JT Woodruff: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano
Micah Carli: Lead Guitar
Casey Calvert: Screams, Rhythm Guitar
Matt Ridenour: Bass, Backing Vocals
Eron Bucciarelli: Drums, Percussion
Produced by Sean O'Keefe
Produced by Sean O'Keefe
Tracklist:
1. Life on Standby – 4:11
2. Dissolve and Decay – 3:44
3. Niki FM – 3:59
4. The Transition – 4:04
5. Blue Burns Orange – 3:19
6. Silver Bullet – 4:03
7. Screenwriting an Apology – 3:41
8. Ohio is for Lovers – 4:04
9. Wake Up Call – 4:02
10. Sandpaper and Silk – 3:36
11. Speeding Up the Octaves – 4:09
Total Runtime: 42:53
(No, I'm not going to review the re-issue)
Hawthorne Heights are one of my favorite bands of all time. Their debut, The Silence in Black and White, just so happens to also be one of my favorite albums of all time.
Silence has a lot of strong points, such as opener "Life on Standby", closer "Speeding Up the Octaves", and tracks like "Ohio is for Lovers", "Silver Bullet", and "Niki FM", all with great screams from Calvert and excellent vocals from Woodruff, as well as great instrumentalism.
Woodruff's writing ability is showcased on songs like "Blue Burns Orange" and "Ohio", with awesome lyrics like "Spare me just three last words./"I love you" is all she heard./I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever." from "Ohio".
Silence starts on "Life on Standby", which has some great guitar work, awesome lyrics, and Calvert's screams sound great. "Dissolve and Decay" is a catchy, fun tune. "Niki FM" is one of Hawthorne Heights' more popular songs, and I can see why. The lyrics "I'm outside of your window/With my radio" really can hit home (though every time I hear it, I think of the video for "The Best of Me" by The Starting Line).
"The Transition" is a heavy-hitter, reminiscent of "Life on Standby", with great lyrics, and is followed by a song with even better lyrics: "Blue Burns Orange", which is yet again followed by another song with even more stellar lyrics: "Silver Bullet". "Silver Bullet" is probably my favorite song on Silence, with its awesome lyricism and excellent guitar work.
"Screenwriting an Apology" is the song I always forget's there (as well as "Sandpaper and Silk", but let me get there first), it's just not a very memorable track.
"Ohio is for Lovers", which I'm pretty sure is a play on words of Virginia's state tourism slogan "Virginia is for lovers", is Hawthorne Heights' most popular and well-known song. It's easily the most well-written on the record, with absolutely stellar guitar work and perfect lyricism. Everything about it works just right.
"Wake Up Call" follows, and no, it's not a cover of Relient K's song, it's another song entirely, which, probably only 'cause it follows "Ohio", feels like it falls short (The Artist in the Ambulance by Thrice has this same problem), but it's not a bad song. "Wake Up Call" just doesn't live up to "Ohio". "Sandpaper and Silk", as I mentioned before is also a little forgettable, but not as much as "Screenwriting an Apology", the guitars are decent and the lyrics are good.
Our closer, "Speeding Up the Octaves", is one of the best on the album. The vocals mesh expertly with the guitars, the drums are great as well, everything again just works great.
Overall, The Silence in Black and White is a freakin' amazing album, which you should definitely check out. Hawthorne Heights have a lot to live up to on their second effort.
Life on Standby: 8/10
Dissolve and Decay: 7/10
Niki FM: 9/10
The Transition: 7/10
Blue Burns Orange: 8/10
Silver Bullet: 10/10
Screenwriting an Apology: 6/10
Ohio is for Lovers: 10/10
Wake Up Call: 7/10
Sandpaper and Silk: 7/10
Speeding Up the Octaves: 10/10
Subtotal: 89/110
Bonus Points:
Awesome Screaming!: +2
Killer Choruses: +2
Total: 93/110
Score: 8.5 Excellent
Genres: Post-Hardcore, Emo, Pop-Punk
Last Week's Review: Life is Not a Waiting Room by Senses Fail
Next Week's Review: The Room's Too Cold by The Early November
Next Hawthorne Heights Review: If Only You Were Lonely
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