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

JFH Music Review




Hawk Nelson
Letters To The President



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 14 tracks
Street Date: July 13, 2004


Hawk Nelson is a brand new act from Tooth & Nail Records. Following in the footsteps of Christian pop-punk rock act FM Static and their mainstream counterparts Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, these four young guys hail from Ontario where they grew up together and offer a tight and diverse sound with often meaningful lyrics.

While Good Charlotte and Simple Plan pride themselves on being rebellious, Hawk Nelson's lyrical content tends to go past the bitterness the other bands portray and focus on love and truth. And while HN sings about girls almost as much as the mainstream acts, their focus is on good clean fun and not treating women as obsessions or, in Charlotte's case, a piece of "candy." In fact, "Every Little Thing" expresses the band's desire to find a woman in love with Jesus, something you won't find from the mainstream artists.

Hawk Nelson's debut record on T&N is co-produced by Thousand Foot Krutch/ FM Static frontman Trevor McNevan who even helped write on this project. As with everything he's apart of, he brings a lot of life and character to this record, even offering vocals on the TFK-ish "Like A Racecar," and gives Letters... a professional and experienced feel that not too many new artists possess on their debut. And while HN does dip into heavy comparison territory to already established pop-punk artists on songs like "California," "Things We Go Through," and the title track, it's tracks like "From Underneath," "36 Days," and the bold surrender of "Take Me" that really make this band stand out. From pop-punk, to pop-rock ballads to even a little hard rock, HN is versatile at many different styles, pulling off each nicely and proving they have what it takes to stick around awhile. It's also refreshing to hear the boys taking a bold stance on the moral decline of society with the title track "Letters To the President." While the mainstream acts are preaching rebellion against authority, Hawk Nelson is encouraging a change be made in the status of our country's ethics while remaining respectful of authority. It's great to hear a band stand up against same-sex marriages, school violence, and all the other problems today that people are too scared to speak out about.

If you're a fan of Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, All-American Rejects, and other mainstream acts in the pop-punk genre, you should check out Hawk Nelson and seriously consider tossing those other discs away. Letters To The President is a bold release full of fun and memorable anthems that make for one really great Summer release.

- Review date: 07/10/04, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 14 tracks
. Street Date: July 13, 2004
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. California (2:52)
  2. Things We Go Through (2:31)
  3. Every Little Thing (3:07)
  4. From Underneath (2:45)
  5. Letters To The President (3:13)
  6. Right Here (3:11)
  7. Recess (0:50)
  8. Take Me (3:30)
  9. Someone Else Before (3:17)
  10. First Time (2:37)
  11. Like A Race Car (2:48)
  12. Late Show (1:53)
  13. 36 Days (3:42)
  14. Long And Lonely Road (3:09)
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Thursday, November 21, 2024
ALBUMS
The Choir Translucent (independent)

SINGLES
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



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