Too good to bring the Hause down!
Dave Hause is the Lead singer and Guitarist for The Loved Ones, - a band which in my humble opinion are underrated – and this is his first full solo album. Dave has currently been on the fabulous Revival Tour with the likes of Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio), and Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem) which showcases each singer/guitarist/bassist in an acoustic arena on the back of albums released by all of them: Chuck Ragan's third solo studio album 'Covering Ground'; Dan Andriano's album 'Hurricane season' under the guise of Dan Adriano In The Emergency Room; and Brian Fallon with his Side-Project-Tom-Waits-esque band 'The Horrible Crows'. Dave will be seen by many as the undercard on this bill, however this would be a big mistake...
In this solo album, 'Resolutions', you possibly have as close to the singer's usual band's sound than any of the other aforementioned vocalists above. Whilst the band is stripped down with acoustic guitars for the most part, there is the odd big riff and songs here that still rock. The opening track, 'Time Will Tell' is piano-led with that slow pace that coupled with Dave's deep-gravely voice sounds a little like a more accessible Chuck Ragan. Dave also shows that he has that great range when he belts out a high note perfectly. Then in the song, 'Melanin' we have as close to The Loved Ones as you can get. It's funny how I never really appreciated Bruce Springsteen, however now loving bands like Gaslight Anthem and here with Dave Hause (or The Loved Ones), I can hear Springsteen re-ignited with extra oomph, and finally the penny-drops as to the fascination by the masses of 'The Boss'.
'C'mon Kid' starts slow with keyboards before the big handbang riffs kick in with this stripped back Rock'n'Roll song, giving a taste of how good Dave is as a songwriter. Next we have slide guitar in the Country-influenced 'Pray For Tuscon' that smells of oil and sawdust, before the foot-tapping Rock of the title track, 'Resolutions'. By this time that strange facial feeling will be the cheesy and satisfied grin of what you are hearing. Don't worry, this is perfectly natural.
There is quite a nice diverse vein running through each song, and none more so than 'Prague (Revive Me)' which sounds as though it may be influence by Eastern music (as the title suggests), as there are some jolly string plucks and symbol splashes that conjure strange dances with kicking feet and funny hats. The song itself still has the ability to make you lend an ear to the lyrics hanging on to every word. Then we have a two-minute quick acoustic strum of, 'Heavy Heart' before the contemplative poetry of, 'Years from Now'. 'Rankers And Rotters' is a blast of Rock that almost has a bit of Foo Fighters about it before the album closer, 'Meet Me At The Lanes' which has marching band drums and sounds a little like The Gaslight Anthem.
Sometimes you cringe a little when the lead singers of bands decide to have a stab at a solo album and the thought of it proves to be a real anti-climax, as the musical wet-fish flaps around your ear-canal like tinnitus and has you clawing at the stop button for quick relief. This album is nothing like this and instead sits nicely alongside his band's album's. I must conclude that I am pleasantly surprised at how good this album is; it doesn't sound like a solo project that is a bunch of ideas thrown together like some sort of creative release, but a well-crafted bunch of songs beautifully worked to be a good album. This is well worth whatever price you pay for it. Get it now!