The Cars

This is exactly the kind of music and quality you expect from an album and band both called "The Cars". I guess this album is like watching Formula 1. Depending on your disposition, it's either an exciting affair underpinned by romanticized nostalgia from back then and subconscious memories of your (grand)father, or simply loud cars driving in circles.

Just what I needed My best friend’s girl You’re all i’ve got tonight 9.5/10

Decent album but the bass lines all sound the same

Rock buenaondita, punk con influencias de Queen.

Album starts off really strong with 3 great tunes. Perfect new-wave and synth pop album.

while I'm a fan of the later work (Drive), this was just a so-so album for me

Yea this album sounds incredible, not much else to say beyond that!

I liked this. Just a fun, feel good pop album. Some days that's just what you need.

Classic. Banger after banger after banger!

I’d heard My Best Friend’s Girl and Just What I Needed before. They’re both decent songs, but I wouldn’t say they’re favourites of mine, so I went in expecting this to be in the 3-4 range. I don’t know if it was because I was listening to this on a sunny day while driving along the coast and this just happened to be perfect for that, but this album was great. I’m not sure I’d give any of the songs 5 stars on their own, but the consistency in style and sound while maintaining enough variation to be interesting helped this album to build up to something that was greater than the sun of its parts. My favourite track was Moving In Stereo, but they’re all good and I will be listening to more Cars in future

Very enjoyable stuff. Had heard My Best Friends Girl Before, and the rest were good too. Shit band name Simpsons: No

Boring. Glad it was only 35 mins.

This album only really has 2 songs worth listening to and they are the 2 that I had heard before. Found it a little boring but thankfully it wasn't too long

Short, sweet, and just good music. One of Kenzie’s favourite, in fact she’s got it on Vinyl

Blah blah blah 80s classic rock blah blah blah again blah blah blah some bangers but still not transcended.

A bit too New Wave for my liking. Still fairly enjoyable overall. I'm getting Taking Heads and Television vibes in places.

As a kid, everyone seemed to have bought this album. But, it's just too overplayed to enjoy it anymore. My best friends girl: Just What I needed (probably the best track). Forgot how good Moving in Stereo was!

bien entretenido sentí que iba en un roadtrip, el nombre a la banda le queda excelente. solid 9/10.

I enjoyed the throwback 70s synth sounds. As dated as this album may be, I do have fond feelings towards what almost every track has to offer. It's about as motivating and feel good as you'd expect considering the era it represents. The LP makes me feel as if I was in a giant motivational montage with it's adventurous rock and roll instrumentals throughout. The more rush energy tracks are my kind of thing, songs like Just what I needed and Don't Cha Stop keep the positivity flowing.

cool

Love me some 70s rock

nostalgic

One of the best album oriented rock new wave debuts. Gorgeous synthesizer use.

classic banger, after classic banger

Recognised ‘Just What I Needed’ but otherwise not familiar with this band. The album was ok, as far as Dad-rock goes. A lot of the tracks felt similar until you hit the final two. Not one I’d necessarily dive into listening again.

Fuckin epic

Sooo this is much better than the usual Americana fare on here. What a nice surprise tbh. A good wee pop album. I may even listen again

Some old tunes I know. Slight grower.

Loved it - solid album that holds up over the decades.

Iconic and enjoyable. Late 70's into 80's and sounds like it. Whole album is strong

nichts besonderes, finde ich nicht. kann man gut durchhören. So nebenher eben.

It was really good and I recognized/knew all the songs.

One of my favorite albums in high school, no questions asked. The Cars made a perfect pop record and I just love Ric Ocasek's voice. Highlights: all, fantastic album.

More bangers on this than I realized.

Good but didn’t impress me

Really tight sound. Fun melodies and guitar riffs.

This was such a decade-bending album. Some tracks and bars felt like the 60's, some the 70's, and some the 80's. It felt very much like this album influenced a lot of the 80's key defining stylistic features. Since I'm not usually the biggest fan of the 80's, that was almost a knock against this album in a "So it's THEIR fault!" mentality, but even so I can't deny that this album was great. Every song was a bop and had a lot to say.

Almost every song on this album hits like a single. That should tell you enough.

"The Cars" by The Cars is a quintessential album of the late 1970s, marked by its innovative blend of new wave, rock, and pop sensibilities. From the infectious hooks of "Just What I Needed" to the moody yet catchy "My Best Friend's Girl," this self-titled debut showcases the band's knack for crafting memorable melodies and marrying them with sleek, synth-driven arrangements. One of the album's strengths lies in its diversity. Tracks like "Good Times Roll" exude a playful energy, while "You're All I've Got Tonight" delves into darker, more introspective territory. Ric Ocasek's distinctive vocals and quirky lyrics add depth and character to each song, while the tight musicianship of the band members ensures a polished, cohesive sound throughout. "The Cars" is a timeless classic that remains as relevant and enjoyable today as it was upon its release. It's a testament to the band's enduring influence on the music landscape, and a must-listen for fans of alternative rock and pop alike.

