Customer Reviews

Change No Change

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elliot Easton met ace songwriter Jules Shear while working as a sideman on Shear's "Watch Dog" album. The Cars were in the process of putting together "Heartbeat City." In other words, all parties were at the peak of their powers. So when Easton asked Shear to collaborate on a solo record he was thinking of, the resulting "Change No Change" was probably beyond the expectations of Cars fans that heard it. It's since gone on to cult status.

As stated in the previous review, there's almost no way you'll be able to hear the 10 songs from the original album and not want to track down a few of Shear's solo albums (though he has, of late, become more acoustic). Jules' former Polar Bear band mate and well known producer Stephen Hague (New Order, Pet Shop Boys) provided a pure pop sheen to the songs, and Easton wore his 60's influences on his sleeve. "Shayla," the album's first charmer of a single, is right out of the Hollies songbook, and "Wearing Down Like A Wheel" nods to his Cars mates. There's plenty of jangley, angular guitar that Easton is known for (especially on "Change").

Elliot also sings in a pleasant, if reedy voice, which is more than can be said for the Billy Squire sound of the five previously unreleased bonus songs. (Vocalist Danny Malone took over leads from Easton, and Roy Thomas Baker contributes his never subtle production chops.) The backstory behind their long shelf time is more interesting than the songs themselves (though "Lonely Is The Dark" is OK in a mid-eighties big hair kind of way). Be that as it may, there weren't too many people that heard "Change No Change" when it originally came out, so if you find a copy, snap it up. You'll be snapping your fingers soon after.

We already knew, from his work with The Cars, that Elliot Easton is a master craftman, a true artist of the guitar. Never given to egotistical [style]he has always created melodies and counterpoint to enhance a song.

What we might not have expected was Easton's secret weapon: Widely-acclaimed songwriter Jules Shear, who collaborated on all ten tracks. (You'll want to check out Shear's own work, after hearing this. Guaranteed.)

Thus, what might have been a pleasantly forgettable assortment of instrumentals (which would befit a Car who never wrote a Cars song) is instead a collection of tightly-focused songs that even a billionaire Beatle might find stimulating.

It's also a happy shock to hear that Easton has a fine voice for rock -- a bit thin, perhaps, but not without a certain gruff charm. Shear provides his signature "fairy dust" background harmonies, and Stephen Hague & Jon Mathias polish it up with superb production. From the snappy opening track to the beautiful ballad closer, the listener's attention is amply rewarded.

The bonus tracks are selections from the unreleased debut album of Band Of Angels, which was to be a collaborative effort with a singer named Danny Malone. Bit of a Zeppelin feel. I don't care for it. I already got my money's worth.

Elliot let out a lot of frustration with the Cars and producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange by releasing this album. It bears almost no resemblance to The Cars sound, and that's one of the great things about it. By this time, Elliot had teamed up with songwriter Jules Shear and written the entire album. It was never expected that Elliot would release this album, himself, but rather it was assumed that Jules would use most of this material for one of his own solo albums. Fortunately, this did not happen.
What did happen is something perhaps more fascinating. The original 10 tracks are wonderful, but beyond that is the Band of Angels project with Stan Lynch and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Buy this album on CD or even vinyl if you have to. You won't be disappointed.

Elliot Easton met ace songwriter Jules Shear while working as a sideman on Shear's "Watch Dog" album. The Cars were in the process of putting together "Heartbeat City." In other words, all parties were at the peak of their powers. So when Easton asked Shear to collaborate on a solo record he was thinking of, the resulting "Change No Change" was probably beyond the expectations of Cars fans that heard it. It's since gone on to cult status.

As stated in the previous review, there's almost no way you'll be able to hear the 10 songs from the original album and not want to track down a few of Shear's solo albums (though he has, of late, become more acoustic). Jules' former Polar Bear band mate and well known producer Stephen Hague (New Order, Pet Shop Boys) provided a pure pop sheen to the songs, and Easton wore his 60's influences on his sleeve. "Shayla," the album's first charmer of a single, is right out of the Hollies songbook, and "Wearing Down Like A Wheel" nods to his Cars mates. There's plenty of jangley, angular guitar that Easton is known for (especially on "Change").

Elliot also sings in a pleasant, if reedy voice, which is more than can be said for the Billy Squire sound of the five previously unreleased bonus songs. (Vocalist Danny Malone took over leads from Easton, and Roy Thomas Baker contributes his never subtle production chops.) The backstory behind their long shelf time is more interesting than the songs themselves (though "Lonely Is The Dark" is OK in a mid-eighties big hair kind of way). Be that as it may, there weren't too many people that heard "Change No Change" when it originally came out, so if you find a copy, snap it up. You'll be snapping your fingers soon after.

This album is definately worth tracking down...it has alot of good rock ballads and catchy pop tunes. This title is actually not available in any music store...but can be purchased on Itunes! Check it out, you may not get the back album art but its still worth it.

OMG! I forgot how good this album is. I owned it a long time ago on cassette. However, it and my cassette player have long withered away. Elliot is one of the best guitarist around. It's great to finally have this on CD!

I am a die-hard fan of "The Cars". They were my favorite band of all time. I went to see them in Kansas City during their "Heartbeat City" tour. It would be awesome to see them together again, but I know that's impossible because of Benjamin Orr's untimely death.

Although Ric wrote nearly all of the songs, it was the rest of the musicians that made the whole thing work. I own all of Ric Ocasek's solo albums along with Ben Orr's "The Lace". I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to have this album back in my collection. I hope to see Greg Hawkes "Niagara Falls" solo album released someday. I have never heard it entirely. Back in the 80's we didn't have Amazon or the Internet to find things. If the local market didn't carry it, you couldn't get it.

Elliot's bonus tracks are a great added feature to this album also. I like "The New Cars" and would like to hear more new songs from them. Even though there are only Elliot and Greg in the band, again, they have an awesome ensemble of musicians.

I recommend any avid Cars fan to check this album out.

I always loved the last track on the Jackie Browne Soundtrack, and recently decided to research the artist--Elliot Easton. I listened to the samples online, and ordered the cd. It's been in my car the last week, and I am amazed by the songwriting, the vocals, the beats, the textures, and especially the melodies. The lead guitar is a little weak, but other than that it is musically very solid. Some of these songs have melodies that will get in your head all day, and since they are so good, you won't be annoyed by them. It's been a long time since I've listened to a rock cd this good, and the fact that this is from 1985 makes it feel like I found buried treasure. His cowriter Jules Shear wrote the lyrics, and having checked out his solo material, it is good that Easton did all the music here and Shear did only the lyrics. Have fun listening!

Cars guitarist Elliot Easton released "Change No Change" #99 in 1985. I remember getting this on a cold snowy winter day the first day it came out in Salina, Kansas at the famous "House Of Sight And Sound". The music on this disc kind of resembles The Cars and adds some flavor from Jules Shear who he collaborated with on this album.
It opens with "Tools Of Your Labor", a good song with an even catchier chorus. "(Wearing Down) Like A Wheel", #36 mainstream rock, his big hit here, great rocker with some good synths. "Change", is one funky little number, "(She Made It) New For Me", is as close to a Cars type song, "Help Me", kind of a 60's type pop-rocker, the hard rockin' of "The Hard Way" and my favorite song was "Shayla", who we named our first daughter after in 1990. Elliot has done a lot of stuff since, but were waiting for The Cars reunion in 2011.