Hawthorne Heights - The Silence in Black & White Acoustic (Album Review)
Ten years after the original album dropped, Hawthorne Heights released an anniversary edition featuring all of the songs of the original TSIB&W, only acoustic. The original album was released June 1, 2004. The acoustic version came to us a few months short of being 7 years since the death of Casey Calvert, rhythm guitarist and unclean vocalist.
The album from start to finish is beautiful, its not just guitars and light drums, there are backing keyboards as well which gives it more substance. It’s also in a way sad, almost haunting for lack of a better term. Every time you expect to hear Calvert’s screams, there’s nothing. While screams on an acoustic track wouldn’t make much sense, it’s still very much a somber reminder of the amazing man the music world lost. Frontman JT Woodruff sounds almost exactly as he did 10 years ago, which in the music industry, no matter who you are, 10 years can take a toll on your voice whether it’s cleans or otherwise.
This is a wonderful re-release of a great album, and I’m sure it carries many memories; be it the memories of the band itself or for those who were fans when it first came out back in 2004, this is nothing short of a classic.
Rating: 5/5- I’ve been giving them out so much, but this album deserves it. Usually I don’t like acoustics, but this albums holds a special place in my heart. The original came out when I was in middle school, and all the kids in my group of friends (please don’t make me put a label on it, you should be able to figure it out haha) loved it, so I got it and I loved it too. I still remember when I got the e-mail that Casey had passed, I think I actually still have it saved in my e-mail somewhere. I couldn’t believe it, and he’s what this album is missing. I know Micah took over Casey’s role after his passing, but I think the fact that on this album they didn’t fill in Casey’s part was a wonderful thing, respectful for lack of a better word. If you haven’t heard it, I suggest you give it a listen. It’s amazing.
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