PLACES TO PARK “Better Sights Were Set”
If this makes any sense at all, I think it’s safe to say that PLACES TO PARK sneaks past my radar of boring music into “the land of good” by only a hair, and only as a result of my defenses suddenly being disoriented. “Better Sights Were Set” is a strangely unaffectionate but strong release. Sure, it hums along and chuggs forward with a decent amount of drive, but it never seems to extend an arm of reassurance. I’m never comfortable just sitting around listening to this release – yet there’s no urgency for me to turn it off or even pay any less attention and thus render it nothing more than certified background noise. The guitar work on this release vaguely reminds me of HOOBASTANK, or even the power pop exhibited on the latest JIMMY EAT WORLD, but largely, PLACES TO PARK retains their own sound of mid-paced, guitar driven rock. None of the eleven tunes on “Better Sights Were Set” deviate from the standard flow or show any moments of greatness. No vocal chords are busted, no screams emitted, no upsurges in tempo or even vocal parts a’thunder! But instead of crossing the boundary into lethargy, this release just oozes it’s soft aloe and soothes its aggressions at all ends. I’ve been numbed out of a deciding opinion. At least this stuff is better than false metal.
Volcom
