Reviews (page 12 of 15)
Every song stands out on the album with the exception of "I'm in your world," which wasn't bad, just not up to the standard of the other songs. A lot of cool production elements, great guitar tone, and overall just a fun album. I'm also a fan of shorter albums (35 minutes).
Great debut album, wonderful songwriting, still feels current and un-dated, all holds up well.
Fun and easy listening, surely this album and band was the genesis of pop rock. Its so fun, uptempo and up beat. I've been a fan of this for years, but never took part in a full listen. I'm very glad for this exercise. Disliked that some tracks fall flat in comparison to others.
Even just for the first 3 tracks alone
Now THIS is just what I needed
Liked some tracks
Full of classics you thought were all different bands
First three tracks really solid (big hits). Some other really solid songs, some eh. Easy 4. Would probably give it 4.5. Moving in Stereo is my favorite track. All Mixed Up might be second.
reminds me of the music I'd listen to with my family during my childhood. it was a way for my cousins, uncles, and me to bond growing up - this particular album reminds me of my uncle. while taking care of us or at family parties he'd have in old apt, he'd play the drums/guitar (often by ear) of these songs. the number of noise complaints he'd get back then 😆 Listening to it NOW - still hits the same for me, maybe even more because it reminds me of memories shared with family members who I don't see that often any longer
This is the most inconsistent of the albums I've rated so far. At it's worst (I'm in Touch with Your World, Don't Cha Stop, even Moving in Stereo), it feels like contrived karaoke fare. The songs don't seem to be going anywhere and the new age elements, particularly the synths (and, even more specifically, the metronome on I'm in Touch with Your World), seem out of place and distracting. It's almost cringe-inducing. But when this album hits -- and it hits plenty -- it absolutely slaps. For me, the songs that work best are the mid-to-high energy ones where it seems like the band is careening towards a chorus, driven by strong lead guitar motifs and vocal harmonies, and culminating in classic guitar solos. It's a pretty standard "classic rock" sound in my mind, with a touch of rockabilly and maybe some grunge/punk in there too. And it works really well.
Started pretty good with some great songs and real classic bangers, but then it went all mehhhhh. Will still listen to the hits, but not sure of the whole album
Banger-palooza! A true classic. The bridge between 70s rock and 80s New Wave. Seven of nine tracks are radio hits. A must-listen with good headphones. They loved synth and effects, but then a guitar comes in with a great riff, or a tasty solo. I forget how good the solos are. Fun fact: The producer here also produced a lot of Queen albums, including Bohemian Rhapsody, so no surprise that it sounds so good almost 50 years later. So much cool stuff going on in 3-4 minute pop gems. Just a great album and one of the best debuts ever.
ok some nice moments but didn’t grab me
Quite neat.
I've heard a number of these songs over the years and had no idea they were all from the same album. Pretty good debut album. If I would have guessed, I would have said it was from the 80's. That was a trailblazing album I guess.
"The Cars" starts so strong great intro song leads to 2 awesome songs, no wonder why those two tracks has 100+ mil streams on spotify, but then album downfall starts with "I'm in Touch with Your World", very repetitive song with some anoying effects in it(i'm like watching some kind of a sitcom show with laughing on background, but it continues WHOLE episode without stoping), song aged very poorly, then i thought it go downfall would continue with "Don't Cha Stop", first chorus just the same song as previous(repetitive crap), but then awesome guitar solo it grown on me that i started having fun during last chorus and outro. I hadn't have any hope for Side two, but it starts STRONG, "You're All I've Got Tonight" very intresting song switching from new wave to hard rock, very interesting, "Bye Bye Love" good song. Closing track was a good track for closing as much as first track did for opening. I would give this solid 4/5, track 4 ruined whole experience. Favourite song(s): "My Best Friend's Girl", "Just What I Needed", "Bye Bye Love".
New wave classic. Great 35 minutes of music that bridged 70s guitar rock with what was going to become the synth laden early 80s.
Lots and lots of bangers. Hits a bit a of a low point in the middle of the album, but starts and finishes on high, high notes. Great classic rock.
Love the Cars
There’s a particular sort of music nerd for whom this sort of Power Pop is absolutely the best music that has ever been recorded. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. I can understand why people do enjoy it, it’s insanely well crafted Pop Rock, but for some reason this style’s never clicked for me. I’m probably being overly cynical, but it strikes me as an attempt at popularity rather than a sincere attempt at artistry. It’s the exact same feeling I get with Big Star, but they were put in the fascinating position of being a group grasping for mainstream stardom, but never achieving it. It makes for a better story. I dunno, it deserves props for being an early synth album that doesn’t sound like shit, and I do like My Best Friend’s Girl and Just What I Needed, but that’s just liking the singles on a Pop album, they’re designed to be liked, and this album’s supposed to be more than that, and I just am not feeling it
New wave. Está bien. Venga, un 4.
I mean, this has at least 4 songs on it that everyone knows, and even more that I've heard before without listening to this album. Great fun songs, and nice and punchy, with cool synth leads.
Fun! The album artwork scares me.
Decent songs, some neat moments, but felt a bit dated here and there.