Great songs.

the first album here that I've been pretty familiar with beforehand. this thing is stacked for all 35 minutes of it's run time. it's got some of the strange icy nature of post-punk, some of the simplicity and riffs of punk, some of power pop's ear for melody, and, importantly, a lot of tasteful new wave synths to fill out the mix. they clearly drew from the best of 60's rock and 70's punk but had plenty of their own ideas (the epic organ synth on You're All I've Got Tonight, the bizarre sound effects on I'm In Touch With Your World, the playful synth in the aptly-titled Moving in Stereo). every pop punk or garage rock band ever (hi Weezer and The Killers) owes something to The Cars. rarely does something this radio-friendly have this much quality but that quality is evidenced in how brilliant the last 4 songs of the album are. on their own, You're All I've Got Tonight and Bye Bye Love rock (I love Ric's melody when he sings the lullaby line right before the chorus), but the transitions between the four tracks elevate them significantly. Moving In Stereo keeps the energy with some genius synth melodies, throwing tremolo effects on the vocals and panning the synths in and out of channels. Ric Ocaseck's vocals get so much darker on the B-side here, it's a real joy. All Mixed Up is fittingly a little bit of a mess but at its core the synth drives forward the song with a haunting urgency and gives way to Ric's best vocal performance on the album. this is really such a pure set of songs, it's a joy to listen to what is surely amongst the most defining albums of the entire 80's.

I liked it a lot, really enjoyable and interesting. Might be a 5 after another listen

Fun album.

Enjoyable album which grew on me as it progressed

An absolute classic of what we now call classic rock and one of those albums that influenced a thousand others. The album starts with unsustainable greatness, with three big hits in a row including the incomparable Just What I Needed, a perfect rock song. I think the middle of the album drags a tad, which I’m sure many would disagree with, but it finishes strong with Moving In Stereo and All Mixed Up.

Meh

I knew a lot of these songs and they're all pretty good, an easy listen.

Great Album!

"Good Times Roll". Classic song to start off the album. Follow that up with "My Best Friend's Girl". Another Banger.

Some great rock hits on this one

It was fun listening to this album. But I remember how oversaturated the radio waves were with these pop songs. They played the same songs constantly on all the radio stations until you got tired of them. I was so happy when I discovered the Brown U station (WBRU) that played stuff you never heard on the commercial stations. This was a nice trip down memory lane.

Not my sound, gets old kinda fast

So much fun. I never realized how much The Cars sounded like Devo. Was that just the sound of the day, or what?

entertaining

There's already the IMHO typical The Cars sound. Solid production, the album starts well, but the second half gets a bit boring. But after all, it's their debut, so they need room for future improvements.

The Cars made great, punk-inspired pop songs. Their clean, guitar driven sound uses synthesizers to fill out their melodic, catchy tracks. Ric Ocasek's vocals have a distinct sound, which help define the band's sound. This self-titled debut album has some of the hits that propelled the band to stardom, like "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Good Times Roll."

Fun album. Some pretty decent pop songs to sing along to. 3.5/5 Might listen again

Fun album! Strong from front to back.

3.5 could go to 4 with more listens

Who knew they were so good? Should have known the album would be since 1978 was a great year.

Everyone (rightfully) hypes up Loveless, but this album also deserves heaps and heaps of praise. Less shoegaze than what came after, it's really fun to see MBV in more of a traditional indie rock sphere. The AA cut of this vinyl is simply incredible as well.

Some classics - Good Times Roll, Best Friends Girl, Just What I needed, etc.

4.75

The Cars came about at what seems the perfect time for them. They were able to masterfully mix Rock, Pop, and New Wave in such a way that created a catalog of almost nothing but gold. The songwriting from start to finish is in perfect balance. Catchy riffs and lyrics, but in such a way that you never tire of hearing them. An amazing debut album from a criminally underrated band. Every song on here is an instantly recognizable hit.

Great, classic, a liiiittle dated. I can't explain it, but the "twang" in the vocals puts a timeframe on the music and it's not quite what I expect to hear in 2024. I probably won't come back to the whole album, but the individual tracks are stand-outs.

Fifth album I listened to on repeat.

This album by itself could be the soundtrack for any 80's themed movie or TV show. So many hits

When I was in high school, I was a hugeeee fan of the Beatles. Still am, but my music taste has expanded a little bit. One of my friends suggested listening to the Cars because it was "right up my alley". They were correct. Let the good times roll indeed.

Josiah - 3 Elen - 3 3

Quite forgettable.

D great way to start the day!!

Loved the sonic landscape they've created!

So many bands spend their careers in search of an album this tightly constructed and polished—and the Cars managed it on their first go-round. They’d still produce many great songs in the course of their existence, but arguably none of their other albums provide this kind of euphoric listening experience.

Super enjoyable album beginning to end. The vocals are almost queen-like on some tracks. First definite 5 star album I’ve stumbled across yet.

Used to enjoy playing this in guitar hero (drums) Recently gave this a listen again on my own, casual. Let’s give this a whirl! Real time notes: clean production. Good medium groove to start. Like the vibe. Such 80s vocal tone ugh Second song - bopper. Third - so 80s. Another just everywhere ‘hit’. This album is easy to play in the background, heard every song so far a million times before 4- experimental offbeat ditty. Probably skip if I were playing for me 5 - 80s pop crap sound. Skip 6 - another hit. 7 - and another. Nice little bass flick at the beginning. This one has a little more to it than the rest. Good song, has some instrumental depth 8 - ooh production tricks. Nice dark start. This is a good vibe 9 - vibes into this one. Nice. Big finish.

