Letters To The President: Expanded Version (CD - 2004)

Hawk Nelson: Jason Dunn (vocals, keyboards); Jonathan Steingard (guitar); Daniel Biro (bass guitar); Nathan Walters (drums).

Bouncy, catchy, energetic punk-pop is immensely popular for a good reason: It's bouncy, catchy, and energetic! Hawk Nelson, an up-and-coming four-piece from Canada, mine that vein to good effect on LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT. Though their highly melodic, guitar-driven bubblegum rock doesn't necessarily sound that different from dozens of other Green Day imitators, it is bright, well-constructed, and not without its charms. Hawk Nelson also seem to have a thing for the Lord, which will endear them to fans of CCM rock. Their messages of faith are rarely overt, however, and don't distract--as they tend to do with some Christian bands--from the hopped-up, fist-pumping energy that dominates. A dash of emo (courtesy of the lead singer's sensitive-guy rock star voice) rounds out the band's sound nicely. minimize