Pretty solid album
Hört sich gut an
I knew the hits on this album. Nothing else was a standout. Very folksy stuff. I can see how the chieftains thing happened in the 90s now.
I liked this, some catchy tracks, nothing too incredible but still doesn’t drag throughout. Very solid, if not super impactful.
Personally important album and just a monster from back to front. Classic booming power pop
3.1/5 Best Track: Just What I Needed
Do not know enough of The Cars except for the big hits of the 70’s and 80’s of which there are a few on this album. So listening to this album with fresh ears was enjoyable although not enough where I would seek out their other albums. Nice to listen in the car or in the background but not something I could listen to seriously.
sick
Didn't recognize only one song.
Always have loved The Cars. Classic
Surprised at how good this actually is. Would’ve never listened to it. They’re definitely influenced by Queen. It’s good stuff. It’s not a 5 because, well, nothing is right?
Still holds up, mostly thanks to terrestrial radio. Doesn't feel like a can't-miss album despite all the singles on it, though.
Lot of good songs on this album. Would listen again.
How is this NOT a Greatest Hits catalog? It's a question that's as mind-boggling as such timeless head-scratchers including, "What came first: the chicken or the egg?" and "What happens after we die?" Rick O. and the rest of The Cars embody fun, head-bopping classic rock and pop-rock adjacent acts of today have much to thank for the path created by this band. Specifically, this album. Standout tracks: honestly, just about every single one of the nine songs on The Cars. If you're making me pick three, I'd go with arguably one of the strongest three-song intros to an album ever recorded: Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, and Just What I Needed. Oh, and don't forget about You're All I've Got Tonight, Moving in Stereo...the list goes on. An absolute classic album that lives up to the hype through the years.
Been a fan of these guys since the early days. I remember hearing this album for the first time and thinking - this is different. Still is. The Cars found their own niche in the New Wave/Punk scene.
I'd rate this album a 3.5 because it had some good songs on it
True pop rock, perfectly crafted
Great album.
Classic. I didnt realize how many songs of theirs I knew. I would listen again but not seek it out regularly.
Got some hits, overall good
I had this album on cassette and they were a staple on MTV so I’m very familiar with the songs. My favorite Cars song, Moving in Stereo, is on this, so good!
Yet again shuffle gives me one of my all time favorites. At some point it's got to give me an album I've never heard before. This is the Cars at their best. Iconic synth lines blend seamlessly into a traditional rock setup. Basically every track is catchy and fun. In Touch With Your World is definitely the weak part of the album but it's only noticable because the brilliance of the surrounding songs draw attention to it. Also story: my mom won this record by calling into a radio station in college. She's always out taking pictures, she's always out making scenes.
Lekki roczek, 3/5. Całkiem przyjemnie się słucha w tle.
Already know this is a great album. What was surprising and new to me was how much the last track reminded me of Tom Petty. Pretty great to listen to this again with fresh ears! 4/5
super pleasant album. smooth vocals and instrumentals
This might be the best power pop album of all time, or at least the best front to back. There are 3 actual singles, 4 songs worthy of being singles, and 2 remaining tracks that are not bad. It really is Ike a greatest hits album. The production is dated given the band’s penchant for using the latest “technology”, but there is no denying the hooks and pop sensibility that Ric Ocasek delivered with this album. My Best Friends Girl and You’re All I’ve Got Tonight have always been two of my favorites. The wry and sarcastic songwriting fits well with the punchy choruses. Just What I Needed may be overplayed, but it is a template for so many great bands and songs to come. It’s remarkable that this came out in 1978 and basically ushered in the 80s and set the bar high for what new wave and power pop could be for a decade and beyond.
Solid bunch of songs but some real stinkers in the middle. I'm In Touch With Your World has to be one of my least favorite songs ever and brings this down a whole point.
1. good timez roll - 1.5 2. my bezt friendz girl - 1 3. juzt uuhat i needed - 1.5 4. in touch uuith your uuold - 0 5. dont cha ztop - 1 6. your all ive got tonight - 2 7. bye bye love -2 8. moving i n ztereo - 2 9. all mized up - 0
Super fedt! Ved ikke lige hvordan jeg skal beskrive det, men det lyder lidt 60’er agtigt, men pisse god energi, fede simple guitar riffs
Good. Not what I'd usually listen to, but generally enjoyable. 3/5
Fun but short, album, good guitar themes. A little too innocent.
Enjoyed a lot more on the second listen, several tracks were familiar and enjoyable
Amazing
Like a car, you hear it coming, you hear it going, you never need to hear it again
„blend of classical rock with synth lines“
A flat out great collection of songs, but it doesn't resonate with me on a higher level
ok, aber bisschen zu viel yachtrock
Good. Not what I expected
An album where 100% of the songs were hits. Pretty obvious rating here. Favorite track: Just What I Needed
I definitely hear "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed' on the radio all the time. The album has high recognizability. Most of the album was pretty much in line with what to expect, but "I'm in Touch with Your World" sounds unique and strays away from their usual sound. I really liked "Moving in Stereo." It put me in the mind of a really cool 80's movie. I also liked the end of "All Mixed Up."
4.0. full of iconic tracks . 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.
