Pop Geek Heaven – Bloody Red Baron Reviews, November 2020
Blank Pages, Is This Real? (FDR)
By Mike Baron
Blank Pages inhabits the same hilly terrain as the Turnback and the Hushdrops, sonic architecture with more horizontals than verticals. Greg Potter sings like an animated character, but not saccharine, and he can carry a tune. He and drummer Ed McCafferey hit that characteristic A/B harmony on half the songs, which are filled with elegant flourishes and unexpected cascades. Potter’s guitar has never been sharper, nor his writing. “Robots Will Not Win” should be a counter culture theme song. They hit that sweet Ron Bonfiglio harmony on “Nagging Feeling,” and shove you out of your seat on “Waiting In Line.” There’s that harmony again on “Hiding and Seeking.” Will end up in the Top Ten. Maybe the Top Five. Maybe the record of the year.
Poprock Record – Songs with a Hook, November 2020
Blank Pages, Is This Real? (FDR)
By Denis Pilon
I’m glad robots are back in style, like the guy staring back from the cover from the Blank Pages new record Is This Real. Fun and menace in one attractive metal face! Now while I was looking the cover over I was thinking ‘who put this XTC album on?’ I mean, wow, the Andy Partridge vocal echo all over this platter is remarkable. But not exclusive. The build-up in “Before and After” has a nice late-period Police vibe, juxtaposing an interesting vocal interplay over a spare musical backdrop. “Your Generation,” the seemingly muted answer song to Townshend and company, has a more Joe Jackson vocal style. Meanwhile “Robots Will Not Win” reminds me of the manic fun approach of The Tubes. But “Fall Away” and “Waiting in Line” are sonically like XTC love letters. Of course, they work because the songwriting is strong. And then there’s lovely outliers like the sunny poprock gem “Hang Up.” Is This Real is a crisp, fresh, musically adventurous outing worth indulging in.
Powerpopaholic, November 2020
Blank Pages, Is This Real? (FDR)
In today’s political chaos New Jersey’s Blank Pages start their new album with “Authenticity,” clearly stating that the truth is under assault, as we struggle to make others trust what is “real.” “Hang Up” speaks to the isolation we feel, and the melodic “Your Generation” hopes our younger people can “save us all.” Bandmates Greg Potter (guitar, keys, lead vocals,) Jason Brown (bass,) and Ed McCaffrey (drums) craft songs with an intimate, friendly approach. Standouts include “Nagging Feelings,” and “Uncomplicated.” The band resonates emotionally, but the social commentary songs (“Robots Will Not Win”) aren’t as memorable. The guitars come alive on “Laugh,” a terrific tune played with gusto. Some nods to ’80s pop are sprinkled throughout, so fans of The Police, Bourgeois Tagg, and Joe Jackson will enjoy this. Check it out.
I Don’t Hear A Single, December 2020
Blank Pages, Is This Real? (FDR)
New Jersey Trio, Blank Pages specialize in inventive New Wave Pop Rock. They even border on Power Pop at times, but this is no “I Love You, Yes I Do” affair.. Home is Indie, almost College Rock, but there is a complexity that takes them far beyond that.
The New Wave comparisons are many, The Police being the most mentioned. But there is far more intelligence and depth to the material than Sting’s lost. On the other side, there are similarities to 80’s Stripped down Rush without all the mind bending lyrics and plinkity plonk keyboards.
There’s all hints of the 80’s King Crimson reformation, but dressed up as Pop. There’s also plenty of variance and for all the cleverness, the song and the hooks are lost. Hang Up is all jangly Power Pop, Waiting In Line is splendidly Angular and American.
Uncomplicated borders on Country and the Robots Will Not Win riff is so Andy Summers. There’s a hell of a lot to like here. Not your usual New Wave Pop simplicity, but a more thought out approach. Is This Real is a great listen.
Tracks Magazine, February 2021
Blank Pages, Is This Real? (FDR)
In times of fake news, a little authenticity is beneficial. The American Blank Pages also recognized this: “Don’t Show Me Who You Pretend To Be. Just Give Me Some Authenticity” is the title of the opening song “Authenticity” from their new album “Is This Real?”. The seventh work (including the EP “Into The Ether”) by the band around Greg Potter revolves around the subjectivity / flexibility of truth. This subjectivity has not only been shown by the keeper of fake news, Donald Trump, there also seem to be several truths in the case of Corona. “Authenticity”, by the way, is rhythmically based on Police at times.
The second song “Before And After” also reveals references to Police but also to Joe Jackson. “Your Generation” addresses the question of who will foot the bill for the mistakes / omissions / stupidities of our generation. The folk-pop “Fall Away” deals with the transience of things: “What Seems So Important, Tomorrow Means Nothing At All.” That’s why you should just let things go.
In the single “Nagging Feeling” Greg Potter lets his sixth sense of lies speak. Harmoniously wonderfully presented. In the rocking power-pop number “Waiting In Line”, Potter, not without irony, seeks help for his life from the doctor: “Doctor, If The Cure Is Romantic Relations, There’s No Prescription For That.” And in the rough rocking “Laugh” Potter recognizes: “I Just Had To Laugh. Sometimes That’s All We Have.” Laughter can heal. The subtle melodies on “Is This Real?” also!