2 songs in…HEAVY ROTATION IS VERY COOL, FUNKY
Maid marian is real pretty and makes me smile…Close to Home just came on and it sounds like its gonna be cool
yeah it sounded good live as well, i’ve listened to the wxpn show and the show he did in nyc, the show from nyc is up on tela.sugarmegs.org just scroll down to the p section and look for pages name and the date of 4/4/07
after one listen, first half of album is solid, 2nd half is good too, just not AS good…so far, after one listen mind you, I’m at 3 out of 5 stars. 3 being good and 5 being CLASSIC, 4 being excellent.
i bought the album on itunes and got a bonus track, same thing for store bought cd? anyone? Bueller?
I LOVE this new cd! It’s well crafted, arranged and full of SOUL. This cd flows along nicely. Let’s raise our glass to the CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS! 
^^ no bonus track on my store bought copy
Does anyone else think the album cover looks like the old Cheers logo??
I’m only on ‘Heavy Rotation’ but I like this album so far. It’s about what you’d expect to hear from Page. I’d say it’s a little less funky and technoy than his Vida Blue stuff and honestly sounds more like a Phish album which is a mix of all kinds of stuff.
just got it in the mail today. finishing up maid marien right about…now. good stuff so far.
OK Baby…New PAGE! Oh yeah!
A few months or so ago…I posted on here about
how much I’ve missed Page’s singing voice.
Well…I’ve got my wish!
Here are some initial reactions after listening twice through.
First…I’m sure my opinions will change by listen 10, 30, 100…
Next…If Phish ever does get back together…Page McConnell
has now emerged as a major songwriting force in that band.
My initial reactions to hearing this record are very, very positive
but with some sense of frustration too.
Page has made a colorful record…lots of layers of cool analog
keyboard textures and that lovely Page piano too.
The songwriting…wow…I almost didn’t know Page had this in him!
He’s writing really catchy, interesting, melodic tunes…You’ll
be reminded of Ben Folds, Elton John and even Radiohead
(on the first song which sounds a heck of lot like Subterranean Homesick Alien in the verses).
I’m liking these songs from the get go and I’m sure they will
grow on me too as good pop songs do.
And…there’s even some jamming to boot with the Trey
track and on Heavy Rotation. Very nice.
Now…here’s the frustrating part…
It takes Page until track 7 to…TURN UP HIS VOICE which
is BURIED in the mix for the first 5 tunes (#6 being an instrumental).
This is one of the hazards of Page self-producing his own
first vocal record. His insecurities are showing here…and Page…
We (or most of us) LOVE your voice even with it’s imperfections.
Ok…now…looking at the notes…I see the record was mixed
by Bryce Goggin…so maybe it’s him we have to credit with
this misjudgment…but still…this is a serious flaw which
mars some very beautiful, melodic tunes in the first half
of the record.
In addition to that…from an engineering perspective…Page’s
voice is EQ’ed weird…it’s a very thin sound…Was this from
microphone choice? Eq? the mix? I dunno…but Page has a thin,
reedy sounding voice to begin with…so all of these things are just
not helping.
One last vocal criticism…sorry if I sound too harsh cuz I really
dig this record…but Complex Wind is a beautiful song towards
the end with really interesting (and complex) vocal melodies.
Page is WELL out of tune on a number of phrases…They
could have worked harder on nailing those phrases or
they could have corrected this with pitch correction software.
(Gasp! The horror!) But yea…it would have made it even better.
But the song is BEAUTIFUL so I’ll continue to love it…warts and all.
What else is going on here?
JIM KELTNER!
Holy shit!
I’m sure a lot of people are familiar with this great and in-demand
session drummer’s work…but if not…
Look at some of the names he’s worked with on his EIGHT PAGE
All Music Guide credits list
allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=JIM|KELTNER&sql=11:wpfwxqe5ld6e~T4
It’s very exciting to hear Keltner in some ‘jam’ scenarios
and dang…the boy can jam too. Wow.