This album is practically wall to wall bangers, what an awesome debut! I can't think of a single reason to knock off any stars, even the 1 or 2 lesser songs are still worth the listen. Loved it then and loved listening to it again.
I wish I could score this 1000 stars
One of my favorite albums of this era. Something that’s so straightforward and hooky in the songs but yet there’s enough interesting layers and instrumentation that it’s hard not to like. I’d say one of the quintessential pop rock albums. Maybe the best self titled album released? I’ll have to think on that one.
imagínate tener un debut así. Discazo. Definitivamente voy a estar escuchándolo más.
Gefällt mir. Schöne melodische Musik, die zum mitsingen und tanzen anregt. Werde ich bestimmt jetzt öfter mal anhören.
This is one of my desert island albums. Love it forever!
Kann man sich anhören. Rhythmusgitarre mit stark betontem Anschlaggeräusch. Geschmacklich nix für mich.
lang lang ist es her
Va annerledes enn forventa, men trur eg like da. Masse synth, samtidig som da e ganske basic bitch 70-talls rock
Average at best. I immediately forgot this album existed.
Unbekanntes Album. Sehr Elektrogitarrenlastig. Gefällt mir nicht.
I know it is a good band/album but also not my thing
good all 70s rock. i found some of the tracks that i could listen to a couple of times, but nothing EXTREMELY liked
Fantastic album!
Link https://tidal.com/album/78518270
Let them brush your rock 'n roll hair.... Is it just me, or is this album not as good as I remembered? I found myself just wishing that Benjamin Orr sang all of the songs, and that the guitar was more prominent than the keyboards. Don't get me wrong, there are some classic songs on here, but it's not an essential for me.
I see this is one of the first albums that started the New Wave era. It combined strong guitar riffs with synthesizers, but was definitely not canned commercial pop/rock. It’s easy for me to forget that this was a debut album. It was a joy listening to this, and I think I will definitely add this to my rotation.
Cars!
An all time fave
Well….
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.
Great album
What a great album. So many well known songs. Classic.
tight, literally. Restrained. Moving in Stereo has that famous synth riff.
Good
Instant 5 stars for me! I’ve loved this album for a long time. Pure power pop! Fun, energetic, and timeless. And nobody knows how to write a catchy synth riff better than The Cars. Even the experimental songs that on the surface seem rather gimmicky— “Moving in Stereo” and “I’m in Touch With Your World”—are still memorable and catchy! And with “Good Times Roll,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and “Just What I Needed” being the first three tracks of the album, it’s an unbelievably strong start to an album. And it doesn’t stop there! All the tracks are classics. Damn. I love the Cars.
Interesting pop rock, but with more of an artsy/prog leaning than I remember
Un álbum muy divertido. El uso de los sintetizadores es balanceado sin dejar mucho que desear. Se mantiene creativo y emocionante durante todo el álbum. Mi canción favorita fue "Just what I needed".
What a treat for the weekend. Listened to it twice on Friday alone.
What a first 3 song run to start this album. Drops off a bit after that but still a solid 4 for me.
4.5 The Cars greatest hits. Maybe 1 stinker on the album but the great ones more than make up for it. Half a point boost for Moving in Stereo/Fast times connection - makes it move in my pants
An immaculate debut album full of catchy tracks, and great guitar and synth tones. Every song on this is really strong. Moving In Stereo in particular is incredible, it's super catchy, has an awesome bassline and the guitar tones are brilliant, and the track actually moves between the stereo speakers!
pretty pretty good
easy listen
Not too bad.
Good grooves but nothing spectacular
Welcome back to An Album A Day Keeps the Madness away, day three. Today, I was given one of my favorite albums, The Cars self titled debut from 1978. In this day and age were you are more likely to stream just the hits, it was great to sit back and enjoy this one in its entirety. The same way I did as a kid. The Cars were such a great blend of New Wave, Power Pop, and rock. Two great singers in Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr. (RIP) Elliott Easton is such an underrated guitarist. After the advent of CDs, albums became pretty bloated and over stuffed. Since a CD held 78 minutes, many bands felt you had to fill them. This album? 35 minutes. No filler. Just a fun listen.
A few classics and a handful of filler, but on the whole, very very good. Somehow manages to evoke punk and post-punk, while still being rooted in classic rock and pub rock heritage. The kind of songs all dad/garage bands play when starting out - but don't always nail. Deceptively simple sounding, but with hidden depths.
Unequivocal 5 stars. Exactly my taste.
This sounds like it’s too focused on seeming fun and upbeat, and it comes across as insincere. It’s like they were specifically making it to be used in cheesy movies. Very unmemorable.
It's not really what I like to listen to but it's a really hit dense album and it's tough to not find yourself singing along.
So good. Great combination of satisfying and eclectic
I didn’t realize I’d like it as much as I did. I never really got into The Cars.
Rating: 8.5/10 Great new wave/pop rock album. Very catchy album, has many memorable melodies and choruses. The synth really stands out, many of the catchy moments were due to it. Overall just really fun to listen to, wish it had a little more variety though. Favorite songs: Good Times Roll, Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, You're All I got Tonight, Moving In Stereo. Least favorite song: I'm In Touch With Your World.
