[Review] Ric Ocasek: Troublizing (1997)

A few new tricks and treats from Drockula and the great Pumpkin.

Kronomyth 6: Crashing pumpkins.

I’m wondering how deep I can get into a review of Troublizing without mentioning Billy Corgan and the answer is apparently fourteen. Ric Ocasek has always been a slick monster, but these days Billy is the more elegant vampire. And all of today’s stylish vampires are tomorrow’s bloodsucking uncles with few exceptions. Troublizing is Ocasek’s attempt to cash in on the 90s alternative market. As new wave icons, The Cars laid the foundation for some of this, Ocasek helped architect the success of Weezer, and Corgan is one of the movement’s leading voices. In other words, it’s something of a signed, blank check he’s cashing. Actually, I’ve been waiting for Ric Ocasek to get back into the race for years now. Unfortunately, that race was run by the time Troublizing got out of the gate, and Ocasek was no longer on the card. Critics reviewed it, some applauded, but the masses didn’t buy it. What they missed is a stylish slab of alternative music from a lost icon. Troublizing deserves the same ovations as the recent work of Bob Mould, Frank Black and the perennial Iggy Pop. The opening track especially nails it, and I’m willing to take it on faith from there that Ocasek knows where he’s headed. Billy Corgan produces and plays on half of it, but honestly it’s not the better half. The high points for me are The Next Right Moment (quite possibly better than anything on Beatitude or Fireball Zone), the rich kashmir feel of Troublizing and the lullaboy/girl electropop of Hang on Tight. The Corgan Effect occurs before a single note is played, the imprimatur of resurrection. Otherwise, he’s more of a distraction on Troublizing, especially on the closing Asia Minor, written by Corgan and appearing as a kind of “hidden” track that serves as a curtain call for the supporting actor.

The Songs

A1. The Next Right Moment
A2. Hang on Tight
A3. Crashland Consequence
A4. Troublizing
A5. Not Shocked
A6. Situation
A7. Fix on You
A8. People We Know
A9. Here We Go
A10. Society Trance
A11. Asia Minor (Billy Corgan)

All songs written by Ric Ocasek unless noted.

The Players

Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitars, keys), Melissa Auf Der Maur (bass & vocals), Brian Baker (guitars), Bill Corgan (vocals, guitars & keys), Ira Elliot (drums), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Matt Walker (drums). Produced by Ric Ocasek and Billy Corgan; mixed by Michael Barbiero; engineered by Ron Saint Germain and Neil Perry.

The Pictures

Art direction & design by Gail Marowitz. Photography by Ric Ocasek.

The Plastic

Released on compact disc and cassette on September 9, 1997 in the US and Canada (Columbia, CK/CT 67962).