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There are literally one hundred bands that are currently popular that employ a style like Hawk Nelson's: punk pop/emo with crunching guitars, repeated choruses, chanted choruses, and high energy music aimed at the high school/skateboard crowd.  So why does _Smile, It's the End of the World_ work so well?

Simply put, Hawk Nelson does it better than most.  While the disc has the usual Blink 182/Green Day/All-American Rejects/Good Charlotte/Goldfinger musical reference ground, their vocals and lyrics rise above almost all of the acts trying to perform this style of music: it's poppy enough to draw in both younger fans and females, while it rocks hard enough to bring in the football players and headbangers.  

The songs here visit some familiar topics for the high school/college audience.  "Zero" is a bitter breakup song, while "Hello" is about the paralysis by analysis caused by the fear of making the first move.  "It's Not Over" revisits a broken relationship, with the protagonist coming to the sad realization that she made him a better person than he is now.  "Everything You Ever Wanted" is another pain-laced tune, lamenting the effort that was expended to make her happy, yet ultimately failing.  

"The Show" is an ideal concert opener, and is basically a "roll down your windows and crank up the volume" track, along with "Nothing Left to Show."  "Head On Collision," conversely, portrays two different people, struggling with self-images and the yearning to make something big of their lives.   "Bring 'Em Out" combines pop punk with hip hop, and contains undeniable energy.

Hawk Nelson is a band in the right time and place for this disc.  It's the right style of music for what is currently popular, and they do it extremely well.  The future is very, very bright for this Canadian band.

Brian A. Smith
10 March 2006