Hawthorne Heights
  If Only You Were Lonely

 There has been a new music drought which has gone on for what seems like an eternity.  The new album from Hawthorne Heights titled "If Only You Were Lonely" ends that drought.  I am always skeptical of sophomore albums especially after a band becomes so popular like Hawthorne did in last year. Sophomore albums are often notorious to have the "slump". However, this sophomore release exceeded my expectations.  This is a sophomore album that doesn't suck. It is a great follow up to the bands first album "The Silence in Black and White". Which was one of my favorites of the year (that says a lot since many great cd's came out last year), That means they have a lot to live up to though. New songs like the first single "Saying Sorry" are reminiscent of great, classic HH songs like "Niki FM" from their first disc. The best thing about the album is that even with the increased fan base HH didn't go soft. They still bring the same screamo intensity they did on the last album. Hawthorne Heights was far and away one of  the best live shows I saw last year and “If Only You Were Lonely” brings enough new material to load up some killer live shows for this year. Expect to see this album all over MTV  (however you feel about that). These guys from Ohio have really brought their “A” game. Hawthorne Heights grows and further differentiates itself from the rest of the screamo crowd with the depth of this album.  They are a band with lyrical content that is catchy and, dare I say, actually says something that gets hammered home on a wave of driving music.

By Andrew Ehle