Search - Elliot Easton :: Change No Change

Easton's "Secret Weapon" Isn't A Guitar

tonyscam | Fort Worth, Texas United States | 07/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

CHANGE NOTHING ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Andrew Collins | San Angelo, Texas United States | 09/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

The tools of his labor!

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 04/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."