Song: "If Only"
Artist: Hoobastank
Album: "Every Man For Himself"
Year: 2006
Place Of Origin: Agoura Hills, California
Years Active: 1994 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"If Only" appears to be a song about reflecting back on a failed relationship and realizing that it didn't have to end the way it did. The vocalist is filled with regret knowing that he could have communicated better and he was blind to the problems in the relationship as it was going on. Now that it's over and time has passed, he understands that he let a good one get away and that hurts him deeply.
HOOBASTANK DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1998 - They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To (self-released)
2001 - Hoobastank (Island Records)
2003 - The Reason (Island Records)
2006 - Every Man For Himself (Island Records)
2009 - For(N)ever (Island Records)
2009 - Live From The Wiltern (Island Records)
2010 - Is This The Day (Island Records)
2012 - Fight Or Flight (Open E Records)
2018 - Push Pull (Napalm Records)
CURRENT STATUS OF HOOBASTANK:
Hoobastank formed as a band back in 1994. Early on, the band used to play local shows in southern California, often sharing the bill with Incubus. They started out almost as a funk/rock type band, even incorporating a saxophone player in their music. This style is prominent on their self-released 1998 album, "They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To". By 2001, Hoobastank ditched the sax and the funk for a more straight forward rock sound. Island Records signed the band and they released their proper debut, the self-titled "Hoobastank". This album would peak at #25 on the Billboard 200 charts and the singles "Running Away" and "Crawling In The Dark" would reach #2 and #3 respectively on Billboard's Modern Rock charts. There would be no sophomore slump for Hoobastank as their next album, "The Reason" soared to #3 on the Billboard 200 chart with the title track hitting #1 on the Modern Rock charts. Hoobastank would be at the height of their popularity at this time. While 2006's "Every Man For Himself" debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200, sales quickly started to dissipate and it turned out to be a disappointment for the band. Vocalist Doug Robb said that the band set the bar really high for their next release, "For(N)ever" but sales continued to fall for the band. The band rounded out their contract with Island Records with a live cd/dvd "Live At The Wiltern" and an acoustic album, "Is This The Day". In 2012, the band released "Fight Or Flight" through Open E Records. Between this album and their most recent release, 2018's "Push Pull", it would mark the longest period between album releases for Hoobastank. Hoobastank is often linked to Incubus. Not only did the bands come from the same area, they toured together before they made it big. Their sound is very similar as well. Doug Robb and Incubus frontman, Brandon Boyd, have very similar vocal styles. Some people out there criticize Hoobastank for being Incubus lite, but in my mind, you can put songs like "Crawling In The Dark" and "Running Away" right up there with any Incubus song. I like both bands so I think that criticism isn't quite fair but I can definitely see the similarities between the two bands. Hoobastank is basically your straight forward, melodic hard rock band that leans towards making music that would be considered mainstream. If you like bands like Incubus, Trapt, Finger Eleven, 3 Doors Down or 12 Stones, then you would most likely enjoy Hoobastank.
TEN HOOBASTANK SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Crawling In The Dark
2. Running Away
3. Inside Of You
4. Out Of Control
5. So Close, So Far
6. The Reason
7. Remember Me
8. This Is Gonna Hurt
9. If I Were You
10. More Beautiful
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