Amazing rock album, so many hits on here that I didn't even realize. Tapers a bit off at the end, but this is a definite relisten album. Overall a solid rock album, that was considered pop-ish when it was released.

Like the Pretenders, this VU inspired group, boasting a Modern Lover and a bass player who was never photographed with Queen's Roger Taylor, proving they are the same person (Red Pill: Roy Thomas Baker, who produced the first five Queen albums, is in charge of the excellent sonics here, so fuck you). But Queen this ain't. This is "New Wave". You can tell because they got their wardrobe from the same hip catalog. "Thin ties. Snazzy Suit jackets" (always room for Jello in some shit I'm writing). I really shouldn't lump them together, or type the words "New Wave" with an underlying contempt for the mass consumption it emblemizes; my knowledge of both is limited to 80s FM radio, and with The Cars, that was a lot. And the videos. And the Super Models. And the Wayfarers. So taking this front to back, its solid, competent. No sign of Mutt Lange (the mulleted jagwagon who glopped up the MTV iteration of the band). It boasts one all time classic in "My Best Friend's Girl", one associated with Phoebe Cates coming hither (and a generation of horny teenagers coming yon), and a bunch of rock radio hits. I have never met a Cars obsessive-not a slam, they must exist-but they must exist. This shit gets constant play on FM Rock Radio. Anyway, its cool, I guess.

Not bad, but then autoplay kicked in and I didn't realise that the artist had changed. So I guess not that good either?

Bangers on bangers

I had their very popular release, but didn’t realize they had other hit albums. This was good and holds up.

This album came out on my birthday, so of course I’m doing to love it. I already liked the Cars and have listened to a decent amount of songs on this album.

ya lo escuché es bueno

Couple of great tracks here

This was alright! Nothing too exciting but definitely listenable! First couple of tracks are excellent but it all gets a bit samey as you go through.

This was a lyrical banger. Some skips, but overall it's fun, catchy, and a perfect Saturday morning album

relisten. great album 0 skips

Best album that has come up in a long time on this list. What a debut! The Cars inhabit that same intricate, quirky segment of rock and roll that The Talking Heads live in. And I'm here for that segment like no other! A performance-style lead vocalist and lyracist in Ocasek. A bouncy bass-driven sound thanks to Orr, and a clean and synth balanced sound that not only stands out uniquely but also produces some incredible, undeniable hit songs that don't pander to mainstream. They're just great songs. This thing is a debut and a greatest hits album at the same time. Supurb Friday album.

Interesting - not what I expected - a post punk band right at the break of the punk wave. Interesting and fun.

Made me step in lign with the beat on my way to the bus stop/side of a field but it was a little stressful 🔥🔥

Decent album. Honestly not much to say about this, but the songs all felt like they could have been hits to some extent (although I was unfamiliar with them). I'm glad The Cars are now on may radar at least. As a bonus fact, I'll note that 3 songs ("Good Times Roll," "I'm in Touch with Your World," and "You're All I've Got Tonight") all feature the bVI-bVII-I 'Super Mario Cadence.'

Standouts- Best Friends Girl

LOVE ME SOME CARS. Favorite Tracks: - Good Times Roll - Just What I Needed - Don't Cha Stop - You're All I've Got Tonight - Bye Bye Love - Moving in Stereo 5/5

All bangers, great flow. In 1978, when The Cars broke into the scene, the Loop, the top hard-rock AOR station in Chicago, promoted this band and album heavily. Guitars, yes, but synths?! It sounded so futuristic to me, and quite uncharacteristic for a station that held Zeppelin and the Stones up as gods. It's undeniably good New Wave music, bridging a lot of stuff on the scene in 1978--post-disco, post-punk, power pop, AOR and Top 40. There's something for any fan of rock music here. Excellent mix and production all around.

Very familiar already. Still awesome.

On very little sleep + Xanax. Would have otherwise opted for a mellow ambient album. This is a bit of an intellectual listen as I’m not relating to the feels of the music in this state. The synth parts are unreal good.

This is a greatest hits album that also so happens to be the first album by The Cars. That's probably a lie, because "Heartbeat City" is also a great record and I think Candy-O is really good too. I'm a fan of The Cars, obviously. I love the rock, synth new-wave sound they have and the layered vocals are really great too. There is not a bad song on this album and the first three songs are all classics. "You're All I've Got Tonight" should have been a big hit too. I could not recommend this album highly enough and the list is created so those who were not exposed to an album such as this would be.

The woman on the cover looks like she's just run over a cyclist and she's happy about it. Inoffensive new wave pop

Didn’t we just have a Talking Heads album? Warmed to it after the first two songs to be honest. Not dreadful.

I had no idea what to expect on this one. I suppose the best way of describing it is a fun inoffensive mixture of styles. Actually I quite enjoyed it, but can’t say I’d ever listen to it again, except maybe ‘You’re all I’ve got tonight’. Random thoughts: I was quite surprised it was 1978 and not mid-80s, so maybe ahead of its time? Also ‘Just what I needed’ seems to be a very early precursor to skate rock.

