Hoobastank Learn The Art Of The Parenthetical Game-Changer
Let’s step back and break down the elements of this cover, shall we?
• Half an infinity sign, and another one in the band’s logo; • Outfits that seem to change depending on whether or not they’re covered by the aforementioned infinity sign; • No real rhyme or reason as to what the “changed” outfits mean (a sweater? a tie? perhaps hell is forced trips to the J. Crew Outlet?); • A title that uses the old “one letter can change everything” trick.
So maybe this cover means that they’re frustrated with the runaway success of “The Reason” as opposed to, well, anything else in their catalog, and they feel like they’re trapped in “safe” alter egos from now until time? Or does it just mean that they want to get out of their contract with Island as quickly as possible, and are even willing to sacrifice anything resembling decent cover art as a means to that particular end? Or am I giving this band way too much benefit of the doubt by assuming that it had anything resembling big ideas in the first place?
Hoobastank – For(n)ever [AbsolutePunk]
