Review: Steven Page “Page One”

Rock/Pop rock
“Page One” is the latest chapter from this former force behind the popular band Barenaked Ladies. Page hasn’t had much of a musical life outside of his 20 plus years with Barenaked Ladies, so there was much speculation about how his solo album would sound. Not surprisingly, as one of the principle songwriters and singers for Barenaked Ladies, much of Page’s solo work sounds very much like what he’s been doing the past two decades. I hasten to add that it is also much more melodic than what Barenaked Ladies has been cranking out of late. “Page One” was released in 2010 and follows two other solo works.

Once again, Page has teamed up with some luminaries in the pop rock as well as singer/songwriter world. He’s co-written songs with Stephen Duffy and Craig Northey (of one of my favorite underrated bands, The Odds). Among the guests making an appearance on the record are Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello), Esthero, the Baird brothers (Feist), and Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket). You’ll also get to hear the late Will Owsley do one of his last recordings.

Appropriately, things begin with a song entitled, “A New Shore”. Page’s instantly recognizable voice jumps right out at you, soon followed by a choir of sweet harmony vocals that are augmented with sweeping strings. The bright acoustic guitar throughout maintains the buoyant atmosphere. “Indecision” dips down into his talents for blending power pop with mild lounge music. The strong lyric that accompanies this tune makes it the perfect choice for a single (check out the video below). “Marry Me” doesn’t come off nearly as corny as it sounds and actually makes the grade for one of the highlights on the record. A hat trick of pop rock perfection brings the album to a satisfying close, starting with the infectious “She’s Trying To Save Me”, followed by the breezy “Over Joy”, and finally the feel good, fun-loving tune “If You Love Me”.

“Page One” is excellent – a brilliant, cohesive record that is a joy to play all the way through. I can’t wait for “Page Two”.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9

Steven Page - Official site.

Check out the video for “Indecision”:

Free GLEN PHILLIPS Sampler!

Go here to get eight free Glen Phillips tracks:

1. Always Have My Love
2. Blood Pressurize
3. Don't Lose Your Voice
4. Return To Me
5. Thankful
6. Crowing
7. Everything But You
8. The Hole

"This is for those of you wondering what I've been up to since Toad. I'd like to give you eight songs in exchange for your email address, so I can tell you about upcoming tours (solo, with Toad and WPA) as well as new recording projects. Sound good? I think so.

Most important new project: WPA - go to wpamusic.com for more information, or wpamusic.bandcamp.com for the record.

Thanks for coming by..." - Glen

Review: Crosby Loggins "Time To Move"

I missed the 2007 debut record "We All Go Home", so this new release "Time To Move" is my first exposure to Crosby Loggins, son of AOR top gun, Kenny. Let's get the inevitable comparisons out of the way first, shall we?

Does he sound like his father? If he is complaining that his CD is currently going for less than one dollar in the used bins, then yes. But otherwise, if I didn't know better, I would never have guessed he was Kenny's boy.
Did his father help with any of the songs? No - whether that is a good or bad thing is a matter of personal opinion.
What has he done that his father hasn't already? Crosby won MTV's reality show "Rock the Cradle". That has to look good on your resume.
Is he fond of beards? Evidently.
Will any song from "Time To Move" be featured in a testosterone-driven action movie? Most definitely not.

Crosby Loggins is attempting to carve out a niche of his own here, as the title might suggest. He sounds quite comfortable but not all that confident yet. "Time To Move" primarily consists of run of the mill light rock with simplistic lyrics about girls and love - sound familiar? His vocal performance is adequate, but nothing that stands out in the crowd. He probably has it in him to dazzle us more than he does here. The good news is that the melodic fruit did not fall far from the tree - the most memorable tracks include the upbeat numbers "Good Enough", "Better Days", and "Radio Heart". Incidentally, "Radio Heart" was co-written with Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket). Another guest star is John Mayer, who supplies the guitar solo on the title track.

Closest comparisons would be contemporary soft rockers like John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and Train. If this is your thing, you can get the CD used for less than a buck at Amazon.com.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 4, 6, 9, 10

Crosby Loggins on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Works Progress Administration "Works Progress Administration"

Taking its name from President Roosevelt's 1939 New Deal initiative, Works Progress Administration (WPA) is a conglomeration of similarly minded musicians, crafting music that is meant to inspire and enlighten while it entertains. An impressive list of stellar talent has had a hand in steering the music that has found its way onto the self-titled debut record, due September 15. The founding members are listed as Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band/Ricky Skaggs/Lyle Lovett), but substantial contributors include Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Imposters/Randy Newman), and Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and the Imposters/Cracker). The founding fathers are regulars who interact at the legendary LA club, Largo, which is the very place Phillips recorded his 2003 live record.

