Page McConnell - Page McConnell April 17, 2007 - Monsters & Critics (UK) By Staff Album Review - Page McConnell The former Phish keys tickler makes a steady, sweet and honest solo debut, besting the unfocused and overly slick recent efforts of better-known compatriot Trey Anastasio. Though he, like Anastasio, mixes singer/songwriter-style confessionals with longer, jammed-out numbers, McConnell doesn`t forget to balance his introspective lyrical tendencies with playful arrangements, deploying Stevie Wonder-esque clav grooves, twittering synth beats and jazzy piano runs to surprising effect. There are missteps, like his sentimental ode to the "Runaway Bride" and the muddled "Complex Wind," which suffers from strained vocals. But much of the album is a pleasantly unfolding examination of the self doubt that follows any difficult breakup and the redemptive powers of music-making. "Rules I Don`t Know," a twang-infused, Elton John-style ballad, is a knockout. Article © 2007 Nielsen Business Media All Rights Reserved.