On My iPod Today

At the gym last night I was listenning to The Reason by Hoobastank.

I was introduced to Hoobastank about 5 years by a friend from work. Having listenned to their major-label 2001 debut - simply called Hoobastank - I remember saying to that friend that although I thought the music was excellent the band were let down by the clarity - or lack of - the vocals. Call me old fashioned but if someone's gone to the trouble of writing lyrics then I'd like to hear them. OK, I know I'm old-fashioned in many ways but I think you get my point.

Two years later and the band were back in the recording studio and released The Reason and I was delighted to find that even when the lead singer - Doug Robb - is screaming at the top of his voice I could understand him: perhaps a combination of developing his vocal style to suit the bands sound and an intelligent sound engineer.

The radio-breakthrough track from the album is the melodic album title track and my own favourite is Out of Control when Robb ably demonstrates his screaming qualities.

Subsequent releases confirmed the bands obvious quality - in 2006 they released Every Man for Himself and earlier this year For(N)ever.

Find out more - including videos for both The Reason and Out of Control - at their excellent website www.hoobastank.com