Four radio hits on one album!
It's fine. Just don't like classic rock. Also doesn't really hold up to the test of time in my opinion.
A new wave classic.
Great
A superb slice of power pop and new wave. This album has grown on me over the years. It took me a while but I now recognize how fantastic this album is. Sadly, they never topped it as they went too much to the pop side in later years. But this is a great listen.
Le classique son pop-rock qui caractérise le début des années 80. N'a pas vraiment bien vieilli.
Classic new wave that's catchy as hell.
Its influence was massive: It had a pioneering a hybrid sound: The album masterfully combined power-pop melodies with punk's energy and minimalism, a straight-forward rock sound, and danceable beats. It also made extensive use of synthesizers, making it a key early example of this style. It was both a commercial and critical success: The album was a massive commercial success and was one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s. It is often described as a "rock masterpiece" with every track considered a classic. It has had an enduring legacy: It was inducted into the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". The album's songs remain popular and influential, with many tracks becoming radio standards. Other artists have been influenced by The Cars' sound, with Weezer even covering their songs. A "blueprint for modern rock": The album's blend of new wave aesthetics with sharp guitar hooks and pop precision created a new sound that was widely adopted and helped define a generation of rock music. A cohesive masterpiece: Many critics and fans consider almost every track on the album to be a winner, creating a cohesive and groundbreaking work that has been celebrated for decades.
It was okay. I think I had already heard almost every song on this album.
Solid pop but incredibly overrated by critics. The tamest of the New Wave. You really need a narrow US worldview or nostalgia to think this stands out. Any UK or German New Wave surpass them without even speeding.
Crazy famous opening set list. Awesome surprise
amazing 80s vibe
Standard classic rock album that was good enough to live on but isn’t all that special. Favorite track: Just What I Needed
I like some of the sounds but overall this falls far short of the best that New Wave had to offer in my opinion. Seems like the grandfather of pop punk from the early 2000s
Favorite Track- Moving in Stereo, Well Produced, will go back to it
I expected to think that this album didn't age well, but I was wrong, it rips.
A good rock-and-roll album. It’s almost the Platonic idea of classic rock at this point - catchy and poppy but with enough guitar and drums to keep it elevated!
Great album, so many good songs on here and some nice nostalgia going on with it.
Thoughts before listening: I know the Cars and will probably recognize a lot of this album, but I've never heard this before. I have always thought of them as simplistic pop rock, but I know they get praised a lot by music critics. I'm excited to dig in a little deeper on them. Review: This is really good. Sure it's pop music, but it's also really catchy, smart songwriting. The hits on this album are some of the most memorable, timeless songs released in the late 70s. Considering their contemporaries were punk, prog, disco, etc it's refreshing to have a band that was out there just playing solid rock n roll songs. 4-stars.
All time great album. Huge hits. Great stuff.
Świetny album, z new wavem nie miałem za dużo do czynienia ale jest to bardzo przyjemne i zostanę na dłużej
Banger & ahead of the curve for 1978
Jättebra!
It was a good album, I enjoyed the music style. I'd honestly been having a bad day and listening to it improved my mood. I especially liked Good Times Roll and Moving In Stereo the best.
Nice album
3.9
started great and just kinda fizzled
okay 3.6
A very polished debut album. Fairly unique sound, relatively traditional pop songwriting themes. I've always had a soft spot for these guys. This record came out when I was fairly young, there were others that dropped during my teenage years that were a bit more impactful for me personally. I do think that The Cars were a very palatable New Wave act and as such they were important. Other bands like DEVO, The Fixx, Thomas Dolby, even Talking Heads were more "out there" and probably wouldn't have gotten nearly as popular without bands like The Cars who were a bit of a transition / merger between a mainstream sound and a true New Wave sound.
I grew up with the Cars but have never listened to this whole album. The few songs I hadn’t heard before were interesting but not earth shattering. Overall they’re a lot of fun but I rarely seek them out. Great for drunken singalongs.
Possibly, the best power pop album ever. Rick Ocasek and co really know how to write an earworm. It is impressive how these songs still sound fresh 40+ years after. A true masterpiece.
Pleasant, smooth rock/pop album with no outstanding songs but some good music in general. 3.7
War in Ordnung.
Awesome Band! Awesome Songs! Personal top3 in no order: Don‘t Cha Stop Good Times Roll Bye Bye Love
Cooler Sound! Gute Musik, würde ich mir sicherlich nochmal anhören. 6.4/10
There's only one good Cars song (Drive) and it's not on this album. L +
Idk if i ever listened to this. First three songs are classics that everyone knows but the rest of the album is just okay
Love it.
The Cars can produce and carry a tune: Several from this album were in memory and one from the sophomore hooked my ears over a bar stereo earlier this year. Packing a debut with easy life ain't easy, but all nine here do the job. A few themes are shared; Sound design is not except in an appropriately sci-fi sense.
Sounds like the very definition of american FM rock. Kinda sounds bland to me.
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.
Such a great album! I had three of their cd’s when I was a kid. One of them being their greatest hits. I have never heard this album before. I think I never bought it because five of these songs are on the greatest hits. Strangely enough, Moving in Stereo is not one of them, but it might be my favorite Cars song. I forgot how enjoyable this band is to listen to.
