Michael W. from ELMHURST, IL Reviewed on 12/11/2006...
Synth heavy disc from former Cars frontman.
CD Reviews
RIC'S BEST SOLO EFFORT
Eric J. Weik | Dyersburg, TN | 02/01/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After a bad start, Ric rebounds with his second cd, THIS SIDE OF PARADISE. And with a little help from his CARS' band mates, and some other friends, he as made a cd that is his best todate, and as good as any CARS" cd. Keep On Laughin, and Coming to You, are excellent rockers. True to You, True Love, and just about any other song on this cd, would feel at home on a CARS disk. Emotion in Motion, is a well done slow song. Ric's white boy funk and slick production, plus clever writing, make for a good listen."
For the casual Cars fan
David Hugaert | Honolulu, HI United States | 12/19/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
""This Side Of Paradise" provides a sampling of the classic Cars sound, and why not? Some of Ric Ocasek's Cars mates help him out on his second solo release, although Ocasek breathes a somewhat different life in a few of the songs here. Take, for instance, "Emotion In Motion", with its slowed-down rhythms and unique lyrics, which don't sound like the typical Cars record. The same can be said for the title track, along with "Emotion In Motion". which lack the new wave appeal and sound The Cars helped define. The other tracks, such as "Hello Darkness" and "p.f.j.", have that Cars sensibility written all over them. Even though the music and songs featured on this CD are very similar to that of Ocasek's group, The Cars, "This Side Of Paradise" is still an enjoyable CD to listen to. The reduced price is a sure sign it won't be around forever, which is why any die-hard Cars/Ric Ocasek fan should have this title in their collection."
Excellent ! Pure Pop Rock Genius!
Eric J. Weik | 02/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Forget everything the boobs who slammed this CD said and treat yourself to an excellent exercise in pop rock genius. If you are a Cars fan this is the best of his solo efforts and you can tell who was the creative engine behind the Cars sound. This CD sounds just like the genuine article, flawlessly played and produced, one of my personal favorite albums from the 80's not a bad song on it. Ric Ocasek Rules!!!!"
Almost like the Cars but...
David Hugaert | 08/03/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When I first heard "Emotion in Motion", I thought that it was a Cars song. Of course, that was thirteen years ago and I was just a kid. Indeed, the first four songs of this album are definately "Car-ish" if anything. Not until I bought the CD reciently did I realise that the six others are certainly not...being a more introspective solo creation by Ric Ocasek.The first song sounds OK except for that weird intro. The rest of it seems more like a soundtrack piece for an B-rate 80's adventure movie. The next song is the most Car-ish of all, and seems to fit in on their last albums Door to Door or Heartbeat City than all else. "Emotion in Motion" however is a very fantastic yet under-rated song, for it is so catchy and beautiful. The forth song is OK...like the first.The other songs seem far different however. Although dreary, "Coming for You" seems to point to the future...for it has more in common with Ric's most recent album Troubleizing. It's the most starkly contrasting song on this album instrumentally. The sixth and seventh songs have a lot of frustrating emotion in them. "Pink Flag Joe" is very weird yet darkly funny, reminds me of how pathetic some people can be. Hello Darkness is like the fifth track but less harsh but more deeper. The last track is very good and seems more like the sixth and seventh tracks but also much deeper.Overall, this album is very good, yet only for the matured Cars fan. If you like the upbeat Car-ish sound, stay on the first four tracks..."Emotion in Motion" more than makes up for it's price! But it's the other six that also makes it special as well."