Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


Hawk Nelson, Crazy Love
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Hawk Nelson
Crazy Love / The Light Sides



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 2 Discs: 24 tracks
Street Date: February 8, 2011


Before immersing themselves in working on what would become their fifth full-length studio album, Hawk Nelson shut themselves up in the studio to record an 11-track acoustic album, appropriately titled The Light Sides. While you can grab The Light Sides as part of a Deluxe release of Crazy Love (click here for our reviews of Crazy Love), the real treat of the two-album combo may actually not be the thirteen tracks of completely new tunes, but it just might be this extra disc, The Light Sides.

Leading off with one of the band's most popular songs of their career, "California" is given an accapella reimagining that utilizes the vocal talents of the foursome as lead singer Jason Dunn directs the pack. It's a fun Beach Boys-esque take on the song that sets the stage nicely for what fans can expect from the following ten tracks. "Friend Like That" is next, given an acoustic guitar and hand-clap update. Unlike "California," however, it sticks pretty close to the original composition, just in a stripped down form, and it's a nice addition here. Already originally a pop rock ballad, "Zero" may actually work better as this acoustic remake. It makes the tender song inspired by suicide seem more pensive and intimate (despite a maybe out-of-place organ here and there). A real gem for fans is the inclusion of "Stagefright," a song that was merely a partial song tucked away at the end of their previous album, Live Life Loud. The fully fleshed out song is given full drum support along with the acoustic and related percussion accompaniment. It makes for a fun highlight in the collection. "First Time" gets a frenetic refacing, oddly edgy for an acoustic take but gives the song a fresh feel for the new decade. "You Have What I Need," from Hawk Nelson Is My Friend, follows, again staying close to the original with a merely acoustic repackaging. Like "Zero," "Everything You Ever Wanted" is just a further-softened version of the original ballad that seems to work even better in this format. The composition of the song is almost identical, but it fits well among the songs selected here (even though it does feature an actual electric drill sound towards the end of the song mixed into the track. Jason has admitted at live shows to just throwing it in there late one night in the studio... which makes it pretty amusing when you finally hear it on the track). "Head On Collision," from Smile, It's The End Of The World, is a treat to hear stripped down to an acoustic base. The gang "na-na" vocals also make a great accent to give the song a good update and potentially a better rendition than the original. Surprisingly, the only other track from Live Life Loud to make an appearance on Light Sides is the already mellow "Long Ago," but it's another track that translates wonderfully in its acoustic form. To close, the pop rock quartet updates two more fan favorites from their debut, Letters To The President, the ballads "Take Me" and "36 Days," the latter of which even features slightly updated lyrics.

In the end, I actually found myself enjoying The Light Sides more than Crazy Love. The new studio album has a few standout tracks, but The Light Sides, surprisingly, seems to capture Hawk Nelson in a more comfortable setting. The song selection is strong, although I would have liked to have seen a track or two from the new album given the acoustic treatment here, and maybe another track from their previous album. The production is clean without sounding too synthetic, but it is a step above just vocals and acoustic guitars. The band went the extra mile to add plenty of flavoring to these stripped-down takes.

For fans of the band, The Light Sides is well worth the investment alongside Crazy Love. And for those who've enjoyed the softer side of Hawk more than their more edgy offerings, this acoustic project is a solid option. Hopefully we'll see another acoustic release from the guys before too long.

- Reviewed 2/9/11, written by John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: BEC Recordings
. Album length: 2 Discs: 24 tracks
. Street Date: February 8, 2011
. Buy It: iTunes (Crazy Love and Light Sides)
. Buy It: iTunes (just Crazy Love)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

The Light Sides:

  1. California (Acoustic) (2:26)
  2. Friend Like That (Acoustic) (2:50)
  3. Zero (Acoustic) (3:28)
  4. Stagefright (Acoustic) (2:21)
  5. First Time (Acoustic) (2:31)
  6. You Have What I Need (Acoustic) (2:36)
  7. Everything You Ever Wanted (Acoustic) (4:10)
  8. Head On Collision (Acoustic) (3:05)
  9. Long Ago (Acoustic) (2:54)
  10. Take Me (Acoustic) (3:41)
  11. 36 Days (Acoustic) (4:08)

Crazy Love:
  1. Tally-Ho (1:39)
  2. Your Love Is A Mystery (3:11)
  3. Crazy Love (3:40)
  4. My Next Breath (3:30)
  5. We're Alright (3:03)
  6. Skeleton (2:50)
  7. We Can Change The World (3:20)
  8. One Shot (3:21)
  9. Fraud (2:45)
  10. Joanna (2:58)
  11. LAX (0:57)
  12. Done Holding On (3:34)
  13. Thanks For The Beautiful Memories (2:43)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images