I had only heard the radio hits previously, which are the first 3 tracks on the album, so the rest was an adventure. This album is fantastic. With the exception of some synth and guitar parts it's hard to believe it was released in the 70's. It has aged fantastically and was clearly ahead of it's time. A couple of tracks, You're All I've Got Tonight and Bye Bye Love could have easily been released as singles. The last track All Mixed Up is a perfect closer. This is a solid album with no filler. Every song is catchy and hooky.
Classic
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: How it that not Katherine Heigl on the cover of this album? / how am I just realizing the Cars & the song Cars by Gary Numan are...very much not the same thing? AFTER LISTENING: this was unexpectedly fun & not corny for such a synth heavy LP AFTER LEARNING MORE: seems like a lot of people agree? RECCOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: mid-tempo bangers, synth music that would appeal to people who went to graduate school 340 issued / 489 rated
Very good sound design. Catchy songs 4/5
Kinda a slut for some new wave 3.75/5
2.5/5
Eh. OK.
Nice bit of nu wave emo power pop for us crush addled 14 year old nerds to relate to alone in our bedrooms. Some iffy moments but mostly stands up today mixed in to a dinner party playlist.
Solid
Gr8
Favs: "Just What I Needed", "Moving in Stereo", "All Mixed Up" Giving pop rock. Enjoyed it tbh
Sounds contemporary, in a way that it seems a lot of pop-music got inspired by it, and its the type of contemporary music I despise, safe, boring, painfully obvious. Lowkey gave me a headache too. Every song I had to double check the date of release, because it sounds like it would be released 15 years later than it actually was, so I suppose its significant enough. Cant be asked to check tho, it was very boring. Significant albums 15/36. Albums I liked 7/36. Albums I have added to my library 1/36. Significant, didnt like, didnt add. Previous album tho, cause I forgot - Jefferson Airplane - significant, didnt like (except a couple of songs), didnt add.
Three bangers to start. Pretty solid, not too long. I feel like the lead singer's voice is pretty... unique, and it feels like the schtick gets kinda old after a while.
I was surprised at how many songs I already knew from this album, but I'm not surprised that I had heard them since The Cars has all killer no filler. Every song had its own thing going for it, no sound over stayed it's welcome. 8.6/10 Fav song - Just What I Needed
Classic album. Every song on here is incredible. It's hard to believe this was their debut album. Even though it came out in 1978, it is a quintessential 80's album. I have to imagine that almost every song on this album were played relentlessly on the radio. I'm not sure what genre I would classify this album as. I've seen it be called a new wave album and I'm sure at the time it was pretty new and experimental, but now so many people have tried to emulate that sound that it's almost mainstream. Which I think is a testament to how great the album is.
Yeah hey pretty good not bad nice
How
this really sounds like an earlier queen album if you squint
such good vibes it was so fun to listen to. The keyboards and i think the synths??? were sooo good Faves: Just what I needed and Bye Bye love
they got bangers on here. some bangers of all time
i liked it
playing this game is so fun cause i get to listen to albums and go "oh, that's where this song is from!" i've heard so many of the tracks on this before...granted i didn't like most of them in the context of my retail job soundtrack but i enjoyed it much more this time. i don't have any other deep thoughts or faves from this really i just thought it was a nice little pop rock album
Really good album!! Man!! I underestimated the Cars! I only knew Just What I Needed, which I thought was from the mid 80s, so imagine my surprise.. By the way, much weirder song than I realized. Love it. The album overall is quirky but pretty confident for a debut. Shades of Queen, shades of early Talking Heads and maybe even Television. Thomas Dolby even, if you will. Each song is pretty fun on its own, but man to go back to Just What I Needed- what the fuck are the drums doing ?? So so fun. Ok I prommy I’ll start doing more organized responses after today. But this is a HIGH HIGH HIGH four for me.
Great new wave album because they did not forget to make the guitars sound good, and they made the synths sound cool - not cheesy. I love this album. Maybe because it was all over the radio when I was a kid. But whatever - this is great.
This album cover should be next to the word “synth” in the dictionary. Great pop cuts, catchy as they come. I think Bye Bye Love is the forgotten sleeper on this. 1976-78 was a great time for debuts with this, Boston, and Van Halen. Kinda strange their three biggest songs are you introduction to the band.
Really solid pop tracks. Banger after banger.
I was so surprised by this album. Like I knew The Cars were influential but man. The last third of the album was my favorite.
Fun for its time. Very dated.
It's nice album. Even without it's one big hit.
really good one, but not my type!
#28. I've been listening to this one fairly regularly since I was a kid. There's not really any part of this album I don't like. 5/5: perfection ** This is the first album from this list I already owned. Song added to playlist: Just What I Needed I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Sonically pleasing album, if a little bit one-note. Influential and oft-imitated I guess - 3.8/5
Not my favourite, some hits but over all eh
3.5; well written songs but a sound too of the times. Which came first, that sound, or the cars? Don't know, don't love.
I liked it. Twas chill
holy hits
Did not listen. Rating is solely based off of the name.
