Music - Kudos: Dave Gilmour & the New Cars

Thank God for VH1 Classic. This is the closest thing we have to a comprehensive music video channel. The good thing about them is that they also let you know about new releases from older (classic) artists. Dave Gilmour just released a new album called On an Island. The first single, the title track, was premiered a few weeks ago. It's a nice sounding song, very reminiscent of earlier, more Dave-centric Floyd stuff. I've heard a few other tracks. They sound pretty good. Most have been mellower, but still borrows from earlier, Waters era Floyd.

The New Cars were formed by the guitarist and keyboardist from the original Cars, with Todd Rundgren on vocals, his fellow band-mate from Utopia on bass, and the drummer from the Tubes. When I heard the first single Not Tonight, I was amazed by how much they sounded like the original Cars. Granted, the bulk of the music is created by the original 2, but the amazing thing is how much Todd sounds like a mash-up of original singers Ric Ocasik and Ben Orr (God rest his soul). I do not know if this is by design or not, but if not for the "New" in front of their name and a reference to Blackberries, you might think it was an unreleased track from a Greatest Hits or Box Set.

Which brings me to my main point for this post. As most fans know, there was a big fight between Gilmour and Waters over Dave using the Pink Floyd name for what was obviously used to sell more records and tickets. I myself am guilty of seeing them perform @ Sullivan Stadium and they rocked. However, Waters has always been known as the brain behind Floyd's greatest work and the 2 studio albums release post-Waters were undeniably inferior to the great Floyd era. They rehashed much of the material from their golden era, but without the lyrical genius and originality Waters contributed. Kudos to Dave for releasing his new work under his own name and not Floyd. Maybe the Live8 concerts made them realize how petty this all was and making amends was a fine way to preserve a great legacy.
As far as the New Cars go, it's the same principle. Ric Ocasik is still alive and most likely would object to them using the original name (and rightly so). Just because they sound alike doesn't make the case for retaining the name, even if they have a legal right to. My guess is that this avoid the self-centered drama and lawsuits that Floyd suffered through. Maybe a Who paraphrase is in order: "Meet the New Cars, same as the old Cars".

Pete