Same Direction starts this CD off on the right track musically. It is definitely a song that makes you want to jump around and sing along to. Lyrically, Hoobastank makes some very good points about people pressing their own philosophies on others. However, the points they make are marred by their seeming personal philosophy: "I like to think that I can go my own way and meet you in the end." Aside from this, the song does make some pretty good points.
Next up is Out Of Control. Another song that is awesome musically, Hoobastank is showing that they definitely have talent. The song is awesome, and the guys did a great job on it.
What Happened To Us is a song that really makes you think, especially if you're listening to it after recently breaking up with someone. It talks about two people who were so sure that they would be together forever, but then circumstances changed and everything got screwed up. The chorus says it perfectly: "What happened to us? We used to be so perfect...now we're lost and lonely."
Track 4 is Escape, and it provides quite a sharp contrast to What Happened To Us. The song talks about escaping to a place where the two people being discussed in the song can be "together every day" and the desire to go anywhere with another. It provides quite a contrast to the prior track, but it works very well.
Just One is up next. It's another song that a lot of people can relate to. All we ever want is one chance. The band talks about taking the chance if only it was there. Another great song that people can surely relate to.
Now it's on to Lucky. This song caught my ear the first time I heard it. It's a song that everyone can relate to. Lucky talks about that one person who makes feel so lucky to have him or her around. Everyone can relate this to someone, whether that someone be a husband or wife, a best friend, a family member, whatever. it's just an awesome song that you could listen to over and over and proably not get tired of.
From The Heart is another song that many people will relate to. Talking about rebuilding our own dreams and aspirations even when the people around us are trying to tear them down, it's a song that most of us can relate to. Another great song.
If there is one song on this CD that would be the gem of the CD, it would definitely be this one, The Reason. The title track of the CD is absolutely amazing. It's a song dedicated to that person that makes us change and become a better person in ways we never thought a person could change us. The Reason is likely the best song on this entire CD, which is saying a lot, because so many songs here are just awesome.
Let It Out is the next song on the CD. It has a pretty cool guitar riff, and it speeds things up a bit from the previous track. Yet again, it's a song that all of us can likely relate to. There's always a time where all of us stop worrying about what other people think and we "let it out," even if other people might not like it. It's yet another song written by Hoobastank that most anyone can relate to.
The next song is along the same lines as From The Heart, except the singer is pointing out that all the negativity people point toward him does indeed affect him. Unaffected talks about people not really seeing who we really are. The person has a few doubts: "And who should I be when they're judging me as though I'm unaffected?" It's a very interesting song.
Now we come to Never There. Never There is the song about that person in our lives who is just never around when we need them to be most. It talks about basically just wanting to talk to someone but having that one person you thought would be there not be there. Another very interesting song.
The last song on the CD is Disappear. Much in the likeness of Lucky and The Reason, Disappear talks about someone really special. It talks about that one person who we each have in our lives. When that person is around, "Everyone else seems far away." It's a really great song that makes you think about that person in your life who makes everything else around you disappear.
FINAL ANALYSIS: This a CD chock full of awesome songs. Aside from one point made in Same Direction, the CD is full of songs that everyone or at least most people can relate to. With The Reason, Hoobastank proves not only that they have staying power, but that they can do bigger and better things than on their previous disc.