If Only You Were Lonely

If Only You Were Lonely is the second studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights and the final album to feature rhythm guitarist and unclean backing vocalist Casey Calvert before his death on November 24, 2007. It was produced by David Bendeth. The title of the album is in reference to a B-side by The Replacements of the same name.

If Only You Were Lonely
Male version cover
Studio album by Hawthorne Heights
Released	February 28, 2006
Recorded	September – October 2005
Studio	Water Music, Hoboken, New Jersey
Genre	Emo,[1][2][3][4][5] pop punk, post-hardcore, alternative rock
Length	43:35
Label	Victory
Producer	David Bendeth
Hawthorne Heights chronology
The Silence in Black and White (2004) If Only You Were Lonely (2006) Fragile Future (2008)
Alternative cover
Female version cover

Production

If Only You Were Lonely was recorded in September and October 2005 at Water Music in Hoboken, New Jersey, with producer David Bendeth. Dan Korneff and John Bender served as engineers, and both did digital editing, alongside Kato Khandwala. Ted Young aided them as assistant engineer. Korneff provided additional guitar production, and set up mixing, which was done by Bendeth and assistant Isaiah Abolin at Sound on Sound Studios and Right Track Studios, both in New York City in October 2005. Ted Jensen mastered the recordings at Sterling Sound.[6]

Story

If Only You Were Lonely is a concept album following the long-distance relationship between a young couple who were unwillingly torn apart because of the boy's family moving (hence the line in the opening track, "I know it seems like we're never coming back"). Throughout the album, the couple keep their relationship going while talking on the phone and look back on the pain they went through due to their separation. This is especially evident in "Pens and Needles" and "Saying Sorry". In the album's final track, "Decembers", the boy remembers all the times he had with his girlfriend and wishes he could have her back. Their relationship is also shown in the cover for both the original and alternate version of the album, as you can see a man sleeping by himself in the original and a woman sleeping by herself in the alternate version.

The name for the track, "Where Can I Stab Myself in the Ears?", is derived from a post on a forum that was an announcement for Hawthorne Heights' release on the popular music news website, AbsolutePunk.[7]

Release

"Saying Sorry" was made available for streaming solely on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve 2005.[8] A music video was released for the song via AOL Music on January 16.[9] "Saying Sorry" was released to radio on January 31, 2006.[10] In February and March the group went on a tour of the U.S. alongside Emery, Anberlin, June and Bleed the Dream.[8] The album was released on February 28, 2006[8] through Victory Records.[11] From March to May, the group toured with Fall Out Boy on their North American arena tour,[11] titled the Black Clouds and Underdogs Tour.[12] "Pens and Needles" was released to radio on June 13, 2006.[10] In July, the band went on a tour of Canada alongside Story of the Year and Anberlin.[13]

Throughout July and August, the band performed a number of free intimate shows. Fans could gain entry by signing up with Rockcorps.[14] On August 7, it was announced that the band had left Victory Records, citing a lack of royalty payment.[15] From September to November, the band headlined the 2006 edition of the Nintendo Fusion Tour.[16] "I Am on Your Side" impacted radio on October 10.[17] In June and July 2007, the bands went on a U.S. tour with support from From First to Last, Secondhand Serenade, Brighten and Powerspace.[18] Following this, the group appeared on the 2007 edition of Warped Tour.[19] In November and December, the band went on a headlining US tour dubbed Wintour. They were supported by Escape the Fate, Amber Pacific, the A.K.A.s and the Secret Handshake.[20]

Music videos were made for three tracks from the album. The video for "This Is Who We Are" was filmed at the Minneapolis stop of the Black Clouds Tour on April 14, 2006. The band later filmed a music video for "Pens and Needles" in Miami. The video was directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini.[21] Yet another Music Video was filmed for "Saying Sorry".

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	57/100[22]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The A.V. Club	C-[23]
Allmusic	link
Alternative Press	[24]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[2]
Popmatters	[25]
Punknews.org	[4]
Q	[22]
Rolling Stone	[26]
Slant Magazine	[3]
Spin	C[27]

If Only You Were Lonely debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Independent Albums chart, spending a total of 17 weeks on the former. It is the band's highest charting album to date. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 24, 2016.

