Cindy Wilson - Change

When rock musicians give titles to their albums you often have no idea what they want to say or are not able to decipher their idea either from the music or the lyrics the albums include. No such problem with the solo debut from one of the B-52’s co-founders and singers, Cindy Wilson. The album title is Change, and that is exactly what Cindy means, and what you get, at least as far as the B-52’s sound her fans (or not so big fans) are used to, that is. Well, mostly. After all, Cindy, who has been doing this for over 40 years (doesn’t show from the pictures, frankly) knows how (simply), and when (succinctly) to signify change. 

In a way, that may also be a way to describe the music contained in Change. First of all, if you want to signify changes in what you want to express musically, you change the musicians with whom you create that music, and thus, there are no members of The B-52's on this album. Wilson has actually engaged a local Athens band that plays covers of The Beatles as her musicians, merely because she heard them play at her kid’s birthday party! But if you expect strictly Beatles-inflected sounds, you’re in for more...changes. Engaging somebody who has mastered The Beatles cannon means they are able to actually play complex pop with various musical changes and influences, and these musicians, along with Cindy certainly do. 

What does all this sound like? A subtle collection of well-crafted pop/rock/soul tunes that cover a wide ground of genres, including the Sixties soul influenced opener “People Are Asking,” modern electronic pop akin to St. Etienne ( a big plus) in songs like “Stand Back In Time,” a cover of the band New Colony Six song “Things I’d Like To Say,” and inescapable New Wave stylings of “Mystic,” among other flavors. The only track where you might sense the old Cindy of B-52’s fame comes close to the end with “Brother” (no wonder). As far as Cindy’s vocals are concerned, her voice throughout reminds me of Sarah Cracknell, which is certainly for the good, but then, we can also debate who came first and who has been around longer.

All in all, a refined, very enjoyable pop album. Nothing more, nothing less. But then, there are times when a refined, very enjoyable album is exactly what you need. Simple and succinct.