Hawk Nelson

Letters To The President: Deluxe Edition (20 Tracks)

Tooth & Nail Records

www.hawknelson.com

There is a trend these days to "re-release albums" - different from the relatively new DualDisc format. Similar to the DVD trend to release a movie, and then "re-release" it with additional features, for example, Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, The Fat Boys In Disorderlies, etc. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it is (or appears to be) just a cash grab.

In this case it works.

And let me say of all the power-punk bands, Hawk stands out to me. I am not a fan of Green Day, Simple Plan, Sum 41, etc… at all. But "Letters" is catchy. Hawk Nelson, the Canadian band with the great name, has had an amazing year since Letters released in the summer of 2004, and have released the deluxe Edition to share some of the fun with their growing fan base. The new artwork includes highlights of their first year on the road, documenting their tours with TobyMac, Thousand Foot Krutch and Sanctus Real, as well as their portrayal of The Who on NBC's American Dreams.

The music? The original tracks as produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Poor Old Lu) and Trevor "Oddball" McNevan (TFK, FM Static) are all present, plus an additional six tracks recorded since last year that are worth having. The band's cover of "My Generation" is well done. Not every band writes songs that can translate well when performed acoustically, (did you see the BeeGees do "Jive Talking" with a banjo on Oprah?) and Hawk's performances of fan favorites "Every Little Thing", "Take Me" and "Letters To The President" hold up excellently.

The other thing is that I have been lamenting the lack of musicians of faith that like to shake things up lyrically - so many are so safe and "nice". More on that next month. It's good to see some bands, like Hawk and tourmates 4th Avenue Jones, that refuse to candycoat their experiences in living out their faith. Read the lyrics of "Letters: and "Things We Go Through" to see what I am talking about.

The bonus videos just sweeten the deal. "Letters" is done live and, without ruining it for you, the shortest clip "Jason vs. the chairs" sums up everything I had ever heard about the band from their biggest fans, Trevor and Erin McNevan.

It's all good.

- Silas Tomkyn

Buy "Letters" at Blessings.com