SONG: "The Letter"
ARTIST: Hoobastank
ALBUM: "For(N)ever"
YEAR: 2009
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Agoura Hills, California
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"The Letter" appears to be a song about a bitter relationship where one partner starts to cheat on the other, the obvious sign being a letter from the partner's other lover. The worst part for the vocalist is that it appears the letter was left in a way that she wanted him to find it. Safe to say, that relationship is over!
HOOBASTANK DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1998 - They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To (Self-released)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2001 - Hoobastank (Island Records)
* peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 charts on 2-9-02
* certified platinum
2003 - The Reason (Island Records)
* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts on 5-1-04
* certified 2X platinum
2006 - Every Man For Himself (Island Records)
* peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 on 6-3-06
* certified gold
2009 - For(N)ever (Island Records)
* peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 on 2-14-09
2009 - Live From The Wiltern (Island Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2010 - Is This The Day? (Island Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2012 - Fight Or Flight (Open E Records)
* peaked at #66 on the Billboard 200 on 9-29-12
2018 - Push Pull (Napalm Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON HOOBASTANK:
Hoobastank formed as a band back in 1994, hailing from Agoura Hills, California, just outside of Los Angeles. Originally, the band had kind of a funk style to their music, even incorporating a sax player. The band often gets tabbed as Incubus' little brother and for good reason. Both bands are from around the same area and they often played shows together in the early years. On top of the obvious, their sound is quite similar. After self-releasing an album in 1998, the band signed a deal with Island Records and dropped what many consider to be their proper debut record, 2001's "Hoobastank". With singles like "Crawling In The Dark" and "Running Away", Hoobastank soared to the top of the charts. Gone was the funk sound laced with saxophone solos and here was a straight forward, melodic rock record. This album would achieve platinum status and things were ready to explode for Hoobastank on their next album, 2003's "The Reason". "The Reason" proved to be Hoobastank's highest charting album, #3 on the Billboard 200, and their best selling album, achieving double platinum status. The title track from that album, "The Reason", is the band's most successful and popular single to date. 2006's "Every Man For Himself" was a successful record but did not achieve the same success as their previous two albums. It also started a downward spiral for the band as it pertains to album sales and success in general. Hoobastank finished out their deal with Island with one studio album, one live album and one acoustic album. 2012's "Fight Or Flight" proved to be Hoobastank's last charting album on the Billboard 200. The band's last studio album was 2018's "Push Pull". Hoobastank did re-release "The Reason" in 2019 to include a vinyl copy as well as bonus tracks to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of that album. As I said earlier, Hoobastank is a melodic rock band, I guess they could be considered alternative rock as well. At first listen, you draw instant comparison to the band Incubus. The band's are eerily similar in sound and in the vocals. Some call them a rip off of Incubus. I don't see it that way. I feel that Hoobastank is good enough to stand on their own, though I do agree that Incubus is a better band. I first got turned on to Hoobastank like the majority of people I assume did, with their self-titled album in 2001. "Crawling In The Dark" was the first track I heard by them and I don't think I've heard a better song by them since that day. That's not to say they don't have other good songs, they most certainly do. I don't think as a band that they ever really improved upon that first album, or first couple of albums at least. I'd consider them to be a 2nd tier melodic rock band. At this point, I don't see them having another "Crawling In The Dark" in them though.
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Incubus
Trapt
3 Doors Down
Finger Eleven
Story Of The Year
TEN HOOBASTANK SONGS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Crawling In The Dark
2. Inside Of You
3. Running Away
4. Out Of Control
5. So Close, So Far
6. If I Were You
7. My Turn
8. This Is Gonna Hurt
9. The Reason
10. More Beautiful
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