Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely

Hawthorne Heights
If Only You Were Lonely
Victory Records
Grade: A-

After Ohio’s Hawthorne Heights’ wildly successful 2004 debut The Silence in Black and White, the obvious question was whether the five-piece could at least offer a parallel sophomore record. Amazingly enough, the twelve-track If Only You Were Lonely obviously blasts The Silence away immediately on the opener “This Is Who We Are” in the song’s and record’s turn to the more melodic. At first blush The Silence seemed to be trailing off the mainstream wave of melodic hardcore (or emo-core if you will). Yet, Hawthorne Heights managed to define their own space in the punk and hardcore world and not be simply part of one scene or another. Couple that achievement with The Silence approaching platinum status and the result is enormous deference to the band by Victory. For awhile it seemed that members of HH, through Victory’s hand, were constantly starting new labels, clothing lines, running for governor, flipping the magnetic poles, etc. All that would be fleeting if HH couldn’t provide an album that topped the debut; and again that is assured. Working with producer David Bendeth, JT Woodruff, Matt Ridenour, Micah Carli, Casey Calvert, and Eron Bucciarelli lighten the hardcore, add more harmonies and melodies, thus creating a family-friendly hardcore record. For Victory, HH has provided a record that is actually chock-full of singles – something the label has never really been concerned with. Save for the God-awful acoustic closer “Decembers,” If Only is just one great song after another with seemingly no end in sight (well, at least until “Decembers”). As mentioned, “This Is Who We Are” sets the more melodic tone and is quickly followed up by similar-minded “We Are So Last Year” that trips up a bit lyric-wise. “Language Lessons (Five Words Or Less)” furthers melodic punk preferences, while “Pens and Needles” merges heavier riffs with a catchy chorus and a slight electronic breakdown. “Saying Sorry” matches the previous on the chorus as “Dead in the Water” returns to a hardcore guitar outlet. The good luck runs out on “I Am On Your Side” and “Breathing In Sequence” is weak on vocal prowess (which they try to buttress with a sing-a-long). The average “Light Sleeper” meets you next and “Cross Me Off Your List” helps leads the way to what should be the real closer – “Where Can I Stab Myself In the Ears” (oh, I ask that question so many times). The excellent, standout “Where Can I Stab Myself In the Ears” has already seen the light of day on the Underworld: Evolution soundtrack which came under the name “Where Do I Stab Myself In the Ears.” “Where Can I Stab Myself In the Ears” is a crystal clear melodic hardcore song with slight devilish twists compared to the rest of If Only; though the version on the Underworld: Evolution soundtrack with its electronic drum and bass inclusions blows this version away. If you enjoy(ed) The Silence in Black and White, you are going to absolutely wet yourself over If Only You Were Lonely. And as a sign of Victory’s growing PR savvy, the record has been released with two different covers.