Dave Hause
Drive It Like It’s Stolen
Blood Harmony
“I pulled over / So you could puke in the ditch on the shoulder.”
The wonderfully evocative first line of “Hazard Lights” perfectly encapsulates Philly native Dave Hause’s don’t-give-a-fuck approach on his sixth solo record, Drive It Like It’s Stolen.
Bold, compelling, and earworm-memorable, it shows an artist perfectly comfortable in his skin and someone unafraid of confronting the bald truth. And that’s something he returns to time and again throughout, tackling such subjects as mental health, sobriety, divorce, and fatherhood.
With its melancholy intro, “Cheap Seats (New Year’s Day, NYC 2042)” makes for a surprisingly low-key opener, but it quickly clicks into fast-paced gear, describing escape from the apocalyptic vision of a city crumbling to dust. The surprises continue with “Pedal Down,” which again starts slowly but builds into a swirling mass of cathartic release.
Being predictable is something Hause doesn’t subscribe to, as shown on the beautiful and intense acoustic offering of “lashingout,” which ends with an inspired burst of honky-tonk piano.
“Damn Personal” hearkens back to Hause’s punk roots, with a tub-thumping urgency, crunching riffs, and gang vocals, while “Low” and the brilliant title track recall Hause’s love of the late, great Tom Petty and are real standouts, along with the stunningly melodic “Tarnish.”
Expertly produced by Will Hoge and masterfully accompanied by the guitar expertise of Dave’s brother Tim, Drive It Like It’s Stolen is a perfect way to follow Blood Harmony, Hause’s most successful record to date. On this evidence, I wouldn’t bet against that accolade falling to Drive It Like It’s Stolen before too long.
