After a four-year battle with their label,
Hawthorne Heights jumped ship in 2010 and signed with Wind-Up instead. Victory Records responded by releasing this compilation, culled from the three albums released under that label’s contract. As with most young bands,
Hawthorne Heights don’t have enough material to warrant a proper best-of album, so Midwesterners basically presents an abridged version of each record. The Silence in Black and White and If Only You Were Lonely contribute five tracks apiece -- roughly 50 percent of both original albums -- while Fragile Future contributes four. Also included are two songs from the 2005 reissue of The Silence in Black and White. For those looking to get hit singles like “Saying Sorry,” “Niki FM,” and “Ohio Is for Lovers” all in one place, this is a handy destination. ~ Andrew Leahey