Sounded like a musical, nothing grabbed me.

I loved this. I've never consciously listened to The Cars before so I had no real basis, but expected a bit more mellow synthy stuff. Surprised by how heavy this is. I recognised the start of a bunch of the songs but they all developed in interesting ways and I could never predict where they were going.

Everything sounds good, but overall I found it kind of average. Feels like there wasn't too much to the songs other than repeating the chorus. A lot of "hey thats the name of song" moments on this album.

sooo booring this was extremely mid, not bad but im unexcited unintirgued. album cover is so cunty n the album itself just does not do it justice 6/10

Interesting. Pretty sparse instrumentals at times, which I disliked as the album went on. Fun to find Just What I Needed in the wild. Otherwise kinda mid. 6/10

8/10 - There were some bangers, my best friend's girl and just what I needed are classics and some of the other songs were decent as well.

Some really good songs, but lowkey dragged in the middle. The last song was good though

I had fun listening to this; I don’t know how many of these songs I actually want to listen to again, but I enjoyed the album 7/10

Fun rhythm shifts, great sound, American rock

Lot of hits on this album.

I really enjoyed a few songs but overall, too happy for me. but the guitar solos are great

Some charging passages and electric licks sound far more recent than 1978. Proto-post-punk tracks.

det här var riktigt coolt alltså. tidig rock synth som funkar otroligt bra. ett stort plus för längden på stadiga 35 minuter.

I’ve heard it before It’s solid

Awesome.!

I wish I could be a car

meh

послушал дебютный альбом группы the cars, для меня в целом это неизведанная группа, и я вообще офигел что тут на обложке Медведева, которая бывшая жена Эдуарда Лимонова. Рой Томас Бейкер спродюссировал пластинку целиком, а Рик Окасек с компанией жёстко прочувствовали эту музыку, что видно по их лайв исполнениям. это очень тонкая музыка, очень филигранно написанная, и исполнять ей явно сложнее чем может показаться, тк тут очень важна нужная чувствительность в подаче. в плане музыки это синтез рок н ролла 70х и синтезаторной поп музыки конца 70х - начала 80х. и мне этот баланс дико нравится, особенно когда его не заносит в сторону рока. а первая половина альбома именно что более рок н ролльная и танцевальная, а на меня такая музыка ну тупо не работает. как музыка для тела меня это просто не раскачивает, а как музыка для ума это скучновато. но когда Бейкер сильнее двигается к поп звучанию, получается очень красивый баланс гитар и синтезаторов, которые неторопливо сменяют друг друга по ходу песни. получилась достаточно чувствительная и глубокая музыка, почти половину альбома я забрал к себе в плейлист, я точно это ещё погоняю какое то время, оч красиво, даже появилось желании послушать следующие альбомы, их не так много в дискографии оценка - 9/10

For some reason for which I can't remember I already had Just What I Needed saved in Own Personal Rics, it's got some classic late 70s into 80s glamish light rock going on. Aside from that the rest of the album was pretty trash.

9/10 This is my first 5 star album. It's so iconic I can't separate it from the miasma of music that is just in my head all the time. That it was this polished and hook filled in 1978 just puts it over the top. Moving in stereo, even without its association with Fast Times, has a tense sense of menace to it that gives me chills. Every other track is either good or flawless. The only reason it isn't a 10/10 is that I'm not compelled to own a physical copy, but it's close. 4-12-2024

Banger after banger. Enjoyed this one.

i am sure this is a nice album but i have no memory of listening to it

Still great.

This album sounds so 80's (despite being released in '78), but also so fresh and good. The sound is just so cool and synth-vibey, I just love every songs. Even the songs I'd never heard before were great and had a great sound to them. Five stars.

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.

bop-filled but a little forgettable

Love the hits on this album!

UR ALL I GOT TONITE. UR ALL I GOT TONITE. This is pretty poppy for the time. I know a lot of these tunes. It's not bad lol

Pretty decent. I'm not the biggest fan of their sound but the songs are pretty good

Can you imagine this being your debut album? It's basically a greatest hits record, not to mention the iconic album art.

Pretty close to a 5.

I would listen to this on a car trip.

Loved this,reminded me of happy childhood memories. Just cool music.

if i was around, this would have been my favorite band probably

its alright. no absolute bangers but moving in stereo and best friends girl were both pretty good. 6/10

The Cars took us on a ride here and while it wasn’t a fast ride, it was scenic with windy roads and I had a good time. Synth pop done well with some crunchy guitar riffs tossed in. The guitar work is what surprised me, thought it was especially good on You’re all I’ve Got Tonight. Moving in Stereo was an impressive track that caught me off guard as well. Good fun 3.5 stars

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.

This was great, of course, it's basically The Cars greatest hits. I'd like to use this space instead to shout out newer artist, Chappell Roan, who put on a great show tonight in Pittsburgh 💖🐴

Sounds very 80s but was released in the late 70s. This debut album was very influential and has some great anthems on it.

I think I've got The Cars confused with an entirely different artist my whole life. I was expecting that album to sound like Roy Orbison or something. Instead they kinda sound like a more rockin' Talking Heads or something. Anyways, I enjoyed it!

Solid rock album. Couple sick tunes for sure.

