Indie Music Album Reviews

Trevor Page - OLIGARCHY

12/4/2015

Trevor Page

OLIGARCHY
self-released; 2015

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

I wasn’t sure what to expect when glancing at the cover art for Oligarchy by Trevor Page. All I knew was that I was probably in for a whole lot of patriotism and metal riffs. What I wasn’t expecting was pop/dance songs that were soulful. In fact most of the songs have nothing to do with oligarchy, tanks or America at all.

Page has been a singer since he was young kid and it’s obvious after listening to his voice why he has stuck with it. He has a soulful, dynamic voice that you can picture getting pretty far in the American Idol competition. Page can certainly belt it out and does so throughout the entire album.

Much like the cover art I was dumbfounded by the intro, which doesn’t feel connected to the rest of the songs. It contains a bunch of little kids singing, “this land is your land” with ominous atmospheric pads layered on top. All of a sudden it breaks into a hardcore electronic beat with Page’s voice manipulated with an auto-tune like effect. I’m still not completely sure what I listened to.

After the intro “Warrior” is the first fleshed-out song. The music is solid and the vocals are infectious. As for the lyrics they were general and almost felt perfectly at home in an inspirational song that would have been played during the montage scene in some ‘80s movie. He sings about always fighting for something and not backing down. That type of thing.

“American Dream (Wanna Be)” is a highlight. It’s upbeat, danceable and really catchy. Page sings about the ambition for fame. “Cupid” is poppy dance-y track that features inventive production. This time around Page sings about the ever-popular concept of love.

“Can’t Walk Away” is a melancholy ballad that showcases Page’s emotional side. It dances upon the topic of years in love in a very classic kind of way. He sings about going to the end of earth for love and how he is nothing without it. Similar sentiments that you have probably heard before. The last song ”Afraid” has a triumphant, inspirational vibe that was a good choice for a closer.

After spending time with the album I still have no idea why there are tanks (it may be a picture of the M4 Sherman medium tank that the US used in war) on the cover art or why it’s called Oligarchy. The last four songs clearly revolve around a relationship and the concept of love. Despite the disparity between the cover art and the music Page can certainly deliver the goods.