A Miss As Good As A Mile

Our Lady Peace’s days of post-grunge, Nirvana influenced music may not be over, but it seems they’re headed in a new direction. While not an exodus from top 40 alternative rock, Healthy In Paranoid Times, OLP’s first studio release in three years shows growth in music craftsmanship. The departure on Healthy is a magnetic pull to the sounds of U2 and Radiohead. In no way is this entirely original or avant-garde, however the band is experimenting with different endeavors. The lead track, “Angels/Losing/Sleep,” is contrived in format beginning with solo guitar and building to a rock beat with fixed verses and a catchy chorus. From an instrumental aspect, the track could have come from U2’s All That You Can Leave Behind, and it would have been a hit. Similarly, “Don’t Stop,” has traces of Radiohead-esque dissonance in the guitar and bass. For those clinging to the standard set by Gravity or Clumsy, the energetic fury can be found on the first single, “Where Are You?”

Another advancement for OLP is lyrics. While simplistic, and often corny, the lyrics suggest shades of a concept album, outlined more clearly in the album booklet
of grueling statistics. The lyrical high points from “Don’t Stop” include, “Oh everyone’s losing their minds/healthy in paranoid times.” The lead-in to the chorus states “I felt this world spin and crash,” with which “crash” is whispered so distinctly, it manages to drain the passion and sincerity.

Our Lady Peace is not reinventing the wheel, but they are testing the waters. This may be the crossroad album for which they become great, but for now they’re stuck with some sound-a-like hits.