And of course…it’s wonderful to hear Fishman and Mike playing
beautifully together on a number of tunes…and Trey’s appearance
while largely supportive on ‘Back in the basement’ is very cool too.
Last song, Everyone But Me…is a beauty with some emotionally
baring lyrics:
Give it up, all of my deep seeded screams
as the years full of fears that I’m not all I should be enough
You listen to everyone but me
Keep baring, Page…and keep sharing!
Two nights ago…I pulled out the Coventry video that
goes around the internet…and I watched for the first
time (since being there) Page and the band’s harrowing
performance of ‘Wading’. That was one of the most
emotionally powerful and raw experiences I’ve EVER
had at a live concert.
I’ll never forget it and I’m glad to get another glimpse
of Page’s beautiful soul. (Looking forward to Irving Plaza!) 
-todd amodeo
http://toddamodeo.com
Press here for Free Music, Free Words and Free Love!
Good review Todd.
That is kinda disappointing that Page’s voice needs to be louder in the first five tracks.
I’ve got to get myself a copy of this album.
Page may be the most underrated musician in the world.
This album is the shit. I can’t believe I’m only listening to if for the first time now. I’m only on track two, but my mind is already blown. I didn’t think it would sound that different from the live performances, but the production is top notch. I can see what you guys are saying about the vocals, however…His voice sounds great in my opinion, just a little quiet. The keys sound amazing though! I’ve never heard Page sound like this. It’s funky, poppy, jazzy and soulful. Quite unlike any studio Phish or Phish related stuff I’ve ever heard.
I just don’t see why it couldn’t just be Phish playing these songs though. I mean, a lot of it actually is, but why aren’t they out there playing it right now? I picture Trey and Page having kind of a Stills/Young kind of relationship circa Buffalo Springfield…How Stills was always telling Neil, “You’re a great guitar player, but you can’t sing or write good songs”…Maybe Trey just saw Page in too much of that musician, not a songwriter, type role. Page probably needed to distance himself from Phish to get his confidence up…not that he exudes confidence in his recent interviews, but this album truly does.
Maid Marion is totally different. This is great!
It kind of makes me feel as though if Page had written these songs before the band broke up, they may never have. Page could have led the group through Trey’s herion years. I’m sure when they get back together, a lot of these songs are going to grace the setlists…I hope anyway.
Still haven’t heard the album, but I’ve been listening to that first Philly show on my comp off and on lately.
I’m really starting to get hooked on these songs, especially Closer to Home, Beauty of a Broken Heart, Heavy Rotation, and Runaway Bride. I love the lyrics on Runaway Bride. Seems kind of weird to write a song about that crazy lady in Georgia, but it works!
My favorite is definitely Closer to Home, though.
I know I just need to buy the album, but I don’t see myself having 15 bucks for a new cd anytime soon.
the new Page stuff is great for early morning cramming.
I am becoming obsessed with Heavy Rotation.
just finishing up my first listen here.
i like it.
better than anything anyone else from Phish has done recently (not saying that all of it hasn’t been good but just saying that i feel this one has the most potential on its own)
I really liked some of the songs particularly “Rules I don’t Know” “Broken Heart” “Heavy Rotation” and “Everyone But Me” but the synth drumming got to me a bit in some places, especially since Fishman and Jim Keltner were playing actual drums on the album.
but the synths were really my only issue with the album but that’s just me. I don’t like a lot of electronic stuff in music. Other than that i thought it was great. go Page!
I can’t stop listening to Maid Marian because the lyrics are relevant to my personal life.
Hesitating as you pulled the rug from me,
heading toward the ground and reaching for the curtains.
Can
heavy rotation was the best song i heard at the show! Yes very funky indeed!
heard heavy rotation on the radio the other day. the intro and jam are great but page’s voice was pretty destracting. sounded like a muppet. it would make a bad ass sesame street song though.