Hawk Nelson - Hawk Nelson Is My Friend

Producer:  David Bendeth
Record Label:  BEC Recordings/Tooth & Nail Records
Website:  http://www.hawknelsonismyfriend.com

Hawk Nelson wrote Letters to the President on their debut album, then told everyone to Smile, It’s the End of the World for their sophomore effort all the while gaining more and more fans with their quirky pop/punk sound - a la Blink 182, Relient K, or Simple Plan.  The growth displayed between their first and second album made them a band that many said we should keep our eyes on - because they weren’t cut from the same cloth as less mature bands like Stellar Kart or Simple Plan - rather showed that pop/punk bands were capable of showing artistic maturity much like Relient K or Green Day.  The biggest complaint with listeners and critics a like was the real lack of spiritual influences in the band’s lyrics.  The good news is that Hawk Nelson Is My Friend (the band’s third full length national release) definitely shows more growth lyrically.  The band is not afraid to show their spiritual side - especially on tunes like “Friend Like That”, “Arms Around Me”, “One Little Miracle”, and “Turn It On.”  The band even gets deeply personal on “I Still Miss You” (co-written with Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch) - a song about the loss of a grandmother - though it could relate to any number of lost loved ones.  However, while they may have made a step forward lyrically, it seems the band took a step back musically.  Rather than continuing down the path of their sophomore outing, the band instead rests on its laurels.  It’s not that it’s bad - in fact the band is quite good at creating catchy pop/punk and powerpop - but it’s just all been done before.  It’s unfortunate for such a promising band like Hawk Nelson.  Hopefully future releases will find the band once again offering Christian music a strong dose of imaginative and creative pop/punk like this band has been known to create.

Purchase Hawk Nelson Is My Friend.

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