Ric Ocasek - Beatitude [File Under: The Cars]

Why does this exist? At the height of The Cars' fame, just after they cracked the top 10 with their single, "Shake It Up", their lead singer, lead song writer, control freak who, according to stories at the time, dictated what each member would play, forcing the drummer to program his drums rather than play, does....a solo album?

The Cars might as well BE the Ric Ocasek solo show.

Was it money? Did he want a bigger slice of the pie? I mean, besides the lion's share from writing and publishing that he was already getting? Was he not given enough artistic freedom? Panorama wasn't enough?

Why does this exist?

After the first two very Carsian tracks, the record takes a left turn into weirdville. "Prove"'s synth-funk, "I Can't Wait"'s 80's teen movie soundtrack sound,  and "Connect to Me"'s frenetic, disjointed and schizoid meandering for SEVEN MINUTES close out side one.
Side Two is more of the same and still begs the question: Why does this exist? It's not like you can sing along to anything here, it's not like you wanna learn to play this stuff, and it doesn't really make for dinner music or background music, for that matter.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse than the (co-written by Greg Hawkes) "Out of Control" comes the pulsating nocturnal percussion of "Take a Walk". A song where Ocasek channels his inner beat poet (hence the title) and talks his lyrics. He so wants to be Bowie. That said, the closer, "Time Bomb" is the most ominous thing to come from Otcasek's pen. I really love it.

There's nothing he does here that he couldn't have done with the band.

Unless....

These songs were summarily dismissed by the rest of the band and he decided to prove 'em wrong and used his clout to put this out as a solo record.

Please O Please, be the reason.....


Grade: D
ASide: Something to Grab For
BlindSide: Time Bomb
DownSide: Jimmy Jimmy, Out of Control, Take a Walk, Sneak Attack