As if that isn't enough name dropping, WPA partnered with Jim Scott to do the engineering; he's worked with the likes of Wilco and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. So with all this talent on board, is this project right on track or a messy train wreck?

The twelve songs include some of the "best" of unrecorded material from various members, as well as some tunes specifically written for the project. Remarkably, the record has tremendous cohesion, despite the myriad of styles and vocal tones each team member brings to the table. I'll admit I was attracted to WPA largely because of Phillips, whose solo efforts and work with Toad remain some of my favorite recordings of all time. For those of you who share my taste, be warned that WPA is markedly country and Americana, with lots of fiddle and pedal steel. For those familiar with the 2004 Nickel Creek-Phillips collaboration, Mutual Admiration Society, I think you'd agree that WPA sounds like a logical extension of that effort. It isn't too Hee Haw (with exception of "Wedding Or A Wake"), but it is the most country-flavored release of Phillips' career.

Of course, this is not a Glen Phillips record - WPA is more like a modern day version of The Eagles, with Phillips, Bulla, and the Watkins siblings taking more or less equal turns on lead vocals, with plenty of masterful harmonies throughout (in keeping with the Eagles analogy, they even have a song called with "Already Gone" in the title!). As with most of the other work from these artists, the lyrics are almost always reflective and philosophical.

There is a good mix of slow versus mid-tempo songs, with the disc lending itself well as a soundtrack for watching sunsets on the back porch. Two of the most enjoyable and more upbeat numbers are right up front, "Always Have My Love" and "Good As Ever", and the haunting ballad "Rise Up" is deeply compelling (all sung by Phillips). Several of the other highlights from the record include the buoyant little ditties "Paralyzed" and "You're Already Gone". The album's closing piano ballad, "The Price", tenderly sung by Sara Watkins, is one of the finest songs I've heard this year; it was actually written by Tench more than two decades ago during his tenure with the Heartbreakers.

A more appropriate name for this project could not have been selected. No one is a hero in this outfit, and when egos are sacrificed for the betterment of the whole, you get a success story like the first record from WPA. While some of these tracks take two or three spins to appreciate, each listen brings a new reward. Today's music world needs a New Deal, and the biz could learn a great deal from the spirit driving WPA.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12

Take note that if you join the mailing list through their main web site, you can get a free mp3 of "Always Have My Love".

Works Progress Administration on MySpace. Official site.

Check out a video detailing the story of WPA (the band, this is not a lesson in the Great Depression):
Introducing Works Progress Administration

Trivia Corner: Kenny the Wet Sprocket

Back in 2003, a lot of people were picking up the phone and replying, "Kenny who? Loggins? No kidding? Sure I'll meet you halfway and do a song with you!"

Soundtrack god and AOR mastermind Kenny Loggins released "It's About Time" later that year, trying to redeem himself from the gut-wrenchingly awful "The Unimaginable Life" from 1997. Not quite the return to form that would be "How About Now" (read our review here), "It's About Time" ain't half bad and boasts a surprising number of diverse collaborators of songwriters and performers I have enjoyed over the decades.

First up, 70s singer/songwriter Michael McDonald joins in on the title track, trying to recapture a little of the soulful feel of their previous work together, 1979's "This Is It" and 1982's "Heart To Heart".

Then enter 80s singer/songwriter Richard Marx, who works with Loggins on plenty of the ballads (surprise). They actually sound good harmonizing together, and I did not need the linear notes to tell me that Marx was doing back up vocals. His distinctive rasp sounds great on these tracks - I just wish he could remember how to write an uptempo song.

Next up we have 90s singer/songwriter Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket helping out with a track called "This Is How My Song Goes". I would never have guessed this match up, but it was a pleasant surprise to see them working together. I don't like the song too much, though.

And appropriately, we have Clint Back helping out with the country-flavored track, "Alive N' Kickin'".

Curiously, all of these guests are thanked in the linear notes EXCEPT Glen Phillips. What's up with that, Ken?

News: Glen Phillips new EP available now

Glen Phillips has completed a new EP that can be checked out here. Formerly the frontman of one of my all-time favorite bands, Toad the Wet Sprocket, the prolific Glen has written an enviable catalogue of music that is both artistic and melodic.

Glen's MySpace page.

And if that isn't exciting enough, he's participating in a new all-star band that should have a CD out later this year:

"Tentatively known as the Scrolls, the octet is comprised of keyboardist Benmont Tench from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, drummer Pete Thomas and bassist Davey Faragher from Elvis Costello's Imposters, Nickel Creek's Sara and Sean Watkins, Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips, fiddler Luke Bula from the Blue Merle Band and multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz."

Story here.