Article: This year's model; Ric Ocasek's Smashing new idea is a lot like The Cars (and that's no accident)New players add gas to Ocasek's post-Cars career.

For his fifth solo album, Ric Ocasek put together a studio band of young alternative rockers.

He hand-picked Bad Religion guitarist Brian Baker, Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur and Nada Surf drummer Ira Elliot, all members of bands Ocasek has produced.

Then he enlisted Smashing Pumpkins' leader Billy Corgan to play guitar and co-produce half the songs.

The surprise result? "Troublizing," an album that doesn't sound a bit like Smashing Pumpkins or any other current group, but an awful lot like Ocasek's old band the Cars.

Not that Ocasek thinks so.

"That's funny," says Ocasek (rhymes with Jurassic) from the Manhattan ...

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