Touting the virtues of democracy.
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Fun fact: When designer Todd Oldham liked a particular song he’d heard The Changes soundcheck at last year’s Sundance film Festival, the band repaid the compliment by naming it “House of Style,” in honor of Oldham’s defunct MTV show of the same name.
Why they’re worth watching: The Changes were the only unsigned band to perform at Lollapalooza in 2005 and have played shows with Stephen Malkmus, the Kaiser Chiefs, Ted Leo, and The Futureheads.
For fans of: The Lightning Seeds, Soft Boys, Psychedelic Furs
After four years, two self-released EPs and the generation of a devoted fan base beyond their hometown’s borders, a debut full-length was the next logical step for The Changes. However, Today is Tonight-their newly released labor of love-almost didn’t happen due to the struggles and disagreements that arose while the band produced its own record. As bassist Rob Kallick attests, “Every time a decision is made, the four of us have to agree. Every song you do is a series of decisions. We’re a pretty democratic band [where] everyone gets their say, and that can be good and bad.”
After several intense months, The Changes made the required compromises and mustered the necessary consensus. The end result is filled with danceable beats and jangly reverbed guitars, romantic melodies and a compelling heart-on-sleeve earnestness. Going from lovesick pontificating (“On A String”) to barely contained ecstasy (“Her, You and I”), The Changes satisfyingly blur pop and rock with a full-tilt joie de vivre.
Yet even the most inspired need to step back from the noise. “I was reading how David Lynch does transcendental meditation, and a lot of his ideas for some of my favorite movies of his come from [meditating],” says lead guitarist Dave Rothblatt. “It’s cool how ideas can come from just being quiet and making everything still-the whole world stops.”