Artist: Hidden in Plain View
Album: Resolution
Label: Drive-Thru Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: July 24th, 2007
Overall: 7.5
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 7.5
Earlier this year when the news of Hidden in Plain View’s breakup hit the wire, fans were left shocked and completely devastated. However many found solace in the fact that the group’s final effort, Resolution would get to see the light of day. As Drive-Thru Records still planned to release the posthumous record later in the year. Quickly message boards lit up with both sorrow and anticipation. Everyone shared fond memories of the beloved New Jersey group and pondered what the future would hold for the various projects that would stem from Hidden in Plain View’s demise. Despite the mourning all were anxious to hear what would come of the final recording session. What would the band leave us to remember them by?
We begin with “Bendy” a true opener that packs a real punch, with raw emotion and soaring melodies. I don’t think the album could be led off any better and the track itself will certainly go down as one of my favorites. “I Don’t Wanna Hear It” can only be described as a bouncy number that will without a doubt resonate in fans hearts for a longtime to come. We venture into slightly darker and heavier terrain with the songs “Heavy Breathing” and “Walk Harbor City” where the guitar work proves exceptional. I feel the standout track on Resolution is “Circles,” which is a perfect example of Hidden in Plain View’s finesse for bridging both heavy and melodic sounds to create a killer song. The hard-driving sounds of “Our Time” leave me wondering what could have been… if the group hadn’t called it a day. The ladder of the record is tied together nicely with a short instrumental “Interlude.”
Where “The Lake House” shows no signs of the professional or creative differences that were cited for the separation. The album concludes with “Hear Me Out” and as the ambient almost haunting echoes chant and ringout, the final chapter of Hidden in Plain View is written. While their existence was relatively short, the band has left quite a rich legacy behind. Hidden in Plain View and the music they made will always be remembered, thus giving their subsequent projects some very solid ground to stand on. So, what would the band leave us to remember them by? The answer is Resolution, and it is truly a great note for them to go out on.
Track List
1. Bendy
2. I Don’t Wanna Hear It
3. Like an Ocean
4. Heavy Breathing
5. Walk Harbor City
6. Circles
7. Our Time
8. Off My Shoulders
9. Interlude
10. Something Needs to Change
11. The Lake House
12. Hear Me Out
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