The Cars

in the world of cars this album would be a ford focus. straight down the middle. not particularly fast, but not slow. not particularly good looking, but not hideous. not particularly economic, but not a gas guzzler. not particularly interesting, but not boring. not particularly cool, but not a ssanyong. just middle.

I mean, each track is a 5 star track, so what more can really be said about this album? Musically, The Cars nails The mix on Moving in Stereo is fun and meta as they play with the left and right channels. There's a high toned keyboard melody in All Mixed Up that punches out of the left speaker in such a delightful way.

Ok, so.... this is New Wave. BUT. It's also full of iconic tracks for a reason. The Cars might be the best of the new wave movement. Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, You're All I've Got Tonight, Just What I Needed... monsters of the era. It's synthy but not bloopy. And the guitar tones on You're All I've Got Tonight and Bye Bye Love are killer no matter the genre. It's got an edge and an energy that is just missing from the vast majority of new wave albums. I expected to hate it but didn't. Solid album.

I'm going to out on a limb and say that more albums have been ruined by off the rack synths than by any other single factor. And yet The Cars, on their debut album, managed to make off the rack synths sound not just funny, like Devo, but actually--gasp--cool! How the hell did they do it? Most importantly, they used synths for either single note contrapuntal lines or color, never chords. Secondly, guitarist Elliot Easton was almost always way up front in the mix. These are very guitar oriented tunes--the synths are generally secondary. The arrangements are like the interlocking gears of a watch, cunningly constructed. There are no extraneous lines or pieces. Everything fits together perfectly. It turns out that Roy Thomas Baker was the perfect producer for The Cars. There is a clarity in the production that encourages the listener to pick out the separate lines in the arrangements. The only way that Baker deviates from this plan is with the vocal choruses, which are big, full, and vibrant. It's a magical combination. Notice I haven't said a thing about the tunes themselves yet. That's because if the elements I mentioned hadn't been present, this album would have sucked big time. As it is, the music gods were smiling down on The Cars because every last tune is a knockout with strong melodies and big fat, rhythmic hooks, performed to perfection by the band, so that the album comes off as loose, hip, modern and most of all fun. And to top it all off, the lyrics are simple enough to understand on a first listen and yet sardonic and multi-layered. There are plenty of albums that are more complex, more ambitious, and more innovative than The Cars' debut, but it would be hard to find one more perfect.

Let the good times roll

One of my favorite albums of all time, perhaps my favorite pop album of all time. Just an absolute titan from beginning to end 5/5

Starts really slow in my opinion but closer to the end the better. Last two tracks (Moving in Stereo and All Mixed Up) are cherry on top of this record. Solid four stars.

I didn't realize how many classic rock songs came from this one album.

Wall to wall bangers.

Every track is a banger

Incredible. One of the best debut albums of all time.

This album is so good. No skips. Every song is so fun and iconic, this album is one of my favorites of all time

Hit after hit! If you had asked me to name a Cars album, I couldn't have done so, but it turns out I know half of these. Great stuff.

Great album from beginning to end. Some of the best power pop ever recorded. Sadly, The Cars never released another LP of this caliber.

Groundbreaking and fun. Perfect little album.

Another awesome selection from the generator. We do just what I needed in the band I’m in. Love the cars. Such feel good music

