The Reason, the second album from clean-cut Californian mall-rockers Hoobastank, is a massive improvement on the band's eponymous 2002 debut. It's a thoughtful and passionate alt-rock set that consigns many of the band's more obvious influences to the dustbin and proves that even rock's most transparent copyists deserve a second chance to make a first impression. Frontman Doug Robb has shaken off his rather Brandon Boyd-esque vocal affectations and now sounds very much like his own man, riding bruising rockers such as "Just One" and "Let It Out" with a flexible emotional range and sharp ear for a scream-along chorus.

The band, meanwhile, have grown into an altogether different beast, guitarist Dan Estrin coaxing his fretboard from deft, nostalgia-pricked melodicism to complex metal riffing with evident skill, and the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Markku Lappalainen and drummer Chris Hesse firing off virtuostic dynamic flourishes right through to the last climactic lap of the closing "Disappear". It's true, Hoobastank's rather bland, cookie-cutter image probably won't do them any favours in today's cooler-than-thou alternative marketplace, but you overlook this album at your peril. --Louis Pattison

The album features one of the best songs of all time. That song is 'The Reason'. There's one reason(no pun intended)to buy the album. Another great song is 'Out Of Control' which hurtles along at a fast pace and is the best rock song on the album. 'Disappear' is another good song, which moves at a similiar pace to 'The Reason'. 'Let It Out' is really good and features a powerful chorus. So buy this album, there are four unforgettable, good songs on it(one of them being absolutely amazing).

However, its not all good. Most of the songs are forgettable. For example, 'never there' is good while you are listening to it but after a week you will have already forgotten about its existence.

But buy this album any way, because it has some great songs on it.

I had never heard of this band before - weird name I thought!

I think the best song on the album has to be the tile track 'The Reason'

I like bands like Seven Wiser, Seether, Submersed, The Mayfield Four, Collective Soul and Trapt and I thoroughly recommend this to any people who like that sort of music. Good vocals and equally good music!

If you're into very clear cut sounding rock music with crunching guitars, distortion, and riffs then Hoobastank are well worth a look. This album is very good and although it may get a bit samey if you listen to it all the way through it still has some impressive songs with solid drumming, bass, great guitar work and a good voice on the vocalist.

Stand out songs for me after a few listens are Out of Control, Just One, and Disappear, The Reason is obviously a good song but I've heard it quite a lot on the radio so I found myself listening to the others more than this one.

Overall a solid album which is definitely worth a go for rock fans.

Think Hoobastank and you think the Reason, a smooth, harmonic piece of indie rock. But that's about it for smooth, sweet music on this album. The rest is metal, rock and crunching riffs. I got this ablum because I've heard the Reason. But now it's probably the least played track. Same Direction, the opener has one of the best opening sequences in a song ever. Out of Control, their 1st single from the album is really heavy, thanks to input from the lostprophets. The rest of the album goes from smooth, to really heavy, and in a big cycle.
But it's not the lyrics that make this album rock, it's the playing.
This album is not based around one good track, but the only way to fully appreciate it is to put it on, turn up the volume, and be prepared to mosh and play air guitar. BUY IT!

This album is fantastic with a great mix of songs. Best song has to be The Reason, like a ballad but still with a bit of an edge to it. HUGE in America!!