# Baltimore’s Page France Turns a Page; Calls it Quits

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2009/02/baltimores-page-france-turns-a-page-calls-it-quits/
- Published: 2009-02-01T18:32:00-05:00
- Author: Max Hammer

[[Baltimore’s Page France has officially called it quits after nearly a year of 
separation. While there were rumors of a breakup throughout 2008, a January 3, 2009
entry on Page France’s MySpace blog made the split official:

> “To speak officially [of the split] hadn’t seemed necessary. We’re all still much
> involved in making music. It will all just happen inside different names. Once
> an idea has run it’s course, one must move along.”

Page France was one of the best American indie folk-pop bands to have come along
in the waves of popularity for this genre in recent years. Following the release
of their debut album in 2005, Come, I’m A Lion, the band caught the attention of
bloggers and music lovers. Songs like “Spine” and “Bridge” made the rounds and started
showing up on people’s playlists.

Then in 2006, the band released their best album, Hello, Dear Wind, which further
proved their talent and ability to sell records and fill seats.

The band got a lot of attention upon the release of Hello, Dear Wind. Rock critic
MacKenzie Wilson, writing for the All Music Guide, wrote at the time: “All the reasons
why you fell in love with Neutral Milk Hotel’s _In the Aeroplane Over the Sea_ are
the same reasons why you should check out _Hello, Dear Wind_.”

The band gained much notoriety at the time, including having their song “Chariot”
featured in Episode 12, Season 3, titled “The Dark Time”, of the popular TV series
Weeds.

[“Chariot”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Chariot_by_Page_France.mp3)
from Hello, Dear Wind
“Junkyard” from _Hello, Dear Wind_

Page France featured Michael Nau (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Whitney McGraw (glockenspiel,
keyboards, vocals), Clinton Jones (drums), and Jasen Reeder (bass). Other members
and contributors included BJ Lewis, Bryan Martin, Chris Morris, Jasen Reeder, Matt
Smith and David Tracy.

Related Post:  Disbanded: Band Break-Ups, Vol. I: New Faces, The Fake Fictions and
The Catholic Comb

Yet it was the band’s follow-up to Hello, Dear Wind, 2007’s Page France And The 
Family Telephone, that signaled the band was perhaps losing its way. While still
a good record, it is the least impressive of the band’s three releases.

Nau has often compared in the mid 2000’s to Conor Oberst and Jeff Tweedy. Both of
those comparisons are valid. Just one more comparison is needed to complete the 
formula. Overall, Page France’s music has the same fun, feel good, childhood charm
as Sufjan Stevens.

Furthermore, they embraced the quirky story-telling, piano-guitar-xylophone-horn
sound Sufjan is known so well for. The only difference is that Page France’s song
titles were much shorter than our friend Sufjan’s tend to be – hehe.

Page France video for “Jesus“

There are other times when Page France music sounds very much like Colin Meloy and
The Decemberists, such as on the song “Bush” – nothing to do with that Bush. Other
comparisons from musicland include references to the band’s ‘Christian symbolism’(“
Jesus” and “So Sweety Around Me”) and fixation on single world song titles. The 
latter is true for every song title on Hello, Dear Wind.

Anyways, in honor of the now defunct Page France, and for all of you who’ve never
heard of them, here’s a playlist of some of their most well known songs.
“Spine”
from _Come, I’m A Lion_“Bridge” from Come, I’m A Lion“Bush” from Hello, Dear Wind“
Elephant” from Hello, Dear Wind“Finders” from Hello, Dear Wind“Beggar’s Table Legs”
from Page France The Family Telephone“Hat and Rabbit” from Page France And The Family
Telephone“Be My Pianist” from Page France And The Family Telephone

Related Post:  Yuck Announce Breakup Upon 10th Anniversary of Debut Release

Nua has gone on to give his full-time effort to the band [Cotton Jones Basket Ride](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/thecottonjonesbasketride)(
review of their new album forthcoming). This reincarnation of parts of Page France
is great stuff too, but the dynamic that was [Page France](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/pagefrance)
cannot be replicated, of course, without the whole outfit of band members and contributors
working under the name they made for themselves.

> [Suicide Squeeze Records](https://indierockcafe.com/2009/02/baltimores-page-france-turns-a-page-calls-it-quits/ suicidesqueeze.net)
> [](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/pagefrance)
> [Fall Records](https://indierockcafe.com/2009/02/baltimores-page-france-turns-a-page-calls-it-quits/ fallrecords.com)
> Michael Nau Interview – The Other Journal
> Page France Interview – Tiny Mix Tapes
> [Page France Interview – Stage Hymns Music Blog](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/interviews-come-in-all-different.html)
> [
> Daytrotter Session (Free Songs)[](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/pagefrance)

(above links compiled by Wikipedia)

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