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He made headlines for his drug bust, marriage breakup and departure from Canada’s favorite band. But the former Barenaked Ladies frontman has clearly turned over a new leaf. After scoring theatrical plays at Stratford and recording a collection of cover songs with a jazz and classical ensemble, Page is back with a strong collection of witty, melodic pop and an impressive commitment to songcraft. “No waiting limos, no cocaine and discos,” he sings, “I gave that all up for the chorus, girl.” Brave new beginnings.

It’s been a good year for the former Barenaked Ladies man. First, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame alongside his ex-bandmates and reunited with them for the first time since parting ways with them in 2009. Now Page has Discipline: Heal Thyself, Part 2, a strong new solo album—his fifth—full of diverse sounds and thoughtful lyrics of both a personal and political nature, informed by being a Canadian citizen living in the U.S. The power-pop single “White Noise” was written in the wake of the Charlottesville white nationalist rally last August, while Latin-flavoured “Gravity” satirizes climate-change deniers. A more positive message is expressed in “Feelgood Summer” and...

It was like an IQ test question asking which was the apple among the oranges. In the summer, Canada's Barenaked Ladies had been booked to play Chicago's Rockfest at the city's motor speedway. But the fun-loving popsters found themselves sharing top billing with heavy-metal road warriors Metallica and white-trash rapper Kid Rock. As soon as the Ladies hit the stage, rap-metal fans in the audience realized that this group didn't share their "Rage Against Anything" credo. First there was booing, followed by dozens of middle fingers being thrust angrily in the air. Things turned uglier as the rabble started hurling beer bottles and homophobic insults towards the stage. Drummer Tyler Stewart...