Great debut.
Quite OK as a background music. Good for work.
I barely enjoyed listening to this at all. Not my thing.
It’s a fun album. Has some classic hits everybody knows.
I really like the last part of all mixed up. "I'm in touch with your world" was probably my least liked. Overall I'm going to give it a four stars. A few of the songs were 5, but the others drag it down to a four.
Knew most of them. 3/5
I had no idea how many hits there were on this album. "Let the Good Times Roll" is such a great way to begin an album. Even the tunes I'm not familiar with are pretty solid. "I'm in Touch with Your World" reminds me a lot of Talking Heads from this era. Overall, a good album, but not my thang.
Solid nostalgia, nothing I really loved.
God dayum, this album is a blast from front to back. I’ll let the Cars take me through a wall.
Essential Tracks: Just What I Needed (Playlist) Good Times Roll My Best Friend’s Girl
One of my favorite albums to hear in a bar.
Gets better towards the end
Solid
Background pop
Hailed as a songwriting new wave tour de force, this is one of the blandest albums I've had to listen to. Trundling a dry path somewhere between Elvis Costello's music journo 'serious songwriter' schtick and Queen's overproduced bombast, but without the choruses, it was a chore to get through, punctuated only by the occasional bit of Devo style wonkiness that they start but then walk back.
Love it. No notes.
Almost entirely bangers.
I first heard the single Just What I Needed about six months before the album was released. I was vacationing on Cape Cod and was able to get a Boston radio station that was playing this in heavy rotation. I remember thinking "This is a great song. Who is this band?" The rest of the album generates that same response. Every song is great to awesome. Half the album were top 100 hits (maybe more), some ended up in important movie moments (who can forget Moving in Stereo during the masturbation scene of Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and provided the musical backdrop to the late 70s. As debut albums go, this one is a superstar.
I expected these songs to be a little more upbeat, but they seemed full of melancholy. I don't know where I got that impression, but the melancholy runs throughout. Just What I Needed is a banger. Moving In Stereo was the low point, and I didn't like All Mixed Up. Took it from a 4.567 to a 3.843, but I'll round up to a 4.
This is fine. Another album where it's really clear why the song(s) that I recognize is well-known (RadioShack ad campaign notwithstanding) and the others are mostly forgotten. My rating is definitely colored by the previous THREE I listened to in that I never had to stop because a track was so off-putting. Vanilla new wave is inoffensive easy listening, I'll take it.
A classic
Pretty good! I knew most of the songs already, and I enjoy them. Some of them weren't the most exciting, but probably my favorite album so far.
3.5, rounded up to four because my mother loves the cars, so half of these are like, canonical nostalgia for me. the other half are bit samey but i was boppin' along nonetheless.
yeah this sure sounds like music idk
I barely needed to relisten to this album. My Best Friend's Girl is, in my opinion, the standout track even though Just What I Needed had more/longer-standing commercial success. This album (and band) get coded as early new wave 80's pop a lot but there's some very twangy and Motown inspired sounds in here under the Casio synth lines that I think are interesting too. I can feel you asking "fmst if you're so effusive about it and love new wave, why is this four stars" and the answer is mostly because I have 1001 albums to get through so I realized I want to really hold the fives in reserve. I also think some of the tracks (Let the Good Times Roll) drag more than they needed to and in just nine tracks some of them feel start to feel samey (You're All I've Got).
Am I only rating albums higher because I heard their songs on the radio growing up? We’ll never know
so far, this is quite fun and i quite like listening to it, wouldn’t be a go-to but much much better than bob dylan lol.
Solid. Will probably listen again
Great record. Utterly cool. Amazing sound. Perfect late 70’s rock and roll record.
Not my favorite but not terrible. Listened through it twice since it’s such a short album. Two songs skipped, zero songs added, won’t go back to it.
i remember this album being cool, with just enough oddness and very danceable in general. kinda creepy too because of the cover. its really a precursor of the 80s bringing lots of the sounds of the decade to the table without that kind of overproduction. for me its a great album, not the one ill always be listening to because i tend to get overwhelmed by its almost 80s production.
Fun.
1. Good Times Roll - kinda catchy I like the beat, a little repetitive though. 2. My Best Friend’s Girl - didn’t mind this one, a little cheesy. Almost a little 60s with the harmonies. 3. Just What I Needed - I like the sound of his one, it’s pretty catchy and the guitar riff is cool. 4. I’m in Touch with Your World - I don’t like this one as much. The music in the chorus sounds like a video game to me. 5. Don’t Cha Stop - I don’t mind this one, but not my favourite either. 6. You’re All I’ve Got Tonight - similar to the last one for me. I like the guitar solo near the end. 7. Bye Bye Love - hearing a lot of almost 80s style here (before it was big) 8. Moving in Stereo - a little less upbeat, I like this style and I like the lyrics of this one. 9. All Mixed Up - interesting sound, it’s kinda frantic Overall, I liked the sound of the album, its almost a little electronic mixed with the guitar at times which is cool. a little odd singing style sometimes for me.
Just What I Needed album. Rest of it was ok, not really my jam. But JWIN is a banger, bookmarked.