Meh

I like the blend of 1970's vibes and New Wave sounds -- I knew some of these songs already but not all of them, so it was an interesting listen.

New ave y pop enérgico que sentó ciertas bases de lo que vino posteriormente pero que en términos generales me deja una sensación más bien tibia.

Genuinely got excited when I saw this album come up yesterday, front to back banger after banger

Tremendo álbum, en su mayoría excelente.

I especially like Good Times Roll; All Mixed Up is too slow

Holy shit was not expecting such a banger album front to back. Might regret giving it a 5 later but in the moment I feel it’s deserved.

Fantastic new wave / post punk / art rock / whatever.

This album changed music for everyone in my inner circle back in the day and for me it's hard to think of one with more cultural significance. I think I am probably the only person I know that prefers Candy-O to this one but, that said, it's a short list of musical works that merit the ratings I'd give this album. Thanks for the jump start to this week.

Great album, tons of hits

Classic pop rock album, lots of well-known hits here. It's easy listening, and probably just as likely to be heard in boomer-directed advertisements as on the radio these days. Can't deny the catchiness of songs like "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "You're All I've Got Tonight".

Great album

Pretty fine fayre. Plenty of hooks to grab the attention. Varied enough with enough depth to elevate above pure pop and keep the interest until the closing track.

Some crazy good pop-rock with fantastic interplay between gritty guitar and floaty synth melodies. It's super tight, even when it does get loose it's in a QOTSA kinda way and the Queen style harmonies ding. There are times when it loses it's focus and the vibe gets too weird but only a couple times. It's just a near perfect example of that late 70's era where more interesting ideas are creeping in. Super fun.

I didn't really care for the first few songs. They're a bit repetitive. I feel the synth throughout the album really helped. Damn, the last 3 songs are jams

This album’s musical ideas, style and execution for me demonstrate a fully realized perfection. I always want to listen to it all the way through it is such a joy to listen to and admire. And to think a few years later I saw them live in what was one of the worst concerts zi have ever witnessed. Every album is worth listening to until heartbeat City.

Had no idea I was this much of a Cars fan. Nor would I have guessed they released this in the 70s. Just some great rock with some punk attitude. 5/5

3 - When I was younger, I saw the amount of hits off of this album and assumed this album would be amazing, kinda like a Thriller situation, but to a lesser degree. But, while there are a couple hits off of here that I like, I don't love them or anything, at least not as much as I used to, and everything else is just whatever to me. It all fits together as one cohesive album, but I got bored with some of the deep cuts. I don't like The Cars as much as I thought I would at a younger age, but I'm fine with that. I've found music much more up my alley since then.

Average Cars W

stacked af

didn’t realise this was the album that my best friends girl was on. Just what I needed is a banger. Everything else on it is kinda mid. Moving in stereo is nb.

Some awesome 70s alt. Inspired me to start a 70s playlist.

I count at least 5 hits off this album, based on classic rock radio plays. The first three tracks were definitely hits "Let the good times roll", "my best friend's girl", and "just what I needed" are classics. "You're all I've got tonight" and "bye bye love" are also worth mentioning. They straddle the new wave post punk line very carefully to make a classic album.

This was really solid! Much more inventive that I had thought - maybe I need to listen to The Cars some more?

How come I’ve neglected to listen to one of the greatest new wave album of all time for so long? Every single song is iconic and delivers on every possible scale. I’m going to buy this immediately.

This one was really unexpected. As the album opened, I thought the dated synth sounds wouldn't be my thing. But to be fair, there's a charm to it and the songs are really excellent. A really fun and enjoyable album with a mix of styles, will be sharing "Just What I Needed"with my friends as a highlight!

So very very good. Spiky, punky, poppy. Can definitely see why they were considered in the vanguard of New-Wave.

Awesome

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.

Extremely dense album filled with radio-ready singles. Absurdly dense. Moving in Stereo is the best song and if all the songs were that good it’d be 5/5.

Eh

So front loaded you forget it's not a greatest hits album. There are some serious duds in this line-up though, and the songs that I like are just on the good side of great. A strong 3 from me.

morning jam 444

Knew every word to every song

A big album, part of the "new wave" era of music. Lots of hits off this record including "My Best Friend's Girl Friend' and "Just Whst I Needed*.

Man the Cars can write a catchy song. 3.77 per track even with “I’m in touch…”.

The Cars. Really? Boring name for a band. Why not Buildings, or Tree, or Pavement? Oh, wait… It is a big time album. Hit upon hit in my day. I liked them then, still do today. Love? Close. 4.5

Good album . Slightly overlooked from my side and I love it , though not very much .

Just an incredible debut album. 6 solid hits including two of the best Cars songs ever - Bye Bye Love & Moving in Stereo. Unfortunately a few tunes shy of hitting a 5. 4.25.

Huge nostalgia points for this one as it's one I was really into when I was really young. Still sounds great! Faves are the obvious: Good Times Toll, My Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed. The rest is ok, nothing special. Without nostalgia probably a 3.

This is great and, given it sounds so mid-80s, quite ahead of its time, getting released in 1978 as it did! Fave tracks - "Just What I Needed" has been a favorite for quite a while - an excellent tune! From the ones I was less aware of, "Moving in Stereo" stood out the most.....

