Hoobastank hail from the same general area that has spawned such groups as Incubus and VENT and in earlier incarnations, a few collaborations even took place between them. As such, its by no surprise that with this, their Island/Def Jam debut, that Hoobastank share some common aspects. However, though the group does possess a fair resemblance to the aforementioned acts, rather than experiment with drum and bass and other outlandish elements, Hoobastank instead kick out undeniably catchy modern rock in the vein of acts like Alien Ant Farm, thriving on pristine hooks and big glossy riffs that make for a poignant album which rocks solid straight through from start to finish.

Vocally the album is comprised of an infectious and upbeat vocal performance that draws distinct similarities to that of Incubus' Brandon Boyd, yet it is implemented in a much more traditional rock styling that rings clear with rich backing vocals and mammoth choruses. The guitar work is equally as large and utilizes crisp distortion to add punch to the various driving riffs that catapult the songs forth, while well placed sonic experimentation, complete with effects, drawn out chords and the occasional acoustic strum, help to broaden the songs range. Meanwhile, the basslines are surprisingly animated in contrast and enlist some hearty grooves and tripped out progressions to anchor the tracks in place with a roomy weight, while concentrated bursts of thick percussion lock the tracks firmly into place.

Perhaps the most impressive quality of this album is the maturity and smooth song structures it contains. Nearly every track featured is easily digested and the momentum they generate is almost unstoppable, washing over the listener with warm waves of feel good energy that emphatically expresses emotion with an ultimately positive feel. Each song is extremely catchy and nearly impossible not to be motivated by, and yet it somehow manages to not feel overtly contrived or sugary. There is also some occasional experimentation with electronic elements that shows that the band aren't limited in ideas and helps to keep the discs overall progression feeling fresh and colorful. In fact, the only real possible con for this album is the fact that its a bit glossy and each track goes down so smooth that its hard to tell when one song ends and the other begins. This is also somewhat due in part to the fact that a similar song writing formula is frequently implemented, with pre-choruses and breakdowns consistently placed at predictable intervals, making for music that is finely tuned and well written, albeit a bit routine after a few listens. Still, that said, its hard to deny the skillful precision with which the band are able to express themselves and with such affable choruses and structures, this disc is a top notch affair all the way through, even though it may cater more to the commercial and radio influenced side of the music listening audience in the long run.