As a rule, the albums that listeners perceive as debut efforts are actually the last link in an oftentimes long chain of successively more popular earlier efforts. Two projects into his solo career, Australian singer Paul Colman recruited bassist Grant Norsworthy and drummer Phil Gaudion to form the Paul Colman Trio in late 1998. The first of the group's four indie projects, 1999's Serious Fun, caught the attention of Third Day's Mac Powell who offered the trio an opening slot on the Australian leg of their tour that year. The follow-up record, Turn, helped net the trio the Rock Across Australia Chart's Artist of the Year award in 2000, while a twin set of acoustic and electric live albums repeated the feat the following year.
For their major-label unveiling, New Map of the World, the group continues in the tracks of the energetic pop/rock arrangements that informed its indie efforts. "Run" and the equally moving album-opener, "Turn," both fall at a point between the enlivening, anthemic choruses of Sonicflood and the sprightly acoustic pop of the Waiting and FFH. "Sun-Stars-Moon" features similarly crisp acoustic guitar textures for its spot-on essay on humility and discipleship. And "Africa" mixes things up nicely with its orchestral flourishes and appealing array of major-to-minor chord changes. The group shows equal dexterity on its ballads, deftly offsetting the shimmering harmony work of "The Killing Tree" with an engagingly folksy inflection. In the same way, the simple, sing-along melody and sparse, worship-oriented lyrics of "Fill My Cup" instill the composition with an austere sort of elegance.
But while the bulk of New Map makes a pleasing first impression, the lion's share of the release winds up wading in fairly nondescript musical waters. And, while the band delivers its messages with a commendable sincerity and enthusiasm, tracks like "Sun-Stars-Moon" (Did you fake a grin/ And feel you lose when you win) and "Your Sweet Voice" (I love you/ It's all right/ I'll lead you through tonight) nonetheless highlight the group's tendency towards lyrical glibness. In fairness, the greater part of the album stacks up positively against most of what currently inhabits both the pop and inspirational Top 20. And, given the band's ostensibly copious musicianship and zeal, the live show stands to be a rousing and uplifting affair, indeed. But, the album itself, though certainly stirring, falls just shy of hitting the mark for those who require greater than average portions of innovation and depth in the music that they listen to.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WilsonThe Paul Colman Trio is a popular Australian band, recently named that country's Artist of the Year by a major sales chart. Their American debut, New Map of the World, has a lot going for it, including Monroe Jones as producer, early radio success with "Turn," and a high-profile slot opening for Third Day on the Come Together Tour but does the album live up to its advance billing? "Turn" starts…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Trilisa M. PerrineThe release of New Map of the World marks the Paul Colman Trio's first label release as well as their venture into the American market. This threesome, which hails from Australia, has released four independent CDs and just recently signed with Essential Records. While this album is a solid acoustic-pop/rock offering, it does not offer much that stands out from the crowd. The album is well…Similar sounding releases
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