Published on Feb 2, 1997
Uh, oh…
I’m a rock critic, meaning I’m supposed to be a king asshole
when it comes to reviewing groups and albums. I’m supposed to be
(and often am) the kind of person that could find something wrong
with heaven. (And I have the hate mail to prove it – should’ve
known better than to slam Pearl Jam on HitsWorld.)
Leave it to the Scottish band Del Amitri to ruin my fun with
Change Everything, an album that is one of the best mixtures
of pop and rock I’ve ever heard.
The opening track, “Be My Downfall,” seems to set the tone for
the album. The acoustic guitar work of Iain Harvie is sparse,
setting the mood for a moving vocal from lead singer/bassist Justin
Currie. But, just when you think all the songs are going to be in
this vein, del Amitri kicks into a rocker with “Just Like A Man” –
and what is weird is that the transition seems to be flawless.
In fact, the many different tempo and mood shifts on
Change Everything all seem to flow smoothly. Currie’s
songwriting on this one shows a man who has been hurt badly by
someone he loved (loves?), and this is his release.
You need proof? Check out “As Soon As The Tide Comes In,”
undoubtedly the best track on the album. The track, sung by a
jilted lover to his ex just before her marriage, is addictive and
moving. (A desire to hear this track again led me to dig this one
out of the legendary Pierce Memorial Archives – the problem being
that my wife had filed it away for me. Memo to the cleaning staff:
Mrs. Thelen is
not
to enter the Archives unless I am present, dammit!)
In fact, with the exception of a slightly weaker song,
“Sometimes I Just Have To Say Your Name,” to close the album, the
second half of
Change Everything is some of the most powerful music I’ve
ever heard. From the opening notes of “The Ones That You Love Lead
You Nowhere” to the instantly-recognizable beat of the first
single, “Always The Last To Know,” Currie and crew work the
listener into an emotional frenzy that doesn’t stop.
This is not to say the first side is weak in any way; some of
the cuts on this part of the album are just as strong. “When You
Were Young” reminds me of some other song I’ve heard in the recent
past, but it does have the unique Del Amitri flavor. “Surface Of
The Moon” takes a few listens to really get into, but is a solid
track. One track I have not been able to get into no matter how
many times I listen to it is “The First Rule Of Love” – don’t ask
me why.
Scottish bands have always seemed to have a hard time gaining
acceptance in America (Nazareth, Big Country, Slade, etc.), but Del
Amitri gained a solid foothold with the American crowd with
Change Everything, and for good reason – it’s a damn good
album.