The Cars

Takes me back to a time when a 10 year old could buy cigarettes if he had enough quarters for the machine

That‘s so tacky, dated, boring that I really doubt the authority of this list… 1 point for the band name

mid, its like the music i would hear in the car, eventually got sick of it, too much boring, not doing homework to this

Starts strong and keeps the level high most of the way through. No great suprises - The Cars being The Cars.

One hears hints of prog-rock, punk, and Bobby Fuller. But the production is hollow, the pace feels lazy, and the choruses are uninspiring. Overall, fine for background music, but there’s not much to draw you in further.

Not best but good

Never heard a song by them before and it's pretty good stuff. It never goes above and beyond for me, but it never stinks either. A nice middle ground and a great find.

The singles are ok. Rest bland.

First 3 tracks are stellar, rest of the can't quite keep up

Ingenious and stylish, the perfect bridge between the '70s and '80s and an ideally balanced synthesis of classic rock and new wave. The first three cuts are an all-time trio, and side 2 kicks off with similar impact. Hooks are everywhere and every song is tight. Ocasek was always going to make his mark and this was the start, though they'd never quite achieve this density of quality on one disc again.

Un bell’album che dà vibes positive anni ‘80

I love some good new wave synth, so it's no surprise that I like The Cars and this album. I was only familiar with the 'greatest hits' from this album, but that's half the album! My top pick is of course, 'Just What I Needed' but my favourite track I didn't know before was 'Bye Bye Love'.

One of the great debuts. The link between Ramones and new wave (which they joined). This is essentially a greatest hits disc as most of the tracks received considerable FM play (I am dating myself). Solid throughout and great production from Roy Thomas Baker.

I really liked this when it first came out but it’s lost its appeal. Without doubt the sound was unique at the time.

Wow this was like a greatest hits. Just banger after power pop banger. I thought this was extremely well executed and a lot of fun to listen to. While some of it sounds a bit dated the album is cohesive and just has too many hits to argue with.

Amazing debut album. Every song is amazing.

new wave é estranho. eles te jogam um som fudido e bizarro que te da medo do que ta por vir e depois te bombardeiam com melhor musica que tu ja ouviu na tua vida. é o caso desse album e quase todas musicas, algumas so continuam com o som fudido e bizarro ate o fim sem entregar o tesouro de verdade. musicas marcantes que colocam pra mexer.

I just don’t think The Cars are very interesting. It was okay.

Not bad

better than okay

First time listening to this album and I know much more cars songs than I expected also enjoyed this more than I thought I would, a good mix of classic rock/new wave a sort of stepping stone towards the 80’s new wave that would follow this album. More than worthy of being on the list.

Great 80s stuff

Not really ny style generally but there is no problem with the quality of the music and there are a few tracks here that I could definitely listen to if ik the right mood

Solid older rock album. It was enjoyable, with nice instruments and not too dramatic. I especially enjoyed the songs "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl"

Pretty good stuff, maybe not the most engaging new wave I’ve ever heard, but it’s pretty short and effective. Best songs: Just What I Needed, Mixed Up

I'm not sure about this. It's kind of a combo of a few very popular famous bands, kind of more 80s and very classic like there's nothing very unique or different about this album. Maybe it was quite ahead of its time with how 80s it feels. I never heard anything else from the band and it just feels like a less exciting version of many other bands. So it's got the cheese without any of the nostalgia or memories attached. Feels like it should be an 80s film soundtrack. I think it's a bit too polished for me, I want something a little more raw but I do like the experimentation with electronic sounds. I've just found the album ok but a bit boring but my favourite track is probably Moving in Stereo. I want to give it 2.5.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this - I guess a bit ambivalent - didn't love or hate it in a particular way. It felt quite generic and that it could have been one of many bands

At first I thought I'd hate this, a bit too synthy pop for me, but I did really like it. Looked the band up, they look exactly as I thought they would.

Прослушано! Очень приличный альбом, нескучный и музыкальный .

5/5

Hauskoja riffejä

This album is so much better than I recalled. It still sounds fantastic from a production point ov view. Great pop rock. Probably a 4.5 but I feel generous today.

80s radio play pop with a new wave bent. it's aiite

Worked well on the background. Did not really stand out.