Gee whiz, what’s that zipping along the highway, clearing the road in 35 minutes flat with 9 bangers? It’s only “The Cars”! Har har har! WITTY. “The Cars” represents a combination of all the up-and-coming alternative music in 1978. There’s catchy power-pop, various jagged punk stylings, quirky oddball vocals ala Bryan Ferry or David Byrne, and a prominent focus on new-wave-leaning lead synth lines. The album’s three singles all burst out one after the other at the very beginning of the album: “Let The Good Times Roll” is more of a saunter than a galloping start, but immediately boasts excellent chorus vocals and good prominence of analog lead synth lines. But then, “My Best Friend’s Girl” is pure pop perfection: I wouldn’t have thought twice if I’d read it was originally by Buddy Holly, or the Beatles, or Tom Petty, or Ramones. It has a guaranteed place in rock history, with a glorious melody, obligatory handclaps and a lovely trebly fingerpicking accompaniment to boot. And everything you’ve heard about “Just What I Needed” is true: it’s a classic with a killer chorus that digs into my brain the more I listen to it. Nothing else quite matches the opening stretch, but there’s no shortage of very good tracks across the rest of the record. “Moving in Stereo” is a fantastic gear shift towards new-wave, with programmed drums, whistling synths and an enigmatic, mid-tempo hook. “Bye Bye Love”, all chugging verses and then clicking into place with a restless staccato chorus, could have been another hit. “Don’t Cha Stop” may be a little lightweight, but it does have an excellent outro with more exhilarating guitar work. The others are admittedly more of a mixed bag (particularly the off-piste “I’m in Touch with Your World” and the fairly generic “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight”) but they’re always spirited and sprightly, not allowing anything to become too bogged down. If it all comes across as a relentlessly assured, effortless selection of tracks, it’s perhaps because this was not Ric Okasek’s first rodeo. Aged 34 at the time of the album’s release (but lying to Rolling Stone and claiming he was 29), Okasek had met bassist Benjamin Orr in 1965 and played in various bands throughout the intervening years. They were relatively old hands by “The Cars”, surrounded by younger band mates and newly emerging trends to hop on. The songwriting is matched by great production by Roy Baker, known (by me) for some stellar work on the first four Queen albums: here, he establishes The Cars as a sharp, crisp and tight new wave band. It’s shiny, pristine and sleek as a brand new car: all sharp edges, perfect clarity and separation, well-rounded sound. There’s the perfect amount of space left for the harmonies and jangly guitars (see “My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Bye Bye Love”) to come leaping from the mix. And there’s some liberal use of effects (flange in “Don’t Cha Stop”, gimmicky panning and rotary in “Moving in Stereo”) for some extra spice. They’d have flashes of the same success in subsequent albums, but “The Cars” has really impressed me as a great debut from a band who arrived fully-formed out of the box.

Best debut album ever. The invention of top 40 radio rock. Let the good times roll. So its only 1978(!) and new wave rock already never sounded better than on this Cars album full of catchy songs, all played in their typical highly effective style - somehow they managed to get it right, right from the start. The first three songs are winners and is hard to imagine why one would not instantly like this album very much. And its massive influence is obvious. Think New Pornographers, Weezer, Urge Overkill, the Strokes etc etc

The Cars' debut album was one of the first albums to get the "New Wave" genre name. It therefore was incredibly influential as New Wave became one of the biggest and most important genres of 80's. But did it age good if it was so big and "ground breaking" to begin with? No, in fact, it aged horribly. It's a bland and one dimensional listen full of boring moments that leave you more uninterested than before. Even the "good" songs this has to offer are boring to a point of exhaustion that leaves the desire to sleep rather than listen to more. The album starts with the annoying and downright stupid 'Good Times Roll'. It tries so hard to be Rocky and "cool" but ends up being the same thing that MGK tries with his "Rock" stuff today. It is stupid, useless, annoying and just not a good song. The chorus is weak, the synths annoy the whole time, the verses so bland that boiled chicken reminds you of spicy Mexican food and the songwriting feels so repetitive that some Techno feels like the most dynamic music of all time. It sounds like they took some Billy Joel, some Boston, some Television and some Blondie, mixed it and decided to take the things that didn't work and applied them to the nonsense they made thus far. If you haven't realised it yet, I do not like this song. It's not terrible, it doesn't make my ears bleed but it is so basic in comparison to what similar music from a similar time sounded like. It's just a bad song, that's it. Hopefully, the second song 'My Best Friend's Girl' does things better, right? No, it's the same thing but with verses that feel forced and weird rather than funny and quirky. It's not as dreadful but it is as bad. Just take the same thing I said for the first song and apply it here. What is different is that the guitar bridge isn't totally bad but the synths in there just destroy the whole thing. Most people point to 'Just What I Needed' as THE song from the album and I do think that it is a fairly good song in comparison to the rest of the album. In fact, it is the best song. It's quite enjoyable and not as annoying, the verses are passable and the chorus is okay. It's still not good but it's an okay song that I don't mind listening to even if it does strech towards the end which isn't a good thing when the song isn't even 4 minutes. 'I'm in Touch With Your World' goes a little "Experimental" and "Post-Punk" and I do like what they were going for BUT this type of music has to be done right and with enough edge to it. When it's turned overly Pop, it is turned into something that is simply bad and doesn't work. The sound they tried to do here isn't fitting with the style they end up doing. It's like if the Talking Heads decided to go full on Madonna in the middle of Remain in Lights. Not a good idea. If you want an example of a song like this to be done right, go and listen to 'Mother' by The Police. Luckily, 'Don't Cha Stop' tunes the Post-Punk a little bit more back and lets more of the Power Pop shine through. The result is a fairly okay song, maybe a little over the top and it definitely tries way too hard but it's alright. It's got some nice energy throughout and it isn't annoying except for the hook but you cannot ask for everything, right? An alright ending to the albums first half. Side 2 is opened with 'You're All I've Got Tonight' which interestingly features some quite "Hard Rock" sounding guitars even if they sometimes sound very, very dissonant and not in a good way. The song is mainly boring with a listenable chorus which overall doesn't really make the song much better. It's just there, a little bit hard to get through because it streches the moment the first chorus ended but alright. 'Bye Bye Love' keeps sonically a lot from the song before and it actually sounds pretty much the exact same. If the chorus was removed you could replace them and noone would notice. The song's boring without anything interesting, not even the chorus, that makes this somewhat listenable. It's just not good, like genuinely terrible, just dreadful. At least 'Moving in Stereo' is a slight even if its a very slight step up to the previous song. The artistic approach with some Post-Punk elements are done much better than on Track 4 even if it turns out as boring as that. It's a song you don't mind. It's definitely not good but it isn't terrible either. For every moment that is okay to listen to, there is a moment that just sucks but it evens out into a bad but not truely terrible song. The album closes with 'All Mixed Up' which is quite interesting in comparison. The synths are quite passable and the performances as well are okay. The song is nearly good. It would've needed some added work but it isn't totally off. I am happy that the album at least ended with an okay song and not another downright dreadful piece. favourites: Just What I Needed, All Mixed Up, Don't Cha Stop least favourites: Bye Bye Love, I'm in Touch With Your World, Moving in Stereo, Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl Rating: decent 3 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

