oooahs, and woooahs for my taste, but I still like it.

Over all...If you do the math. That gives it a 9.58/10. Not bad if I do say so myself.

Anyone who hates music that isn't "deep" go try "What are You Waiting For" by FM Static. It will make you throw up. But its FUN!

First off, I really enjoyed 'Letters to the President.' I thought it was a great debut for Hawk Nelson. There was enough fun and depth through it that I could really see them going places, and I hoped they would.

And now they have, with another beautifully FUN album! 'Smile, It's The End Of The World' has grown on me a lot, almost solidifying itself into my car stereo. There's nothing here not to like!

From the hard hitting opener, 'The One Thing I Have Left,' to the rocking party songs 'The Show' and 'Bring 'Em Out,' to the emotionally deep 'Zero' and 'Head on Collision,' this album takes what Hawk Nelson did in 'Letters' and runs with it, with scissors.

There's one thing I don't understand about this album: why are there so many idiots out there reviewing it that don't even bother to listen to it? Before you go bashing a band (and their listeners) actually pay attention to it, and then post something intelligent. You're just making yourself look arrogant and ignorant.

I bought this CD the first day it was released (April, 4), and I've been listening to it every chance I get. It has a lot of upbeat, catchy songs with some really good slower songs. While not all the songs are completely "Christian," with some talking about love ("Hello" and "It's Over"), and others just to pump up a crowd ("Bring 'Em Out"). But songs like "Is Forever Enough," "Nothing Left to Show," "Every Thing You Ever Wanted," and "Head on Collision," do have good Christian messages. All in all, a good CD, but not the best I've heard. That's why I've given it only 4 out of 5 stars. Hope you enjoy the CD as much as me, and God Bless!

As soon as I heard Hawk Nelson at the 2007 Winter Jam Tour in Mobile, AL, I knew I just HAD to get one of their CDs. A couple days later my dad picked up "Smile, It's The End of the World" for me, and since then my sister and I have been blasting this CD on her stereo almost daily! Every song is extremely catchy, especially "Everything You Ever Wanted", "Zero", and "Head On Collision". At times the band could start to "scream" instead of "sing", and some of the songs sound almost non-Christian, but the album is still better than average. When I say that some of the songs are almost "non-Christian", I mean that they turn into almost "love" songs. Also, this album ISN'T for adults or young children--I think only teens will enjoy this one.
However, all in all this CD is still one of my favorites--and Hawk Nelson seems like Stellar Kart's twin!!

Hawk Nelson is definatly one my favorite bands! The main reason is my life lines up with almost everyone of their lyrics. If you are a Christian fed up with wash out or mainstream Christian rock groups, you will find satisfaction in both albums Letters To The President and Smile, It's the End of the World. But why give it a 5 star just for that, its fast songs leave the crowd satisfied with that rock feel while still delivering a good set of lyrics unlike most secular rock groups. Its slow songs are packed with emotion and tells storys. After taking a listen most people will decide, they either love them or hate them, there really is no inbetween. I am on the love side and hope you enjoy this album as much as I do.

listen up. Hawk nelson is a christian band. If you all just listen to it and read the lyrics in the inside of the album maybe yall will understand and read it because they have metaphors. I love their new cd. Hey i admit there are a few songs that are about girls and stuff but that is only three songs which are Bring em out, hello, and it's over. But i still like them. so to all you people who think hawk nelson is secular than yall need to read the lyrics. I am not tryin to be mean but just listen and think about them. Happy Resurection day to all. God Bless. and to all my christian Warriors out there ITS TIME TO PUT ON THE ARMOR. He is RISEN and ALIVE.

...it isn't that bad either. I, personally, couldn't get into about 8 of the songs on here, which keeps it from an average 3 star rating. While LTTP was straight-up pop-punk, 'smile' is something different. They sound alot like a pop version of TFK, and while TFK is awesome, they're also far from "pop". There's alot of shouting too, especially on the song "zero", which ruins the overall flow of the songs. And the lyrics? Well, just listen to 'hello' and you'll understand. Not the best songwriters, those nelson boys.

On a side note, whats the deal with Hawk Nelson and the song "man overboard" by blink 182. On LTTP, we had the song "things we go through". I remember hearing it for the first time and thinking; 'wow, those verses sound EXACTLY like the ones on man overboard'. I practically laughed when I heard "It's Over". The riff is EXACTLY the same as the opening riff on 'man overboard', like listen to the two side by side, and you couldn't tell the difference. Weird.

If you like catchy pop-rock, and don't mind filler, you might like 'smile'. If you liked LTTP or just like QUALITY pop-punk in general, save yourself the $$$ and download. I did, and I'm glad, too.

On Hawk Nelson's sophomore effort, they really step up their game. Their thematic focus is still mainly on promoting individualism and fun times, but their sound has really gotten more diverse and more catchy over time. Their lyrics are still not the clearest, but they know how to energize an audience and how to slow things down with sweeter ballads. This album also brings in a slightly more melancholy tone on some of the songs, which are about abandonment and mourning the loss of healthy relationships.

"The One Thing I Have Left" rocks very nicely, and it's kind of a retool of William Wallace's "they can never take our freedom!" statement. It's a slightly defiant song about standing up against naysayers and people who put you down. "The Show" has a cool-sounding opening guitar riff, and the beat makes it ideally suited for playing at the beach. The lyrics for this song don't really seem to go anywhere, but they do impart a sense of enthusiasm. "Bring 'Em Out" is another party song with words that don't lead anywhere in particular, but it has an irresistible jump-up-and-down vibe. "Everything That You Ever Wanted" provides everything you'd ever want in a soulful ballad, and it sounds slightly like "It Ends Tonight" from the All-American Rejects. It seems to be about parental abandonment, a theme they touched on in their debut.

"Something On My Mind" has some Broadway-style piano in the background, so it sounds like it could be a number in a punk-inspired musical. "Is Forever Enough" is a fast-moving tune about wanting to correct past mistakes--the verses have a harder sound and the chorus is very melodic. "Zero" has piano and some orchestration, and seems to be another song about someone about having their father walk out of them--the feelings portrayed are not angry, just hurt and confused. "Nothing Left to Show" is more punk, and the fast-delivery verses remind me of The Ramones' sound. "Head On Collision" is a catchy medium-tempo song about wanting to seek something bigger and make a splash in the world (somewhat like "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls). I think the album could do entirely without "Hello", which is an incredibly silly presentation of a crush, but the song features kazoos, so maybe it's a joke? "It's Over" is a singable breakup song, and "14" is such an experimentation, it barely even sounds like Hawk Nelson, but in a good we're-broadening-our-horizons kind of way.

Hawk Nelson has definitely improved their sound on Smile, It's the End of the World. They took basic pop-punk and elevated it with some creative twists on this record. I also note that while they're a Christian band, most of their songs are less overtly faith-based and more just "generally positive", which can be a helpful or unhelpful thing, depending on how much worship you like to have in your music.

Smile It's The End Of The World is, in my opinion, Hawk Nelson's best album. This is the album that got me hooked on to them. This album is one of my top favorite albums, and anybody who likes punk rock, rock, Allister, Sum 41, Blink-182, Green Day and the like would really enjoy this album. I definitely recommend checking this album out, the lyrics insert also folds out to be a poster.

this is not a Christian album.the music on here has nothing to do with God.It should be in the world music section because that's all it is.