This album didn’t stand out for me. The music had some synth and some of it was folky. I’ll keep listening, but for now I didn’t add any songs to my playlist
A decade or two ago I bought a cheap box set of the first 5 The Cars albums. They tend to blend together for me because I usually listen to the whole set. That said, their debut is interesting for how much radio play it gets. Apparently it only had 3 singles, but of the 9 album tracks, there are only 3 that I have never heard on the radio. The radio songs speak for themselves, they're all pretty great. Of the remaining 3, I'm in Touch with Your World is fine, Don't Cha Stop could easily get radio time, and All Mixed Up is a pretty good album closer. Overall I'd rate this 4.5 stars I think, but I'll give it 5.
The hits on here (and they’re almost all hits) still get me excited, even after years of hearing them on classic rock radio. Another 4.5. Today I’m rounding down.
A great album, although while listening again I don't even remember "I'm in Touch...", the one track that doesn't match the energy on the rest of the album. The snobbiest criticism I can level at this album is that it is SO listenable and catchy that we've been cursed with every track being co-opted by background music in ads, although it doesn't really make it less enjoyable to me.
Hooked from the first song. I definitely see myself listening to this album again. Good for late afternoon/early evening listening, especially driving down a highway when you're like 25 and know absolutely nothing so you're ready for anything. Really feeling \"Just What I Needed\" - I see why it was played repeatedly on Boston radio (per Wikipedia). The \"electronic\" sound on some of the songs is an interesting touch - I could take it or leave it, but overall the essence of the songs still shines through. I enjoyed listening to this.
Catchy songs. Great forerunner to the classic 80's sound. Would definitely listen to again.
I'm grateful I had more time with The Cars, as it bored me when I first heard it, listening from the wrong angle, expecting quick pop pleasures rather than the colder, more considered art rock artefacts this record lays out, more Television than Blondie, some Cheap Trick low in the mix. I no longer regret buying this two or three years ago. The crisp, clear, almost minimalist recording works well, apart from the vocals, which make me feel like the band are leaning into my ear during the harmonies. A grudging "I guess this shouldn't be a two so I'll inch it up to three" has become a solid 4. I went into this only liking the singles, and now prefer the other songs, with their faint, offal-like whiffs of prog.
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!
Cohesive album, not my favorite sound but 1 -2 really good songs
Not sure how I feel about The Cars - sometimes they feel upbeat and sometimes they feel worn out. I won’t turn off their stuff when it comes on the radio but I don’t go looking for it either.
I absolutely enjoy this album. The guitar driven pop rock with synths worked into it is great. Vocal style reminds me of “Television’s” lead singer. I feel like I can hear how weezer took inspiration from this album to create Pinkerton, ranging from the vocals to the synth post choruses. The fourth track is very interesting and stripped down. A proper slapper of an album. Very catchy Melodys all around the board. Absolutely in love with their sound.
Can't believe I never listened to this whole album before. Fun and a little funky
Super cool hearing early influences on other bands like Weezer
Solide rock album, paar leuke rifs
Erg nice album met lekkere old school rock! ik kende zowel de band als het album nog niet, maar ik laat m zeker in mijn downloads staan terwijl ik niet veel ruimte meer over heb. Dat zegt toch wat lijkt me
Practically a perfect album. Hit after hit. And it was their first album!
This is like a greatest hits album!
Pleasant album through and through
A lot of catchy songs, but nothing groundbreaking by today's standards. Just a very VERY good rock album.
Muy parecido a Queen pero me gustó.
Great album. Cars bring their distinct sound to every track. They are a bridge between 70s classic rock and 80s new wave. Fun style and fun songs.
More late 70s punk lol. Television vibes. Perfectly fine but won't come back to anytime soon
New Wave Pop hit it's peak with this release - the opening five tracks are juggernauts of radio hits - Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, You're All I've Got Tonight, Just What I Needed. Not my cup of tea, but the popularity is undeniable.
The Cars were not given enough credit, by me. This album was much better than I was expecting. I should listen to this more often.
Love this. It’s in our rotation. The cars are the 80’s. For me.
Pretty generic rock, but a lot of classics on this album. Generic isn't bad, but just nothing that popped out. Did what it set out to do which was a fun sing along rock album. Can't complain.
Ooof that's very pop (i hate it)
Meh
It's pretty blocky. I don't love it. Mercifully short
This album is great my personal favorite song on this album is moving in stereo
With classics such as "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I needed", the Cars have transcended decades as quintessential new wave. The Cars have a unique and amazing sound which had a huge influence on music. I thought side b was a little lacking.
Great all the way through. Still rocks. Could easily be a greatest hits album.
Good times roll - 2.3 My best friends girl - 2.5 Just what I needed - 2.3 Im in touch with your world - 2 Dont cha stop - 2.75 Youre all I've got tonight - 2.3 Bye bye love - 3.25 Moving in stereo - 2 All mixed up - 2.3
Det må være den største mængde af Aretha Franklin sangeren har lyttet til, men musikken var i den stil jeg forventede ud fra det jeg havde hørt tidligere. Super fint album.
Fun album but the riffs are a bit repetitive.
Upbeat and fun album.
