tkd_grant's Full Review: The Silence in Black and White by Hawthorne Height...
It seems as if the whole “punk/emo” scene is becoming very mainstream these days, especially among teenagers. Go to any high school today, and I’m sure you’ll find certain cliques that consist of guys wearing tight (often girl) jeans, long hair, and a tight shirt, with say, “The Ramones” on the front. You know who I’m talking about. Well, these days you’re considered “one of them” if you listen to bands like Taking Back Sunday, Dead Poetic, and of course, Hawthorne Heights. But here’s where I break the stereotype. I am in no way, shape, or form, a “punk” or “emo kid” (nor do I want to be labeled as either of those), but I can truly say that I enjoy the thought-provoking music that is Hawthorne Heights.
Hawthorne Heights’ sound consists of a variety of elements. The Ohio-based band blends singing, screaming, and intricate lyrics and production that gives a sense of sadness or uneasiness to the listener. To those of you that know most of the street terms for music, you could categorize Hawthorne Heights as being “emo" or "screamo.” And if the screaming part sort of scares you off a bit, don’t worry, it scared me too. And even after the listening to the album, I was still a little annoyed by it. But now, after listening to the album almost daily (yes, I like it that much), I am totally used to it, and it doesn’t bother me one bit.
The Silence in Black and White kicks off with ”Life on Standby,” a song about a lost relationship. The song radiates sadness with its eerie production, and the suspenseful climax of this number is nothing short of brilliant, in my book. ”Dissolve and Decay” is most notable for its excellent guitar work. There’s a certain balance of catchiness and depth found in this song (carried out through the guitars), which is the main reason I keep pressing “Repeat.”
If you’ve heard any song at all by Hawthorne Heights, it would be ”Ohio is for Lovers.” This particular song starts off slowly and melodically, with a nice bass line, and ultimately progresses to a powerful chorus - ”So cut my wrists and black my eyes / So I can fall asleep to night or die…” Sound a little “dark” for you? Don’t be too afraid, that’s as hardcore as it gets on this album. ”Niki FM” is a decent song, but the chorus is too repetitive, and at times can get on your very last nerve. And we all know that that isn’t a good thing.
”The Transition” and ”Silver Bullet” are the two most light-hearted tracks out of the bunch. Both songs are upbeat and carry that almost care-free, relaxed feel, which at times is a nice away to escape from the introspective, fairly “dark” rest of the album. As usual, the lyrics found on either of these tracks is great. To give you an example of what I’m speaking of, here’s the opening verse of ”The Transition”:
”So here we are
Back to the start again
Trying hard to wait 'til morning
Hey, rise and shine
And open up your eyes
To give this world some color
Shine on diamond eyes
Separate the space between love and lies”
Final Thoughts
Whether it came across clearly through my review of not, I really love Hawthorne Heights’ only album to date, The Silence in Black and White. There’s just something about the mix of singing, screaming, guitars, and poetic lyrics that really appeals to me. While I know not everyone will appreciate the near-constant screaming in the background, or the dark undertone found in the majority of the songs, I strongly urge anyone with an open mind and taste for rock and roll (and all of its subgenres) to give Hawthorne Heights a listen.
01. Life on Standby
02. Dissolve and Decay
03. Niki FM
04. The Transition
05. Blue Burns Orange
06. Silver Bullet
07. Screenwriting An Apology
08. Ohio Is For Lovers
09. Wake Up Call
10. Sandpaper and Silk
11. Speeding Up The Octaves
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