There's only one good Cars song (Drive) and it's not on this album. L +

Basic. Boring. This is really not a great album. It doesn't belong on this list. Nothing of any real interest going on here. Sounds and feels hollow.

Fantastic rock album. Each song in the first half can be a hit in its own right, with the second half more experimental. The synth and harmonies paired up with their straight rock n roll sound makes this such a classic and it many way timeless as almost a first pop punk album, closer to early 2000s rock than contemporary albums.

Great album start to finish. The Cars have a certain sound and a certain formula that can be heard across most of their songs, but it just WORKS. The beginning of Good Times Roll is such a great opening and the song is simply cool all the way through. In fact, the first three tracks (GTR, My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed") are such classics I'd call this a 5 just on those tracks alone, but the rest keeps me interested and wanting to hear this album again and again (and of course "You're All I've Got Tonight" and "Bye Bye Love" are also classics). I'll also point out that this is a great pairing with Blondie's Parallel Lines which we randomly got a few days back. Perfect one-two punch of new wave.

The Cars fait partie de ces groupes formés de l'article "The" et d'un nom commun au pluriel (exemple: The Doors et son imperturbable organiste Manzarek). Pour autant, ce n'est pas aux Doors que le style des Cars nous fait penser mais bien à celui de Queen. L'album s'ouvre en effet sur une introduction intitulée "We Are The Winners" suivie du titre "Don't Block Me Now". Quelques pistes plus tard apparaît soudain le titre "Nonconformist Rhapsody". Pas assez flagrant pour vous peut-être ? Alors comment expliquez-vous que le dernier morceau s'appelle "We Will Move You" et que l'on voit dans son clip le batteur taper deux fois ses mains sur ses cuisses avant de les taper une fois entre elles ? Rendez-vous à l'évidence..

enjoyed this - wee bit dated, but good tunes and tight band.

Sounds like the very definition of american FM rock. Kinda sounds bland to me.

Classic album! I love the cars and this is my favorite of theirs! It's literally got so many of their best songs on it! My best friends girl, just what I needed classic!