Nor for me
I've listened to this album before. It's fucking banger after banger. Maybe 1 or 2 songs that are filler-types. The use of stereo in the recording and production phase is awesome. Definitely keeping on rotation, like it has been.
not good, old alt rock in a not good way, all of it sounds just kinda off?
Pretty good, I’m a fan of more modern rock but the classics always hit
Fun pop-rock album, old but still fun. Lot of bangers omnom. Thoroughly enjoyed it, While I did not expect it.
I liked “just what I needed”
Some bangers and an overall great late 70s/early 80s vibe. Very strong a-side.
Album is all very same to the hits.
A nice and cohesive little album, since it only runs 35 min. Most of my criticisms come from the fact that this is getting close to 50 years old, and rock has pushed its boundaries farther and farther with the years so this can sound a little derivative. But even with all that it's a solid album, I like the bouncy synthesizer lines thrown on top of several of the songs. It cuts through the guitars and drums and captures my attention when it happens.
Surprised by how many of the songs I instantly knew and could sing along to. Not sure how I didn't realize I already liked them!
Repetitive but catchy, fun vocals, very complex beats at parts
This one flicks quite happily around the average mark on the dial.
One of the best debut albums.
Insane that this was their first album with so many hits!
Catchy songs, but uses odd sounds and instruments to be quirky. So many really big hits though. Definitely before its time.
There's a lot of strong tracks on this album, such as Good Times Roll and You're All I've Got Tonight, but Just What I Needed knocks it out of the park.
Classic
Enjoyed my listens. One of the classic 70’s rock albums. Just What I Needed is a classic
good times roll: 85 my best friends girl: 82 justt what i needed: 96 i'm in touch with your world: 76 don't cha stop: 78 you're all i got tonight: 79 bye bye love: 84 moving in stereo: 90 all mixed up: 76
Some straight cuts
Meh. Stuck in the soggy middle ground between pop and new wave.
57/100
Hhj
Devo for people who wear pea coats. Excellent synths on this record, though.
It’s strange - when I saw that I’d been generated this album for today, I thought there must be a glitch as I’d already listened to it. However, when looking into it I found that to be untrue. I don’t know why I remember this. Maybe I’m muddling it up with Cars by Gary Numan, as I’ve definitely had The Pleasure Principle album. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: My Best Friend’s Girl, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight This was quite different to what I was expecting. I thought it’d be heavy on the synths (again, I think I might be mixing this up with Gary Numan) but it’s much more rocky. It reminding me of Rick Springfield, which was solidified by My Best Friend’s Girl which was basically Jessie’s Girl but different. This is really good 80’s rock, and if you enjoy that genre then definitely give it a listen.
Enjoyed a lot, lots of catchy songs
Can't believe this came out in '78. Still great listening 45yrs on. This is a solid 4.
Very high 3. Has potential to be a 4 with further listens
*I'm in Touch with Your World* with the wacky sound effects strait out of Dr. Demento.
Solid album!! Widely acclaimed!! I was never a big Cars fan but this album was huge for the Cars.
Great, classic album! I didn’t realize I knew so many songs by the Cars, and they’re all on one album!
I was negative at the start, but once the pace picks up at track 3 things really start to get interesting. Which might make the first songs also more interesting on second listen. This is where the melodies and timing get a little more ‘abstract’ and the synths are amazing addition making it feel somewhat ‘flashy’ (in a good way). The guitar riff on track 5 is super nice, accompanied by singing with a lot of character. In general there is quit a nice relationship between the guitar and the singing, sometimes almost going ‘back and forth’. It calms down a little bit again in the middle, making for a soothing intermezzo. But the last 2 tracks pick the energy up and make it even more enticing. The last track works as a beautiful outro, with a little saxophone solo that blows you away. Amazing record, liked it way more than I expected. Can’t wait for a second listen!
The Cars are a song band, not an album band. there are a few good songs on here but there's just no point listening to the album front to back.
Opener was kinda eh tbh was not expecting to love this album as much as I did. But as soon as I got to the second track “My Best Friend’s Girl” I knew this was gonna be good. I’m such a slut for a good guitar solo and “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” scratches that brain itch so fucking good. And when all these songs kept smoothly transitioning into one after another like AHHHH I was literally gonna combust. “All Mixed Up” is such a perfect closer for the album too. Nah cause why had I never heard this album before, it’s so fucking gooddddd. Such a banger to start this project off.
A good album with interesting electronic notes and good songwriting, but feels a bit long winded even after just 35 minutes. Their own eccentricity is apparent and the songs that I knew are still classics. 2.5/5
Listened to this 10/25/26, listened to Heartbreaker 10/24/26
3.5/5
Some really highlights and some low lights. Kinda sounds like queen sometimes
Really enjoyable new wave with a banger of a single and some good sound/tunes. Not stand out but enjoyable. A good album rather than a great one.
Ikke min smag, men ikke dårligt
This album is about as easy listening as it gets. A tight 30 minutes of catchy, well-written power-pop. 'Just What I Needed' could be on this album an extra 20 times too and I wouldn't even mind, that song is pure ear-candy. Can't wait to throw this album on again.
All-time classic album. Just cover to cover great!