Released December 9, 2003 Length 42:00 Release date 9 December 2003 | Recorded March–August 2003 | |
 | ||
Studio Bay 7 in North Hollywood, California Similar Hoobastank albums, Alternative rock albums | ||
Hoobastank same direction the sequel
The Reason is the second album by American post-grunge band Hoobastank. It was released on December 9, 2003 and has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA. To date, the album has sold more than 2.3 million copies in the United States alone. This was the last album to feature Markku Lappaleinen prior to his departure in 2005.
Contents
- Hoobastank same direction the sequel
- Just music hoobastank same direction
- Writing and recording
- Critical reception
- Commercial performance
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
Just music hoobastank same direction
Writing and recording
The band entered the studio in 2003 with producer Howard Benson, who has produced records by P.O.D., Cold and The Crystal Method. However, recording was disrupted for a month when guitarist Dan Estrin was seriously injured in a minibike accident in August. Estrin had recovered by October and the band headed off on a Nokia Unwired Tour with the All-American Rejects and Ozomatli in November.
Lyricist and vocalist Doug Robb said in a biography on the band's website that several songs on the album are about questioning what you are told. "A lot of it is about asking questions or questioning all that people see. It's not all about religion. "Out Of Control" is about that and about opening your eyes after being blinded by being devoted to anything".
Critical reception
The Reason garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Johnny Loftus of AllMusic found the album's teenage poetry and soft-sounding instrumentation too similar to the band's self-titled album but found their musicianship more expertly done, concluding that "In the end, The Reason is really a better version of Hoobastank, written and played by more mature versions of Hoobastank." Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone saw promise in the album's opener "Same Direction" but felt it was dragged down by middling sentiment and angst, saying that "Fugazi-esque guitars and memorable melodies occasionally poke through on The Reason's overbearing attack, reminding you of Hoobastank's promise." Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly credited Hoobastank for crafting a radio-ready Incubus album but concluded that "they’re still just a crummy Hydrox answer to Incubus’ creamy Oreo."
Commercial performance
The Reason was released in December 2003. The first single "Out Of Control" was featured on MX Unleashed, and made available for download on the band's website. The song would reach number nine on the U.S. modern rock chart, and number sixteen on the mainstream rock chart. The Reason initially reached a peak of number forty-five on the Billboard 200.
The title track was released as a single in the first half of 2004. It became a massive hit worldwide, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the U.S. and world modern rock charts and number ten in Australia. The song's success pushed the album back into the charts, reaching #3 on the Billboard 200. The Reason was also the 24th best selling album of 2004.
"Same Direction" is featured as the main soundtrack for Madden NFL 2005. "Just One" is the title track for Top Spin 2 in the US and the Asahi Super Dry Beer Commercials of Japan in 2007.
Track listing
All music composed by Daniel Estrin and Doug Robb.
Note
Personnel
Songs
1Same Direction3:15
2Out Of Control2:43
3What Happened To Us?4:00