My Dads first album If you only knew how many times my Dad told me the story of him buying his first album. My brothers and I eventually made a game out of it - who could call a Car’s song out the fastest and make the quote before my Dad could “tHIs WAs tHE fiRST aLBum I eVeR BAhT” 😂😂 This album is actually great. Moving In Stereo still gives me special thoughts reflecting on Fast Times At Richmond High. Bye Bye Love, Let The Good Times Roll, Youre all Ive Got… hits on hits

A stone cold classic. One of those rare (debut!) albums that plays like a greatest hits comp

Overall: 10/10 :) :) :) :) :) :) After ending 2024 with a 1 star album, 2025 is off to a good start cause this is one of my all time favourite albums. When I was in high school I decided I wanted to get into records and my mom gave me all of her old records since she didn't listen to them anymore. I remember looking through her records and being intrigued by this album cover. There's something about it that just instantly felt iconic to me. It ended up being the first album I ever listened to on vinyl and I think it's an understatement to say that it was life changing for me. As soon as the opening chords of Good Times Roll came in I was entranced. You might think I'm crazy for saying this but it's a core memory for me. To this day (about 12 years since I first heard it) I still listen to it at least once a month. Every single song is a banger and Benjamin Orr was such a rockstar 😍 Ugh, gonna go listen to it 20 more times today Fav Song: Moving in Stereo Least Fav Song: ????? Impossible, are you nuts?

A new wave masterpiece

A classic. Ocasek and the boys did a phenomenal job on this album. This also has my all-time favorite Cars song "Moving in Stereo". IYKYN.

Every song on this album is a banger! Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one.

This made me realize how many singles from the Cars I actually knew. That being said it does make the album a little top heavy, but the rest of the tracks are pretty great too. I wish I found this sooner.

It always blows my mind to go back and see how many great songs came off the first album of classic bands. The Cars is no exception. This album makes me love the Cars al over again. I can’t imagine anyone not liking it.

Pretty much a perfect pop-rock album. I frequently make the mistake of thinking it a key album of the 80s but, of course, it pre-dates the 80s - which speaks even more highly of its achievement, I think, in setting a strong tone for many other releases that followed it. It's not an album I turn to very often, but every time I do I'm reminded that it's just so damn good!

-S Tier- Good Times Roll My Best Friend’s Girl Just What I Needed I’m in Touch with Your World Don’t Cha Stop You’re All I’ve Got Tonight Bye Bye Love Moving in Stereo -A Tier- All Mixed Up AVG SCORE: 4.89 / 5.0 - - - Not only is there not a single skippable song on this album, this is one the closest albums to musical perfection as far as I’m concerned. Absolutely transcendent.

Perfect timing, since I was fantasizing about a smokin' Phoebe Cates coming out of the pool and removing her top. So I guess you could say this was...just what I needed.

Heartbeat City was one of my absolute favorite albums when I was a teen. I was less familiar with this one, but many of its songs are well known classics to me. I really enjoyed this trip to their origin point! It does feel like they helped create the sound of the 80s by going beyond guitar-bass-drum rock. "Moving in Stereo" really feels like we're there already.

I really like this album so far. Easy to listen to, very catchy on the first listen. I've heard one of their bigger hits (Just What I Needed) before, but The Cars were not a band that I was explored previously. I will definitely be looking into some of their other albums. Moving in Stereo is a jam!

Love this album. The first 3 tracks are absolute gold and it doesn't really drop off too far from there. I've loved Just What I Needed for years and can't believe it's taken this long to give the rest of the record a run. Amazing.

I love the cars, but it's one of those bands I never know it's them until someone points it out. It helps that I love the first song on the album. OOOOOO I know the 2nd one too. Yeah no doubt, I like this album a lot.

Already listened! A personal favorite

Straight jams back to back.

A great one from my youth.

Classic. Great songs and sounds.

I had heard this album a few times before, and don’t know why I didn’t purchase it back in the day. I really like it, and it takes me back to my old college days. The only reason that I don’t give it 5 stars is because I seem to tire of it somewhat quickly. But all in all, it’s excellent.

I went in with pretty low expectations, figuring that Just What I Needed, a song I adore, would be the only real highlight, but to my shock and pleasure this is really fucking good! To begin with, I forgot about Good Times Roll and My Best Friend's Girl, two songs I don't frequently play but still dig a lot. Those, combined with the aforementioned brilliance of JWIN, made for a severely underrated opening three track run. The deeper cuts didn't disappoint either; I'm In Touch With Your World and You're All I've Got Tonight were splendid, and the groove on Moving in Stereo (not a deep cut based on YTM play counts but still one I forget about often) is absolutely amazing. The only track that didn't really click on first listen was Don't Cha Stop, and I wouldn't be surprised if that changed with time. Very impressive listen. Several classic hitters of the early new wave scene, a song that scratches my favorites list, and a VERY tight runtime make me a very happy camper. I might have to poke around some more of the group's work sometime.

