Reviews

A Change Of Pace is a damn good name for this band; just when you think you have them pinned down they can change on a dime. The first track on their sophomore album, Prepare the Masses, sounds like a better than average Midtown or Jimmy Eat World track, which is just fine with me. Sue me, I have a soft spot for the old stuff. They follow their nice poppy love song with the shockingly titled “How To Rape A Country.” On this track, they start to infuse a little more edge in their pop radio image courtesy of some deep crushing metal-esque guitars. The song obviously deals with politics, a big change over from a band that was singing “Sing me to bed oh sweet Juilet” only 30 seconds ago. Although the change over is a little jarring, you believe them as this kind of band. It's not like Anti-Flag taking an attempt at writing a pop song or All American Rejects singing a song about the benefits of communism.
 
Regardless of which genre or style A Change Of Pace picks, their singer, Torry Jasper, sounds just great. As comical as it might seem, I can see him on a big stage at a sold out show making those vocals bounce off the walls like Joe Elliott. The ballad on this album, “Safe and Sound In Telephone Lines,” would simply kill at a packed live show. In fact, many of their songs would sound just great with a huge crowd behind it. “A Song That The World Can Sing,” just screams for audiences to get in involved. Speaking of arena rock, there are some killer solos that lead guitarist Adam Rodgers could lose himself on live, like the blistering rock and roll lead on “White Lines and Lipstick.”
 
Nothing about A Change Of Pace seems forced; they do what they want because they like it. Whether it be harder edged material (“White Lines and Lipstick,” “How To Rape A Country”), fun radio rock (nearly everything else), or even a killer acoustic ballad (“Safe and Sound In Telephone Lines”), they do it well and make it catchy as hell. If you are looking for something “scene,” than this is not the band for you but if you want a good time pop/rock band, you found the right guys.
 
Prepare the Masses is a really apt name for this album because it clearly acts as a warning that the next killer radio rock band has arrived. Nothing about the band is “punk rock,” “goth,” or “emo,” they just pull off the rare feat of putting out blistering, fun and interesting radio rock music. For all of those people who miss straight ahead rock and roll without the make up, pretension and angst, than A Change Of Pace is your band. Will it change your life? No. Will it be something to put in your car and make you pump your fist and drive a little bit faster? Definitely. Thank god someone finally got it right.