Track Listing

1. Same Direction
2. Out Of Control
3. What Happened To Us?
4. Escape
5. Just One
6. Lucky
7. From The Heart
8. The Reason
9. Let It Out
10. Unaffected
11. Never There
12. Disappear
13. Never Saw It Coming
14. Out Of Control (Video)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8801 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 48 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Reason, the second album from clean-cut Californian mall-rockers Hoobastank, is a massive improvement on the band's eponymous 2002 debut. It's a thoughtful and passionate alt-rock set that consigns many of the band's more obvious influences to the dustbin and proves that even rock's most transparent copyists deserve a second chance to make a first impression. Frontman Doug Robb has shaken off his rather Brandon Boyd-esque vocal affectations and now sounds very much like his own man, riding bruising rockers such as "Just One" and "Let It Out" with a flexible emotional range and sharp ear for a scream-along chorus.

The band, meanwhile, have grown into an altogether different beast, guitarist Dan Estrin coaxing his fretboard from deft, nostalgia-pricked melodicism to complex metal riffing with evident skill, and the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Markku Lappalainen and drummer Chris Hesse firing off virtuostic dynamic flourishes right through to the last climactic lap of the closing "Disappear". It's true, Hoobastank's rather bland, cookie-cutter image probably won't do them any favours in today's cooler-than-thou alternative marketplace, but you overlook this album at your peril. --Louis Pattison

CD Description
This is the second full length album from post grunge quartet Hoobastank. In the vein of their self-titled debut, the album features rousing anthemic choruses, Doug Robb's emotional vocals, and this time, radio friendly production from Howard Benson (P.O.D., Crazy Town, Cold). Also included is the video for the single 'Out Of Control'.

Customer Reviews

A Reason to buy "Reason"
You know you've hit it big when you start touring with the likes of Linkin Park, POD and other such big names after only releasing one album...
It's now just two years since US post-grunge metallers Hoobastank released their self-titled debut album, two years of success and also two years of anticipation from fans for another great album.
And that anticipation won't turn to dissapointment as anyone who was a fan of their first album will be bowled over by, and rejoice at the melodic resonance of "Reason".
The range of songs covers different styles from the first two opening tracks of "Same Direction" and "Out Of Control" with their heavy rock plus their famous sense of melody involved, to the more tender songs of "Disappear" and "Unaffected", not forgetting the especially deep and thought-provoking name sake of the album "The Reason" which is becoming a favourite with not just Hoobastank fans but music lovers everywhere.
If several things can be credited to Hoobastank it's their great guitar riffs, the solo intros be it guitar or drum, aswell as their amazing lyrics all bringing you a sound feeding you different emotions and anyone who cannot feel moved by "The Reason" and not feel upbeat after listening to this album needs some emotional therapy.

Good 'Reason' to buy this cd!!!
I loved the adrenaline rock tunes of Hoobastanks self titled album (still do), and so had high expectations for the new album. A lot of bands fail to deliver after the success of a break-through album (Linkin Park anybody?), but with this latest release Hoobastank should finally be getting the recognition they deserve. Although the overall sound isn’t that distinct from the previous album, with the same hard-driving choruses, the band have really stepped up their song structure and it’s reflected in their music. Doug’s lyrics are catchy, and though mostly centered on relationships are still diverse enough for most people to connect with. The music is solid, the band have shyed away a little from guitar effects and use a lot of distortion in songs on the album and acoustic guitar on some of the tracks, including ‘Lucky’. Songs like first single ‘Out of Control’ and ‘Same Direction’ continue in the same fast-paced rock vein as previous hit ‘Crawling in the Dark’ mixing crunching riffs with catchy melodies. ‘From the Heart’ has an almost classic-rock epic feel to it and title track ‘The Reason’ is a fantastic, emotional song which highlights the vocal range of singer Doug Robb. If you liked Hoobastank’s previous album or if you want a taste of what this band can really produce then get this album, you won’t regret it.

Incubus by numbers has never sounded so good
I have always been fascinated by the idea of music as a formula. In other words, given a set of well established rules and relationships between notes, and the sequence in which they commonly appear, would a computer be able to write a good song? Hoobastank seem to provide evidence that it would. They have a highly derivative sound, and the formula that drives that sound can be summed up as follows:

Incubus
Less: Originality
Less: Lyrics that make you think
Add: Better melodies
Equals: Hoobastank

However, the nice surprise about Hoobastank is that the lyrical shortcomings and lack of originality are almost completely offset by the hooks and melodies. This is a great album, in spite of the great debt that it clearly owes to Brandon Boyd and the err... boys.

The Reason doesn't really have filler. Every track has something to offer, and even the most mundane and samey tracks are elevated thanks to soaring choruses and great understated guitar riffs. If I was being picky I'd say that Lucky and Disappear don't really say anything that hasn't been said before, and Never There goes so deeply into Incubus-lite territory that it can't even be redeemed by a great tune and fantastic guitar work.

Everything else is of a high standard. The first few songs are all awesome, with the opening track just shading it in my book for pure catchiness. Of the more delicate songs (of which there are only three) Unaffected is the star. The title track is great, but has suffered from massive overplaying on the radio.

Overall, this is a worthwhile album. Hoobastank need to find their own voice, to step out of the shadow of more illustrious bands, but the sheer strength of songwriting here indicates they can do it, they simply need the courage to put out something less radio friendly and more challenging.