Dave Hause – Resolutions (Paper And Plastick)
As the front man of The Loved Ones, Dave Hause has a lot to prove with a debut solo effort. Resolutions could easily be perceived as another example of a trend within the punk scene in recent years: the tangential release, with questionable motives, of a solo effort by a seasoned veteran of the genre. There are examples to support both positive and negative perceptions of the trend, but releases by the likes of Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Tom Gabel, Chris McCaughan and Rob Huddleston have transcended the reputations of their past or current groups. They shed new light on the artist’s creative prowess. As a result, they stand alone as more than just trite ventures into the role of singer-songwriter.
Dave Hause – Resolutions (Paper And Plastick)
As the front man of The Loved Ones, Dave Hause has a lot to prove with a debut solo effort. Resolutions could easily be perceived as another example of a trend within the punk scene in recent years: the tangential release, with questionable motives, of a solo effort by a seasoned veteran of the genre. There are examples to support both positive and negative perceptions of the trend, but releases by the likes of Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Tom Gabel, Chris McCaughan and Rob Huddleston have transcended the reputations of their past or current groups. They shed new light on the artist’s creative prowess. As a result, they stand alone as more than just trite ventures into the role of singer-songwriter.
In Hause’s case, this record has very little in common with his efforts in The Loved Ones. The only familiar strains are Hause’s voice and his approach to melodies throughout Resolutions. On this collection, Hause discovers a flair for embracing his growing evolution. He incorporates instrumentation that fits right in with this creative direction. By lightening up the guitars, throwing a few keys in there, and inviting a few guest players to drop by, he creates an album that stands strong. Resolutions demonstrates that Hause is someone who, despite being constantly overlooked, deserves recognition.
With tracks like “Melanin” and “Meet Me at The Lanes,” Hause delves into the unforgiving mysteries of his life. By acknowledging the internal despair that he has never quite shaken off, the songs provide a clear description of the personality of this particular songwriter. He is still that voice from Jersey that never imagined adulthood reaching him in the way that it has. By declaring that the current times make him want to explode, he shows that, while not everything changes, it’s hard to feel like anything is capable of staying the same when we all begin to drift apart.
Hause’s involvement with The Loved Ones has provided him with many glimpses of success. Yet his experiences are the quintessential tales of bands who have opened countless times for their peers, witnessing the escalating slope of renown and achievements by other bands, but receiving very little themselves. With this in mind, it’s clear that Hause didn’t really have to release the songs on Resolutions for any reason besides that they made sense for this project. He assembled these players to deliver on the creative premise of making an album of material that might not fit on a Loved Ones release, and he succeeded in doing so. If there were any criticism to make, it would be that, although the release is able to avoid premature preconceptions, there are still moments that falter. However, all in all, Resolutions has more high marks than low points. By virtue of these highlights, the record definitely deserves a listen by fans of Hause’s past projects, and by those looking to hear an honest voice coming from their stereos.
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Dave Hause will be in Richmond on Tuesday, April 26 at Gallery 5, appearing along with Mikey Erg, Ian Graham of Cheap Girls, and a special acoustic set by Sundials.
