By: Will Floyd
“Smile, It’s the end of the World” is the second album released by Hawk Nelson in 2006. I came to love Hawk Nelson many years ago, however this was my first time giving the whole album a listen. Although it has aged poorly, the first Hawk Nelson album was fantastic and in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. This album wasn’t as high on my list but it still had some phenomenal songs.
The One Thing I Have Left: 10/10
This song has always been one I keep going back too. It’s just such a good “state of the world” and “I’m hanging by a thread” type of song. It’s very intense in all the right ways.
The Show: 3/10
It is alright but it’s way too long. It feels like it’s being stretched out and that just ruins it for me.
Bring em out: 7/10
It’s a good pop punk party song but it’s nothing special.
Everything you ever Wanted: 12/10
Yes I did rate it off the scale. This song is one of my absolute favorites of all time. It’s super moody, sad and angsty. It really helps me feel the feels.
Something on my Mind 3/10:
It’s just really “mid.” I don’t have too much to say about it.
Is Forever Enough 8/10:
It seems like a good rage song and has a sick guitar riff
Zero 6/10:
Not bad, but really nothing crazy. It feels very Simple Plan esque and not in a way I like. I didn’t care for the mid-song monologue, it felt too much like a randomly inserted mewithoutyou song but not in a good way. It really killed the mood for me.
Nothing to Show, Head on Collision, Hello 5/10:
They’re all just kind of there.
It’s Over 7/10:
A solid angsty breakup song
14 7/10:
I expected to not really care for the slow pace of the song but it is actually really nice. More of a “vibey” song than the usual punchy pop punk stuff I’m used to from Hawk Nelson. Usually I hate hearing “oohh” repeatedly in a song but I actually really like it in this one.
Overall I give the album a 8.5/10. Going into it I was expecting there to be some songs I didn’t care for, and there certainly were. But there are also some songs I absolutely love so it was worth the experience of the less enjoyable ones. If you enjoy pop punk I would definitely recommend “The One Thing I Have Left” and “Everything You Ever Wanted.” Aside from that it’s not something I’ll ever listen to all the way through again.
