A Slice of Fried Gold,
Page 44I don't like being mean about bands, but sometimes you just have to be cruel to be kind. There isn't that much wrong with Page 44, but at the same time there's not that much right either. They do what they do to an above-average level, but it just smacks of local band mediocrity. The three songs on this little EP have catchy enough choruses, but the guitars are neither beefy nor poppy enough to make an impact, while the vocals lack a sparkle to make them stand out.
The cliched '1,2,3,4' opening of 'Something About You' is as generic as the 30-seconds-too-long opening song 'We Know The Way'. Neither are particularly bad, but there's nothing that really warrants repeat listens. They're the kind of local band I could imagine seeing opening up at a 4ft Fingers or [spunge] show, where they bring a stack of local kids out who all go crazy. And while I have no doubt Page 44 will have a strong and loyal following of family and friends, the three songs on offer here suggest they need to work that bit harder if they're to attract any attention from further afield.
www.myspace.com/page44
paul