The repetitiveness and mediocrity of the music was a massive let down, and proved a waste of an otherwise excellent album cover.

Fantastic album and an all-time strong debut album to boot. It's hard to believe this came out in '78.

I kinda forgot it immediately, 2.5?

Back half is phenomenal, but the beginning is kind of forgettable. Really hard decision between 3 and 4

Wow what's this? An actual all time great album? Shocked. Gobsmacked. Hoobastunk. 10/10.

Such a beautiful, unique, quirky sound. And it seems to have come out of the gate fully formed; perfected. These guys made several more great albums and about 8 years later they absolutely owned the summer of 1986. But for me this remains their best album. Two exceptional songwriters that seemed to get the best out of each other. The sequence of Best Friend's Girl ( Rick) and Just What I Needed (Ben) is the Cars in microcosm. Each belongs among the best tracks in pop/rock history. And Greg Hawkes doesn't get nearly enough attention. At this point, synthesizers weren't keyboards with scores of pre-programmed sounds. They were just wave form generators with scores of filters. To play one, you had to be both a piano player and an electrical engineer. You had to build each sound each time you played it. Greg did that masterfully, developing beautiful sounds that blended perfectly into the mix. But he also was always complimentary. The synths here don't ever get in the way, they round out that beautiful, quirky sound.

Outstanding!!!! Love it!!!!

Again, played this out in high school. Loved this so much.

Just classic after classic on this album. First time listening and probably knew half the songs. Some of the better pop-rock of that era, it's the kind of music that's catchy without you really noticing. It's Boston for people with a pop preference. 4.5/5, nothing groundbreaking but solid all the way through.

Hell yeah this album rules

best ok

One of my first albums.

Why?

This album has no ups no downs it just keeps at the same average level the whole time. I quitte enjoyed it, but again it’s nothing special or memorable.

As much as I hate to say it, this album is super overrated. The thing is I really wanted to love this album. I love the concept behind it. Meaning I love the album cover, band name, and the very simple drums, guitar, bass, and the honestly beautiful synth. Sadly, it just feels like standard rock and roll with no experimentation. Maybe when the album dropped it was vastly different than anything else but listening now feels like a chore. Every song (except "I'm in Touch with Your World") sounds like any basic pop rock and roll hit you'd hear on the radio. Again, conceptually I should adore this band, but the execution is not what I expected. Maybe I'm a dumb douche who doesn't know anything. Idk.

Actually a little bored by it!

Nice little album, one or two bops.

Some well known big bangers to the where in a quirky 80s rock album. Not all songs fit the famous Cars mold, but a fun album nonetheless. Low 4

Not the best album by the Cars bur alright.

Whatever

New Wave. Die Gitarrenparts überwiegen zum Glück die Synthesizerparts. Aber alles in allem für mich eher mittelmäßig.

Classic. 3.5

Awesome. Dynamic and great to listen to!

Good

First three are hits, but it stays pretty strong throughout, with just a couple lulls. Nice clean punky rock pop

Great, fun pop album. Strong 3 songs to kick it off and brisk pace of 35 minutes makes for an easy listen.

Classic classic rock

Enjoyed this one. I had heard of this band but never tried them before. Upbeat songs. Nice to listen to.

This album feels like you are listening to a greatest hits volume 1.

Had some ok parts but did not like this one. feels pretty old and like some pretty bland rock. Will I listen to again: 0%

Great album, pretty dated, but a classic early new wave sound. Just really enjoyable to listen along to.

So I knew The Cars had a lot of hits but I didn’t realize so many of them were on ONE ALBUM. A MONSTER LP. A New Wave classic and one of the best ever of that genre.

Classic rock, sometimes kinda punk. Enjoyable

A bit dated but okay. Some weird stuff going on

^what Ali said

The songs I already know would probably still be the main reason to go back to the album.

Finally some good music

Textbook boomer dad rock (in perfectly fine way)

Really enjoyable! No skips album reminiscent of childhood

recently rediscovered the album on a reddit post of albums with no skips and i agree with the assessment. Catchy hooks and guitar riffs combined with new wave synths.

It sounds pretty boring like a movie roadtrip ost

Man, I remember listening to this when it first released. It was so different from anything else I'd been listening to. Actual synthesizers in a pop band? It was one of the first New Wave/punkish bands to actually seem to write songs that you would hear on the radio. And radio itself played it, which set the stage for them to open up their formats a little.

Didn’t really love this one. Very poppy and not my style of music.

The Cars are a fun band. I feel like most of their songs are fairly upbeat and positive, and quite a few have to do with cars or driving themes. Seemingly effortless and effective use of a blend of instruments, with the synthesizer taking it over the top. Very enjoyable without much to complain about For a debut album it really did everything well. Almost half of the songs were popular hits and it's tough to pick a favorite, but I'll go with the 1st track since it put me in the good mood for the rest of the album. Favorite track "Let the Good Times Roll" 5/5

only 35 minutes god bless

I really liked it! Was worried it would be a very too heavy album with those first three tracks but it was solid all throughout. Thought it very clearly reflected a bridge between 70s and 80s music in style and sound. 4/5

Middling

Wow, what a cool album. Tinges of punk power chords, that 1970s hard rock, 80s synths and new wave singing. Truly a confluence of styles.