Love the hits on this album!

Pretty close to a 5.

I love the Cars. This is a tremendous (debut) album, chock full of hits. Punchy pop, immediately puts me in a good mood. Rock on.

for me, The Cars are probably the definition of a Greatest Hits band, classic singles but the sound is so characteristic that the album tracks become a bit samey. Probably unfair on this album as it's their debut and 2/3 of the tracks are played to death on the radio but there you go. Great album, buy the Greatest Hits!

Devo for people who wear pea coats. Excellent synths on this record, though.

I dig this so much...in spots. No one swallows his histrionics the way Ric Ocasek does. To me, this music is all the updated swing and swagger of 50s rock for the contemporary new wave crowd. This must be one of the earliest examples of power pop, and it's all just so pure. Yep. "Moving in Stereo" would be the perfect song to strip to.

не моя вабще музика. спочатку здалося що це нагадає мені про фільм хеві метал, але по ітогу це звучання нагадало мені про nitw. а ще навіяло якісь думки про те як було б класно жити в 70-80х в америці і тусуватися в якомусь локальному рок бенд. хз вобщем. звучання недостатньо рокове але і хуйней не назвеш.

car

This is good fun, but not necessarily essential. It is fun new wave catchy singalong pop. Good driving (no pun intended) rhythms with occasional proper long guitar solos! The vocal hooks are bubblegum! A very high 3, maybe a 4 with more familiarity.

Really great! So many interesting sounds throughout.

Didn’t realize how awesome the cars are!!!!

This is my favorite album by them. "My best friends girl" and "just what I needed" are my favorites, but the whole album is fun to listen to. Gonna see if I can learn a few of these on guitar.

A fantastic album. The five star albums are coming rapidly now. I didn't know The Cars before I bought this album, after I read about it in the 1001 Albums-book. They are as good as unknown in Europe. I thought they were a kind of plastic keyboard-driven bubblegum-pop act, but this turned out to be a very very strong album. It's obviously very carefully made, all the songs contain surprising and original details. And there are some great melodies. What more do you need? Highlights? 'Just what I needed', of course, 'You're all I've got tonight' and 'All mixed up'. Nice one.

Just what I needed

So many working parts to these pop songs! The little flourishes and the vocals are so good.

This plays like a new wave greatest hits. Pretty solid all the way through expect for 1 track that is skippable in I'm In Touch With Your World.

Great positive vibe and excellent production.

Hot damn! What a 1, 2, 3 combo with "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed". There are so many radio hits on here. I didn't realize that this album should be in the conversation with best debut albums of all time. I really liked the rest of the album as well. "Moving in Stereo" had some fun synth in it. I was singing along to "Don't Cha Stop" and "Bye Bye Love" by the end of those song despite never listening to them before. The only song that I didn't like was "I'm In Touch With Your World". It was very jarring after those first 3 hits. This is probably another 9/10 album for me, but I'm going to give it another listen to see if it can tip into the 5 star range.

Catchy, well-crafted pop rock songs. Vocal, guitar, keyboard hooks with steady drums keep it interesting. Great three-song run of classics to open the album. I should learn this album on guitar to increase my skill, some of the leads are super interesting!

Might as well be a greatest hits album. 9.7/10 Best Tracks: "Good Times Roll" "My Best Friend's Girl" "Just What I Needed" "You're All I've Got Tonight" "Bye Bye Love"

The Cars Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Literally every song is a banger.

A perfect pop album. This is what we lost when pop musicians had to be pretty too. Seriously though every song is amazing and that this isn't a greatest hits just blows me away.

This album serves as an age check during 'that one song'. Ric Ocasek nailed it with this album, its full of chart toppers and massive hits. 5/5

I love this album. When I got to borrow dad’s Infinity in high school, this and The Long Run by the Eagles were the two albums I listened to on repeat. Great start to finish.

I can remember vividly when this album came out, I bought it. I spent hours listening to this on my headphones and it changed my musical tastes from the mainstream 70s rock/metal that I was listening to for the new wave music and then on to post punk, punk and alt rock. Every song is a standout for me.

