We all have favourite songs, don't we?
Maybe from a favourite artist or maybe from a long lost band or album.
Songs that have stayed with us, come what may.
For me, one such song is
'Don't Hold Back Your Love', written by
Richard Page (and others).
I first heard it performed by Oz's Daryl Braithwaite on his
'Rise' album.
I later heard the definitive version, by Hall & Oates on their otherwise disappointing
'Change Of Season' release in 1990.
It was a controlled explosion of emotion, lyrically and musically, and with Hall's voice the song found the perfect vehicle.
The quality of the songwriting should have been no surprise of course.
As the voice and co-songwriter in Mr Mister, Page achieved worldwide success in the eighties.
But for many - that song apart - Page's twin peaks arose firstly with the band's third and least successful (in terms of sales) album,
'Go On', in 1987. And secondly with Patrick (Trillion) Leonard on Third Matinee's '
Meanwhile' in 1994. (Both still guilty listening pleasures).
Each one of these albums was a commercial failure and an artistic success.
And despite being something less than iconic, they remain monuments to the power of grown up rock music. Sharply observant, full of humanity, and just brimming over with illuminating insights on life in general. And yes, they contained lots of good tunes.
'
Peculiar Life' is Page's second solo album, following 1996's
'Shelter Me'. That first solo album was well intentioned, but maudlin and directionless in places. This new release is an enormous improvement, and on several tracks you can see it has close blood ties to '
Meanwhile' and '
Go On'.
Page has written a high calibre bunch of songs, on his own and with Steve (Mr.Mister) George, Richard Marx and with lesser known but impressively gifted talents like Jochem van der Saag, Per Magnussen and David Kreiger.
One of the better songs here is '
You Are Mine', a quality country rock song, written by Page with Melissa Pierce and Mike Busbee for country star, Phil Stacy's Billboard Top
Ten album in 2008.
There's a strong lyrical theme to
'Peculiar Life'. The post Mr.Mister Page is still exploring, looking for meaning, purpose. There's plenty of searching narratives but never a redemptive payoff.
That lack of resolution can be irritating - we all love happy endings - but we have to admit it reflects reality.
Producer Richard Gibbs gives the songs plenty of room to manoeuvre, leading a rich weave of acoustic and electric guitars through the landscape of Page's life.
Outstanding track, '
Worldly Things' could have been lifted from
'Go On'.
Page's lyrics, reflecting the lilting melody, swing wildly from downbeat to uplifting, commanding your attention and insisting on some kind of emotional investment.
Musically, the album is largely laidback and undemanding, full of westcoast rock flavourings, spiced up with the odd reggae rhythms, typified by
'No Tomorrow', written with Richard Marx. At first you kind of wish the collaboration had been with Groucho, it would have been more interesting. But after a while it gets under your skin and becomes a habit. And that's the prevailing sentiment on
'Peculiar Life'.
'
The Truth Is Beautiful' walks a fine line between musical magic and lyrical mush. But the song's swaying, old fashioned romanticism and Page's convincing vocal performance win out in the end.
'Brand New Day' injects energy, a mid album kick, carrying us into side two, where the fillers usually lurk, ready to ambush the unsuspecting listener.
The Asian influenced
'When You Come Around' is what first awaits us, admittedly influenced by George Harrison's 'Within And Without You', it successfully creates an ambient, meditative mood without overwhelming us with tablas and sitars.
Producer Gibbs adds some welcome sonic muscle to
'Shadow On My Life' but again wins with the slow, meticulous approach on
'Give It Away', allowing Page to emote soulfully and gracefully. In other words, what Page does best.
No filler after all then, just a continued swell of melancholy melodies and bittersweet lyrics, thoughtful, provocative and always entertaining.
Written by
Brian Sunday, September 12, 2010
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