Pat McGee Band, Michael Tolcher and Pilot Radio

John Nova Lomax May 13, 2004 4:00AM

[
          {
            "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
            "component": "11591218",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "4"
          },{
            "name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content",
            "component": "11591214",
            "insertPoint": "2/3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
          },{
            "name": "R1 - Beta - Mobile Only",
            "component": "12287027",
            "insertPoint": "8",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "8"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "11591215",
            "insertPoint": "12",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "11591215",
            "insertPoint": "4th",
            "startingPoint": "16",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          }
          
            ,{
              "name": "RevContent - In Article",
              "component": "12527128",
              "insertPoint": "3/5",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
            }
          
        ]

On Save Me, the Virginians in the Pat McGee Band serve up earnest VH1-ready pop-rock balladry that seldom offends. And because it chances so little, it wins nothing -- it's just sort of there, a platter of generic frat-bar rock and humdrum love songs gussied up with expensive production and national distribution, all courtesy of Warner Bros. It's clean, well-lit music, but it's got about as much character as the lobby of an Econolodge in suburban Indianapolis. You could call it the perfectly average album -- I should keep it around the office and use it as a gauge. How much better or worse is album x than Save Me?

Tolcher is a little more interesting, though he shares a similar Southern pop-rock vibe. On I Am, the Georgian shows off edgier, hip-hop-tinged production, a slightly hoarse voice with some character to it, an at-times funky approach and intriguing guest stars such as ?uestlove of the Roots. In fact, I'll go ahead and get started on my new way of assessing records now -- I Am is about 25 percent better than the Pat McGee Band's Save Me.