Money Mark

For listeners expecting another collection of Money Mark's curiously endearing pop songs, Change Is Coming delivers only half of the package. Like his debut, Mark's Keyboard Repair, it's an instrumental album, recorded in the same spirit of stylistic change-ups heard on easy listening records (especially compared to the indie pop of Push the Button). Despite the lack of vocals, though, Change Is Coming is a pleasant listen; Mark spins through genres with the greatest of ease -- he translates Afro-beat into "People's Party (Red Alert)," turns to early-'80s funk (straight out of the Sanford & Son bag) for "Soul Drive Six Avenue," and toys with salsa for "Information Contraband." There's also a nice summer samba named "Use Your Head," with Money Mark summoning the spirit of Brazilian organ heavyweight Walter Wanderley. The downside is that, much like his earliest material, Change Is Coming has a light feel that's undeniably enjoyable but also a bit tossed-off. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide