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Hidden In Plain View

Resolution

Written by: TL on 03/09/2007 00:10:09

If I was to explain the word "ironic" to someone, I would feel very tempted to mention Hidden In Plain View. How else do you describe it, when a band releases a sophomore titled "Resolution" only to break up pretty much moments after stepping out of the studio?

Trust me, it's not like I wanted to sit here and bash these guys, because while I didn't fail to notice the inconsistency in their debut full length "Life In Dreaming" it did have some jewels in the raw on it, sparkling brightly, no matter how much one tried to write the album off. However, it is painstakingly easy for me to imagine how this band sat down, listened to "Resolution", looked at each other and collectively thought the same thing: "We're done. Dead. Drained for creativity. It's over and we better find other jobs FAST!".

Have you ever had a conversation with someone, where the other part did pretty much all the talking and the only thing that ever reached your brain was "Blablablablablablablablablablablabla"? I've listened to Resolution more than a little now, and even before the opener "I Don't Wanna Hear It" ends, I'm already thinking: "I'm sorry dudes, but neither do I". Except for the predictable fact that HIPV sounds pretty much the same as always, there isn't really anything to tell you about this new album except how you can listen to it time and time again while still setting new records in how fast you'll lose interest in it. It's not like it's disturbingly bad in it's sound or style, it's just that the whole thing feels like a black hole opened up and swallowed every trace of identity in every single song, leaving all tracks indistinguishable from one another, even after several consecutive listens.

I don't know what to tell you. Sadly, the last album from Hidden In Plain View is about as interesting as watching grass NOT grow. It's the kind of album that makes you think it's funnier to go listen to Linkin' Park, because at least you can have some fun with sitting and pointing out all the times they suck. A trait that does not warrant much credit.

Download: Just go back and listen to "20 Below" and pretend this never happened.
For the fans of: Looking at grass that isn't growing.
Listen: MySpace

Release Date 24.07.2007
Drive-Thru Records