Every track is gold. Just What I Needed is one of my all-time favourite songs

Solid bangers

## In-Depth Review of *The Cars* by The Cars Released in 1978, *The Cars* marked the debut of the Boston-based band and became a cornerstone of the new wave genre. Seamlessly blending rock, punk, and pop elements, this album is widely regarded as one of the most influential records of its era. Below is a detailed review focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** Ric Ocasek’s songwriting on *The Cars* is characterized by cryptic yet relatable lyrics that often explore themes like love, longing, and alienation. Tracks like "My Best Friend’s Girl" showcase Ocasek’s ability to encapsulate complex emotions with simple yet poignant lines such as: *"She’s my best friend’s girl, but she used to be mine”*[1][2]. This line captures heartbreak and nostalgia in a succinct manner. Other songs like "Just What I Needed" feature lyrics that are both introspective and playful. While not overly verbose or poetic, the lyrics remain engaging due to their conversational tone and universal appeal[2][3]. However, tracks like "I’m In Touch With Your World" veer into surreal territory with abstract imagery that some listeners might find less accessible[2][4]. --- ### **Music** The Cars’ musical style on this album is a masterclass in blending genres. The band combines catchy pop hooks with rock energy and new wave experimentation. Key elements include: - **Synthesizers**: Greg Hawkes’ use of synthesizers adds a futuristic dimension to tracks like "Bye Bye Love," giving them a space-age feel[2][3]. - **Guitar Work**: Elliot Easton’s streamlined riffs provide a rock backbone while maintaining a polished sound. His work shines particularly on "Moving In Stereo" and "Since I Held You"[4]. - **Vocals**: The interplay between Ric Ocasek's deadpan delivery and Benjamin Orr's soulful voice adds depth to the album. Orr’s vocals on "Just What I Needed" are especially memorable[1][3]. - **Rhythm Section**: David Robinson’s drumming is tight and restrained, complementing the album’s sleek production style. The music is undeniably catchy, with tracks like "Good Times Roll" and "Let’s Go" epitomizing The Cars’ ability to craft radio-friendly hits without sacrificing artistic integrity[1][4]. --- ### **Production** Roy Thomas Baker’s production on *The Cars* is impeccable. Known for his work with Queen, Baker brought a polished yet edgy aesthetic to the album. The production balances clarity with texture, allowing each instrument to shine without overwhelming the mix. Highlights include: - **Layering**: Synths are layered seamlessly with guitars, creating a dynamic soundscape. - **Vocals**: The vocal production ensures that both Ocasek’s detached delivery and Orr’s emotive singing are front and center. - **Minimalism**: With a runtime of just 35 minutes, the album avoids filler tracks, adhering to the principle that less is more[1][5]. While some critics argue that the slick production occasionally sacrifices raw energy for polish, it undeniably helped define the band’s signature sound[4]. --- ### **Themes** The album explores themes of relationships, desire, and modernity through its lyrics and music: - **Love and Heartbreak**: Tracks like "My Best Friend’s Girl" delve into romantic complications with a mix of humor and melancholy[1][2]. - **Alienation**: Songs such as "Moving In Stereo" evoke feelings of detachment and introspection through their atmospheric soundscapes[4]. - **Optimism**: Despite moments of introspection, tracks like "Good Times Roll" celebrate carefree enjoyment[2][5]. These themes resonate across generations, contributing to the album’s timeless appeal. --- ### **Influence** *The Cars* was instrumental in shaping the new wave movement. Its blend of rock energy with pop accessibility influenced countless bands in genres ranging from alternative rock to synth-pop. Artists such as Weezer and The Killers have cited The Cars as an inspiration for their melodic yet edgy approach to songwriting[3][5]. Additionally: - The album introduced synthesizers as a prominent element in mainstream rock. - It proved that new wave could achieve commercial success without compromising artistic vision. Its enduring popularity—bolstered by hits like "Just What I Needed"—cements its status as a cultural touchstone[3][4]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Cohesive Sound**: Every track feels like part of a unified vision. 2. **Timeless Hooks**: Songs like "Just What I Needed" remain instantly recognizable decades later. 3. **Innovative Production**: Roy Thomas Baker's polished approach elevated the band’s sound without losing its edge. 4. **Genre Fusion**: Successfully blends rock, punk, pop, and new wave elements into an accessible yet sophisticated package. 5. **No Filler Tracks**: At 35 minutes long, every song contributes meaningfully to the album[1][5]. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Lack of Raw Energy**: Some critics feel that the slick production sacrifices spontaneity for polish[4]. 2. **Abstract Lyrics**: Tracks like "I’m In Touch With Your World" may alienate listeners seeking straightforward narratives[2]. 3. **Formulaic Moments**: While cohesive, some songs adhere closely to pop-rock formulas without much experimentation[4]. --- ### **Conclusion** *The Cars* by The Cars is an exceptional debut album that showcases the band’s mastery of melody, innovation in production, and ability to craft universally appealing songs. Its influence on new wave music cannot be overstated—it remains a benchmark for blending artistic ambition with commercial viability. While it may lack raw energy or lyrical depth in some areas, these minor shortcomings are overshadowed by its strengths. From iconic singles like "Just What I Needed" to deep cuts like "Moving In Stereo," this record delivers one classic after another. Ultimately, *The Cars* stands as one of the finest debut albums in rock history—a must-listen for fans of new wave or anyone interested in exploring how genre-blending can redefine popular music.