Most of this album is fairly standard classic rock radio fare. The first two songs are well written but I've heard them more times than I ever needed to. The second half of the album I could take or leave. But I'll bump it up to 3 stars since Just What I Needed is such a fantastic track!

Above average 80s pop album. There's some bangers and some filler but nothing to get wet your pants excited about. 3.5 stars.

Doesn’t anyone knock anymore? 4/5

Way better than expected, since I was anticipating crusty dad-rock, and was ultimately greeted with catchy poppy hooks, and a fun balance of synths and guitars. My head started nodding, and it didn't really stop. It's short and sweet, very little filler or bad tracks to be found here. Appropriately, it's a driving album, windows down, sun out, volume to the max. 10/11/22

New wave. Está bien. Venga, un 4.

Rock-pop ochentero. No conocía ninguna

Very good musicality. Liked most of not all of the songs. There is a good thing about the Chorus. Would gladly listen again if looking for Rock group! Very decent 3.5 leaning on 4/5

Classic

It's a classic 80's album that got a ton of airplay in my childhood. It was so light-hearted and surface that it made a weird soundtrack to the young Gen X'ers growing up. I'm in Touch With Your World is the worst of it quickly followed by Doncha Stop which is also bad. Bye Bye Love has stood the test of time better than others, but then the guitar riffs and keyboard in the beginning of Moving in Stereo are still also pretty epic. This is a solid and outstanding 80's album. All Mixed Up should have been left off the album.

Phoebe Cates boobies. That is all.

Love all of the usual suspects on this album. If the Cars are playing on the radio, that's where my scanning stops. I didn't like the non-radio-played stuff. This isn't the kind of album I'd put on and listen to start to finish. The Cars are kind of like chocolate mousse or egg nog -- a little goes a long way. That's why it's a 3-star album and not 4.

Ric Ocasek and The Cars clearly helped create the 1980s. The lingering legacy of the 70s flows into the 80s directly through this album. There are a few superb pop song classics here, so superb that they almost sound like foundational pieces of early rock and roll covered in a slightly new style. Unfortunately, the songs from "The Cars" that were not hits fall pretty flat.

Really a 3.5, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. This might be my favorite 80s album that isn't really an 80s album, probably because the rock is more prominent and the synth didn't totally take over.

I’m impressed at how many of these songs I’ve heard of but didn’t know they are by The Cars. I think this is a sound ahead of it’s time because I would have bet heavily they were all 80s songs. There are some commendable sonic pieces: the higher pitched guitar note at the end of the measures/phrases in Good Times Roll, the hand muted riff for My Best Friend’s Girl…so crisp, same for Just What I Needed, and the keyboard part on Moving In Stereo. Ric Ocasek knew how to write a tight pop song. Upon multiple listens I get tired of the repetitive nature for some of them though. And there is not not so great filler in the middle of the album.

Good selection of well-crafted pop songs, although I wish it had more songs like Moving in Stereo.

5/5 - One of those all killer, no filler debut albums (the worst song is probably I'm In Touch With Your World, which is still a cool sounding song). File It Under: Massachusetts Weirdo Dork Rock Bands

favourite song: im in touch with uour world least favourite song: my best friends girl really interes album, particularly liked the bits where you could really hear the velvet underground influence

This is the type of album i expected to hear everyday. So many great songs that have transcended time.

Pretty ok classic rock album

I really like this. I'd heard some of these guys before but never really invested beyond a few songs, but there's plenty of catchy songs in here and it's overall a really good listen. The whole presentation is great, I love the cover too.

Not their best but not bad

It took me a few listens to appreciate the album more than I originally did. This is a decent album. Great vocals and a good band. Surprisingly crisp arrangements for an album that seemed to pre herald the arrival of the 80s. The best songs are the first three (with My Best Friends Girl being the stand out for me). Moving In Stereo is a almost witty experimental exercise in word painting and an unexpected highlight for me was I'm In Touch With Your World. The album closes strongly with All Mixed Up. Special mention too for You've All I've Got Tonight. This all being said, the album didn't click for me as much as others from the same time period have. 3.5/5

This is the debut album by the American rock and new wave band the Cars. It was filled with pop rock classics and performed well with fans and critics alike. The album is still remembered for its popular singles and was certified six times platinum. This is a great album for experiencing new wave pop music from its explosive time period. I loved it.

