Model Prisoner
Although he's described playing the role of Roger as a mere "stepping stone,"Adam Pascalmade it to the cover ofNewsweekthanks to his part in theRentphenomenon--and the dramatic edge he brought to his doomed character. While he's continued his work in musical theater with the blockbuster Elton John/Tim Rice showAida, Pascal returns to his roots as a rock singer onModel Prisoner. His debut solo CD--with backing fromSaturday Night Livealumni band members--comes out on Internet-based Sh-K-Boom Records, a label interested in bridging the musical theater-pop music gap for a hip young audience. In fact, Pascal's pre-Rentyears were spent fronting a band called Mute; the singer's brand of raw energy makes it clear he's spent a lot of time admiring the likes ofAxl RoseandQueensryche. No doubt that the rough passion of his delivery goes some way toward compensating for the repeatedly formulaic quality of his tunes (Pascal wrote 10 of the album's 12 songs)--which can range from leftover hair-metal choruses to dirty-blues-framed laments. But what always comes through is the unmistakable intensity of Pascal's voice, and its ability to shift and shade the moods being expressed. Pascal may be at a crossroads, but he's determined not to be held prisoner by the patterns his fame has cut out so far.--Thomas May