So good!

So many hits on one album. Amazing.!

Classic fun. So many catchy songs. Loved it.

Classic rock. Distinctive synth throughout. Lots and lots of classic hits.

I personally prefer Heartbeat City but this is an excellent debut album and a must have for any fan of the 80's. Rest in peace, Ric. You and the lads did good.

Always liked the cars and I had this album. This is the first one I might give 5 stars as a "Must Listen" making me feel that the whole must listen album thing is just 100% subjective based on your history, not based at all on how good the actual music is. I always found the cars lyrics fun--it's like they'd just make up new uses for words that rhymed wherever needed, this whole album is packed with new uses for old words and weird twisty little phrases that kind of work or might even sound deep if you don't look into them too much.

One of the strongest debuts of all time, practically every song became a hit. I've obviously heard so many of the tracks so many times that I don't exactly ever throw this album on anymore these days. But think you gotta safely say this was a straight up new wave pop rock masterpiece

Six out of five stars for the Cars. "Let them brush your rock'n'roll hair" alone puts this album among the constellations and it's not even from the best song, which is "Just What I Needed" - the best rock song ever. If Buddy Holly hadn't died in a plane crash but instead fell into a wormhole to the future and came back to 1978 as Ric Ocasek to show us the way.

Loved all of it! only 1 song I didn’t know

Love the Cars, what a classic opening album from an underappreciated American band!

To find out this was a debut and not a greatest hits album took me by surprise. I don’t know I knew and enjoyed so many songs by the Cars. Great album.

Amazing

Always admired The Cars and Ric Ocasek as a tight band and producer (see Weezer, Nada Surf, No Doubt) but don't think I ever put on this album or any Cars album fully. Probably heard it in the background when I was a toddler. This album is tight. Sure some new wave influence but Power Pop city. Catchy as F, guitars forward. Short and sweet from front to finish.

Excellent. Could be a greatest hits.

A perfect pop-rock album. 5 out of the 9 nine songs still get radio play (Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, You're All I've Got Tonight, and Moving In Stereo). The other 4 tracks are pretty good. I'm In Touch With Your World is so goofy with all the sounds effects - I love it!

They might as well have just repackaged this album when they put out their first greatest hits. It’s nothing but gold on here!

I never knew how amazing this album was! This is why I do this. To discover gems like these

I mean, it rules

One of the easier rates on the list. A pop rock/power pop record to define everything that precedes it. It's almost as if all 80s rock started and ended here

This is actually quite good. Those first three tracks are obviously classics. But I ended up really enjoying the rest of it as well.

now THIS is a proper album. notice how they didn’t make the album longer than it has to be while still maintaining unique personalities for each track? perfect amount of catchiness, perfect amount of boldness. chef’s kiss. elliot smith and david ackles, TAKE NOTE

Omg i love new wave so much i knew this was gonna be absolutely fucking great and boy was i RIGHT x

A very fun album all around some great gituar and keyboard combinations my favourite track is don’t cha stop by a long shot

Started out ok, felt pretty generic rock. But as I listened more and more, it got better and better. Just What I Needed is a classic, great song. Other fun songs were Don't Cha Stop and You're All I Got Tonight. They ended the album Moving In Stereo and All Mixed Up, both of which had really good music, great vibe. Overall most songs are 4s, with a few 3s and a couple 5s, but all together, this album just hits the spot. Best song: Just What I Needed