I want to post my quick thoughts before I read and get influenced about what others have said. For me SA was patchy with a few moments that redeemed it, but not near enough for me to call it essential when comparing it to earlier band releases. Then a couple of years later MATS was released. First two tracks there and I'm with them. I'm digging it. Then it begins to meander for me and go off into tangents and areas that aren't my preference. Before I get flamed, I agree that they are good to great at these sonic explorations and understand the merits of it for those who prefer that direction for the band. It's just not me. I was not sure what to expect with HOB when I got it. I was hopeful for a return to something of a more traditional Church type of album and fearful that it might be more exploration, long jams and overindulgences. If HOB would have been that they may have lost me right there but it was in fact a return to a more traditional type of Church album. Maybe its because I felt that I got my band back as I prefer them that this one is special to me. When I compare it to others, it falls in about the middle, which isn't bad. I think it sets a mood and follows through, something that neither SA or MATS did. For me and what I like and prefer from this band there are more songs that I really like on this release than there are combined from MATS and SA. Anaesthia, Ricochet, Louisiana, Buffalo, etc... A bunch of wonderful songs here. I saw the survivor album game and it amazes me how different we are. P=A isn't in my top 5 yet it won the contest. I'm not sure if HOB is top 5 for me (I'd have to really think about it) but I'm sure that HOB was the foundation for the second coming of the Church in the 00's and for that alone its essential and classic.