Hawk Nelson

This young Ontario-based quartet works in a not terribly original but completely winning pop-punk vein, churning out power chords, hooky choruses, and sweet vocal harmonies at tempos that generally vary between medium-fast ("From Underneath," "Letters to the President") and rip-roaring ("California," "Recess"). Hawk Nelson are on the Tooth & Nail label and little phrases like "It's from my Father's hand" and "She thinks life would be so simple if everyone would pray" keep cropping up, so there's good reason to believe that this is one of those crypto-Christian pop bands that can't help expressing its faith but is less interested in bringing you to Christ than in making sure you bop to the beat and take away a general feeling of uplift and encouragement. Of course, once in a while they'd like you to just bang your head, which explains the headlong, 50-second punk rush of "Recess." And they're not afraid to let you know that they sometimes stand by the window crying, either ("Take Me"), which one supposes is kind of endearing if you're into that whole Jade Tree/Promise Ring/Rainer Maria Rilke thing. Overall, not bad at all. [The Deluxe Edition of Letters to the President includes music videos and live footage.] ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide