Artist: Steven Page
Album: Page One
Release date: Oct. 19
Label: Rounder Records
Grade: D
As the album opener "A New Shore" might suggest, Steven Page, former lead singer of the popular adult contemporary group Barenaked Ladies, searches for a new mode in his debut solo album Page One.
Although Page's solo album includes a more personal focus than his albums with Barenaked Ladies, the general production and song craft reuse the same tired methods exploited by his previous band over the past decade.
On the plus side, any fans of BNL will be right at home with Page One. Simplistic pop chord progressions and peppy energy come in abundance, and the sense of humor ingrained in Page's vocal style will have BNL fans reminiscing about past albums.
Admittedly, Page One is just a bit more serious and mellow than most of BNL's output, but to say that Page has calmed down would be splitting hairs.
The first noticeable difference occurs in the aforementioned "A New Shore," which includes a string section to create a subtle shift in mood.
This sound, though usually confined to the background, appears continuously throughout the record. If anything, it provides an intellectual feel to Page's first solo statement.
When observed closer, the album does have its share of oddities and experiments. These eccentricities can be mildly interesting, but they aren't enough to take this album out of predictable, sub-par pop territory.
"Queen of America" works with an electronic beat and has an overall techno vibe, and "If You Love Me" bursts with a danceable, yet annoying, computer rhythm. "Overjoy" features distorted vocals, but the change is so minor that listeners may not even notice.
The little surprises seem intended to avoid asserting themselves, a feeling that characterizes the album as a whole.
Stephen Page's solo debut contains accounts of love and heartbreak, and the album comes without any inspiration to distinguish itself. Diehard fans probably won't be bothered by this album's lack of originality, but people looking for something fresh are advised to look elsewhere.
However, if you count yourself as one of Page's fans, be sure to check out his performance at the Riviera Theater in North Tonawanda on Nov. 6.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
