Full Review: Hawthorne Heights – Fragile Future

Everybody’s favorite ‘love to hate’ band, Hawthorne Heights is back with a new full length record. ‘Fragile Future’ is a new and different step forward for the band and although it was not one they were expecting to take they have taken it in a positive way.

The first single from the record, “The Business Of Paper Stars” digs into the business of being fake and superficial. The song is actually probably the “hardest” song on the record which is not saying much but it is also the catchiest. The chorus has a rhythmic feel to it which emphasizes the high pitch melodies.

It can’t go without saying why this is not the same band as before. Less than a year ago, in November of 2007, guitarist Casey Calvert passed away from complications of incompatible prescription drugs. Most of this album is the band dealing with the loss. Most of the songs shed a little light into how the band is dealing with and trying to cope with the pain. “Four Become One” goes into how the 5 members have now become 4 and that as Casey is remembered the four members become even more united.

‘Fragile Future’ seems to have less of an edge than the band’s debut and less of what catapulted the band to the success they’ve had. I personally prefer the mellower style in that it feels like they are being more honest and laying it all on the table. “Rescue Me” or even “Disaster” have that radio friendly, softer rock feel to it which may be slightly generic but it is also fairly addictive.

This band, for better or worse, is not the same band that put out the last two albums. There are plenty of things not to like about the sometimes boring, and often generic album, but to my surprise there were also plenty of things to enjoy. Even if you’re not a fan you may want to give the album a listen.

Tags: fragile future, hawthorne heights, music

This entry was posted on Monday, August 4th, 2008 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Full Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.