Let the good times roll, what a fantastic song to start this journey with. A Geeb you juswaddineeded!!! Know this song from pop culture never knew the band name. Maybe it’s just the excitement over this new project but these songs are absolutely hitting. Great first album.

Get Weezer vibes, especially on Track 3 - just what i needed. Keytar shines through big time. I only recognized track 3 when the chorus hit, its from somecommercial in the 2000's dont remember what it was for though. Track 5 - Dont cha stop was fun until the chorus, then i hated it. Track 7 - bye bye love starts with a bang and and the guitar between each line in the verse reminds me of guitar hero. TRACK 8 - Moving in Stereo FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH TITTIES HELL YEAH. Final track - All mixed up, okay guitar guy i hear you there in the corner. Waiting for your moment and just slapping together a quick 4 bar solo. Great first album, great vibes and awesome instrumental breaks and solos.

Boring, so boring, not a bad album, but just bland

Starting STRONG! Uriel told me about the missed beat that The Cars kept on "Just What I Needed," and I can never unhear it. The last song sounds like a tribute to Queen? Queen started in 1970, and The Cars formed in 1976, so I like to think there might've been some mutual influence.

Enjoyable with some great songs. Vocals are average and the backing vocals are also not a style I enjoy.

Not bad, some of the better New Wave from this list so far

It’s a debut album but it could be a greatest hits record. Amazing

Very nice

Um kinda mid 6/10

Severely overlooked as one of the most classic new wave and debut albums in the US.

Classic

Brings back so many memories

it was good, different to my usual music taste but i enjoyed

already listened

Fuck yeah, The Cars! What a debut album, just incredible. Listening to this one on repeat today. From the opening guitar riff of "Good Times Roll" to the fade out sax solo on "All Mixed Up" they've got me hooked. Individually, The Cars are such an absolute cluster fuck of styles that you'd be excused for thinking it would never work, but somehow the fusion of Elliott Easton's glammed out rockabilly guitar, Greg Hawkes' technology forward keys, David Robinson's (not that one) straight ahead rock drumming, Ben Orr's 70s mod style/singing , and Ric Ocasek's off-beat voice, sarcastic writing sensibility, and Muppet-like stage presence make for a truly sublime fusion. Several all timer tracks on this album, and even the lesser ones are very good. In the past I've not liked "I'm In Touch With Your World" or "All Mixed Up" very much, nor given them much of a chance. The former is very much a Zappa style piece, which I'm no great fan of, but listening all the way through there's something about it that manages to pull the screwball style together for me. The latter I probably mostly skipped in other listen throughs due to the slow start, but this is a fitting outro one would swear was produced by Jeff Lynne if they didn't know better. The Cars were influenced by and an influence on so many it's basically impossible to enumerate here, so suffice to say this album stands the test of time.

Bizarre, but interesting

perfection

Love this album! So many good memories

Album started off strong but got boring quickly

Really good

4 starss

Apparently my parents fucking love The Cars. Because I knew most of this album and I didn’t even realize these songs were The Cars. Still, the instrumental-heavy songs toward the back half of the album were boring and repetitive. And for that reason, I’m docking a point.

Lots of fun sounds. Lead signer’s voice has that classic echo-y 80s feel. Would be fun to flip my hair and sing to.

Solid debut album from The Cars. Six of the nine tracks on this album were either radio hits or became instant classic due to placement in a film. This album is incredible and would be a 5/5 if it hadn't been for that weird-ass track, "I'm in Touch with Your World."

Just a great album with a ton of known hits. Didn't quite get to that Abbey Road level, but it was damn close.

Well it was just what I needed! 5/5

It was easy listening, not much special

Easy listening crowd-pleasing rock, fun to hear some of the deep tracks off this album for the first time.

Maybe the birth of new wave? Either way a hit machine that paved the way for the next 10 years of pop/rock music.

Love it

Strong start, fourth track goes off kilter a bit but the synths do a lot of lifting. At its best when it rocks hard and lets the keys fill in the backdrop, but there are some good moodier moments as well. Love the closer All Mixed Up. The 80s are coming and The Cars are driving us there.

One of the best new wave albums. Huge number of hits, especially for a debut album. Not an all time classic for my taste, but still really great.

Amazing. Wasn't too familiar with their music but I loved this album!! New fan!

"Hi Brad.. you know how cute I always thought you were"

Brilliant

Leuk album! Would buy

I wasn't expecting much... ...and this delivered. I couldn't find any way to connect at all.

Oh this slapped. Just a joyful experience.

# 159 : Another good album, I enjoyed listening to this. It's got a few hits which have been FM radio staples for a long time. An all round good show.

Boomers may have destroyed the entire planet, but they really did have great music.

Good album, I see influences from Bowie, Yes, Talking Heads and DEVO and thats not a bad combination to say the least.

awesome

Found this really quite enjoyable. It felt really solid throughout the whole album. I enjoyed some of the riffs and it felt fresh and catchy. Entertaining.

There’s a couple of great songs on here - I particularly adore the synth bridge in “Just What I Needed” - and I can absolutely see why they were so beloved as part of that New Wave…wave of bands, but as a whole it doesn’t really hit for me.