Track listing

All arrangements by Hawthorne Heights and David Bendeth.[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"This Is Who We Are"	3:46
2.	"We Are So Last Year"	2:58
3.	"Language Lessons (Five Words or Less)"	3:21
4.	"Pens and Needles"	3:15
5.	"Saying Sorry"	3:08
6.	"Dead in the Water"	3:52
7.	"I Am on Your Side"	4:15
8.	"Breathing in Sequence"	3:29
9.	"Light Sleeper"	3:27
10.	"Cross Me Off Your List"	3:41
11.	"Where Can I Stab Myself in the Ears"	3:42
12.	"Decembers"	4:46
Total length:		43:35

Rhapsody Exclusive track

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Niki FM" (Live Version)

Singles

• "Saying Sorry" (2006)
• "This Is Who We Are" (2006)
• "Pens and Needles" (2006)

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[6]

Hawthorne Heights Micah Carli – guitar Casey Calvert – guitar, unclean vocals JT Woodruff – lead vocals, guitar Eron Bucciarelli – drums Matt Ridenour – bass, backing vocals Additional musicians John Bender – additional backing vocals The Hawthorne Gang – additional vocals (tracks 8 and 11) Sebastian Davin – piano (track 12) Design Paul Friemel – art direction, layout, original layout concept Dave Hill – photos Neil Visel – photo assistant Selena Salfen – band photography DoubleJ – original layout concept

Production David Bendeth – producer, mixing Dan Korneff – engineer, digital editing, additional guitar production, mix setup John Bender – digital editing, engineer Ted Young – assistant engineer Isaiah Abolin – mixing assistant Kato Khandwala - digital editing Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Album Chart (2006) Peak position US Billboard 200[28] 3 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[29] 1 Singles Year Song Chart Position 2006 "Saying Sorry" US Modern Rock Tracks 7

Certifications Country Certification Sales United States Gold [30] 500,000+

References

1. Kelefa Sanneh (February 27, 2006). "Critics' Choice: New CD's". The New York Times.
2. "If Only You Were Lonely". Entertainment Weekly. February 27, 2006.
3. Scott Shetler. "Hawthorne Heights If Only You Were Lonely". Slant Magazine.
4. Shultz, Brian. "Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely". Punknews.org.
5. Jasamine White-Gluz (March 1, 2006). "Hawthorne Heights If Only You Were Lonely". Exclaim.ca.
6. If Only You Were Lonely (booklet). Hawthorne Heights. Victory Records. 2006. VR266.CS1 maint: others (link)
7. Absolutepunk.net interview Hawthorne Heights - 11.18.05
8. "Hawthorne Heights post new song, tour dates with Emery, June". Alternative Press. December 25, 2005. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
9. "Hawthorne Heights post "Saying Sorry" music video". Alternative Press. January 13, 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
10. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
11. "Fall Out Boy, All-American Rejects, Hawthorne Heights, From First To Last to tour in Spring". Alternative Press. December 31, 2005. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
12. "First (real) batch of Fall Out Boy/All-American Rejects dates posted". Alternative Press. January 5, 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
13. "Hawthorne Heights/Story Of The Year Canadian tour this July". Alternative Press. April 12, 2006. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
14. "Hawthorne Heights team up with Boost Mobile for free shows". Alternative Press. May 25, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
15. "Hawthone Heights leave Victory Records, file lawsuit". Alternative Press. August 7, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
16. "Nintendo Fusion Tour routing revealed". Alternative Press. July 28, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
17. "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. October 3, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
18. "Thursdayyy". Alternative Press. April 13, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
19. "Hawthorne Heights post new demo, announce producer". Alternative Press. May 25, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
20. "Hawthorne Heights announce winter tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. November 18, 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
21. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_tours/hawthorne_heights_dont_waste_time_on_road.html
22. "Critic Reviews for If Only You Were Lonely". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
23. Ryan, Kyle (February 28, 2006). "Hawthorne Heights: If Only You Were Lonely". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
24. "Hawthorne Heights If Only You Were Lonely". Alternative Press. May 24, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
25. Kung, Winston (April 21, 2006). "Hawthorne Heights: If Only You Were Lonely". Popmatters. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
26. Hoard, Christian (February 21, 2006). "If Only You Were Lonely : Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
27. Mar 2003. Spin. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
28. "Hawthorne Heights Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
29. "Hawthorne Heights Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
30. "RIAA Gold and Platinum Search". RIAA. Retrieved 7 April 2018.