Silent & Listen: Secret Hiding Places Never Are
There’s no denying Silent & Listen executes angst-ridden pop with ballsy aplomb, but flawlessness to a fault stymies the energy of their debut full-length, Secret Hiding Places Never Are. Guitar solos galore and gorgeous melodies guide the album, which at times sounds quite ferocious, as with the fiery riffs that erupt in “My Mistake” and “Along the Way.” Vocalist/guitarist Nathan Woody sings with confidence and control that comes across as a smooth, stylistic exercise for a voice destined for a larger, radio audience. The problem is that there aren’t many hard edges here. The gut-punch moments in “Chunky” and “Good Ideas” are powerful, but they’re few and far between, making them effective, but a bit pedestrian. (Self-released) 3 stars out of 5