Overall very enjoyable rock album perfect for grooving. Good variation of songs within the genre, with some true foot tappers! The album benefits from strong, driving rhythm guitar and prominent percussion.

A fun, no-strings-attached power pop album. Populated by high-powered gainy guitars, driving 70’s drums, shimmery keys, and multi-tracked delayed vocals, the eponymous debut record by The Cars very much paves the way for future electrified bands in the 80’s and beyond. It still stands on its own, however, as rock-forward, guitar shredded, surface-level lyrical experience. It did not redefine or awaken any great love in me, possibly because The Cars sound exactly like the kind of band Spinal Tap mocked, but still a fun listen. Stand out tracks include “Just What I Needed”, “Don’t Cha Stop”, and “Moving in Stereo”.

Scratches my Oingo Boingo itch without being as irritating. My go-to New Wave exemplar that delivers a mix of both classic and experimental sounds. For the platinum bangers we all know off this album, there is a lot of low-key but respectable guitar work, tastefully complex vocal arrangements with some anthemic bars for the bar crowd to sing along to. For the b-sides I'm less familiar, with I hear surrealist shapes that other New Wave titans like Trio's "Da da da" built a foundation off of. I want to give this a 3.5, so I'll round up.

The first few songs were good, but that is not enough to elevate the album.

One of my favorite albums of all time.

So many amazing songs on a debut album. Damn.

Well written, fun sounding songs with an excellent rhythm section and tasteful guitar playing. Synths sound a little dated, but there's not a bad song on this album. It's interesting to hear as kind of an in-between of punk, alternative and 70s style album oriented hard rock.

I've heard The Cars called synth-pop, but they lead with the guitars. It's certainly pop, but very high-quality pop, very-well produced with lots of catchy riffs and interesting beats. The vocals, drums, guitars and keyboards all hang together and this album is just straight entertaining. They have mastered their craft and I'm never unhappy when one of these songs comes up on the radio or a playlist.

I can't believe how many songs on this album were hit singles. This was a groundbreaking album from my teens and was always on the radio or jukebox throughout the next 20 years

OKAY then, so maybe THAT was Not the Greatest Album EVER, but it was some strong nostalgia, especially Moving in Stereo. We will have to wait and see if these suggestions get stronger over time. Amazon does NOT play gapless?! There is NO EXCUSE for THAT!

Power pop with just enough new wave weirdness to keep it interesting. Best Friend’s Girl and Just What I Needed are classics, but Don’t Cha Stop, Bye Bye Love and You’re All I’ve Got Tonight are all fun and inventive, with some great guitar hooks.

The Cars Im pretty familiar with it, but I think this is a great album. More synthy than the Go Gos and less stylised than the B-52s, they are right in that new wave power pop soft rock sweet spot that I love. Love the production, the overall sound and the sense of pop songwriting craftsmanship alongside some post punk rough edges and attitude. Nice line in slightly detached cynical lyrics. They remind me of Television but with a kind of wry pop sensibility. Add in a bit of Bowie, a bit of Eno (Here Come the Warm Jets & Roxy Music) some sixties hand claps, some glam guitars, a splash of synths and it’s a tasty and satisfying combo. Great little run with the first three songs, My Best Friend’s Girl and Just what I Needed are superb. You’re all I got Tonight and Moving in Stereo are also excellent. 9 tracks 35 minutes - perfect length, doesn’t outstay it’s welcome or dip at all. It’s a 5 for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

70er

It’s pretty inconsistent with some good songs and bad songs. The good songs were Just What I Needed, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight and the closing track All Mixed Up. The songs that were bad or fair on this album had boring melodies and/or dated ambient synths. I pretty got exactly what I expected out of this album. It was a pretty easy listen, but I wouldn’t call it an essential listen.

This album is better as a whole than its individual songs. As I listened to the first couple of songs I felt indifferent, but the further into the album it went, the better it got. I can see why The Cars found the success they did. I also have to say that the last track "All Mixed Up" is so different than everything else on the album that it's almost jarring

aprecio carros

Some hits on it, but not memorable. a little generic sounding sorry

Rock-pop ochentero. No conocía ninguna.

Mom's favorite rock album as a child. I know every lyric. It's impossible to separate my familiarity with the albums underlying quality, I love every song. Five stars.

Great mix of rock and new wave. Strong guitar solos and harmonies. Full of bangers from start to finish.

Prýðisplata. Hef ekkert hlustað á þessa hljómsveit nema einstaka lag í útvarpinu. Þetta var bara gott og ég gæti bara vel hugsað mér að hlusta á þetta aftur.

Classic. Great album

Felt fairly forgettable. I liked the last two songs but I’m writing this review the morning after I listened and I couldn’t tell you much about the album.

The album that launched a thousand others. This thing is packed with hooks, from the little rockabilly guitar riff after the chorus of "My Best Friend's Girl", to basically any gang vocal section. I like it when the record gets a bit prog-y near the tail end. Favorite tracks: "My Best Friend's Girl", "Moving In Stereo", "You're All I've Got Tonight"

Recognized a ton of songs on here, album was a hit machine. Added "Just What I Needed" to the library.

Saaiii

Forgot how many good songs were on the record