2.5

Really enjoyed this one. Loved the voice of the lead singer and harmony of the instruments. Very entertaining listen. Fav songs: bye bye love, moving in stereo

U.S. Power pop including 2 massive singles from my youth. I don't hold it in such high esteem as others but it is a solid affair. Good production. Tails off a little on the second side. 3.5

Listened

This is the definition of average. Not bad, not good. I didn't have a good time listening to it, and I didn't have a bad time.

Just so many hits. Should be up there on the global list of top 10's

Probably an album I wouldn’t come back to, especially given how a few of the songs I’ve heard on classic rock stations numerous times. Regardless, was surprised to find that the rest of album is solid as well. Cool to find out they originated in Boston. Definitely an interesting mix of classic rock mixed with new wave synth sounds.

I have come to love short albums 3

back to 80s!

Rockig bis smooth

Post-Punk or New Wave? UK or US taxonomy? Ah, who cares. Interesting artefact from a long gone era.

4.5/5

Nice power pop

very awesome

I didn't even know I was a fan of the Cars until i heard this record! I've been hearing these songs my entire life as background music at skating rinks, malls, in the car, but I guess I thought they were one-hit-wonders. I never knew that so many great pop songs were all from the same band, and from the same goddamn album none-the-less. Pretty amazing that they made so many timeless hits at the same time!

не успела за день осознать

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

Lots of classics on this album, feel like I’d heard it all at least once before

Una disco que me sorprendió porque no los conocía y me gustó. Quizás no sea muy original el estilo, sino más bien que toman cosas del rock de la época pero las incorporan de muy buena manera y buen gusto, se escuchan por ahí unos tintes a Bowie y a Queen que me encantaron.

Few songs very famous. Interesting sounds can see how pop music could have been influenced

Wow. I had forgotten how many classics were on this album. As a casual Cars fan, I never actually owned an album, but if I were to, this would be the one! Great!

Solid New Wave album, enjoyed the whole thing.

No strong feelings on this one

Really nice rock album. Will listen to again! Fav songs: Just What I Needed, I’m In Touch With Your World, All Mixed Up

well done!

I do like The Cars. This is a great album with 3 of their best songs. Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, You're All I've Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, and Just What I Needed are amazing. Damn this album is good.

some classics but meh

Eh it's alright

High technical production and good quality pop. Really good (7/10) FT: Good Times Roll, Just What I Needed

My first impression was how lackluster the filler songs are, there are no true “deep cuts” that need to see the light. Which I then realized means that all but two of these songs are genuine hits. One after another.

was into the instrumentals but the vocals were kind of annoying on a lot of tracks favorite tracks: just what i needed you're all i've got tonight bye bye love all mixed up least favorite: dont cha stop i'm in touch with your world second half was much better than the first

8/10 solid

Unflashy, just the middle ground

pretty good. will prob come back to it

Power pop pinnacle. Starts hard and just doesn't stop. A joy from ignition until that moment when they roar off into the sunset.

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

Great Record. Fun Use of Stereo! So many classics on one album.

Some songs sounded like easy guitar hero songs. Bit of a strange over-use of stereo. Not bad, but also not something I will play again.

The production is cool and the instrumentals are tight but it s just too poppy for me a

- one of my favourite album covers ever, don't exactly know how it makes me feel, but it has a weird magnetism and I'm indescribably attracted and drawn to it. - the music was fairly basic rock music especially for the time; it was overall enjoyable but I really didn't get all that much from it at all.

I expected to like this but was bored to death by the end of it.

Catching up… The Cars - The Cars (1978) Not for me. A little bit of punk hints in there and some Eno/Newman flourishes make it slightly more interesting, but it’s not enough as the main 3 points override that. 1. Standard US 70s rock. If Sparks had a band it would sound like this. But it lacks any character, humour or lyrics that Ronald would do. 2. One track goes a bit Poundland McCartney. 3. I expect the lead singer to burst into “I’m a secret lemonade drinker” all the time. Not for me, but I can see why middle of the road fans would dig it. Harmless and forgettable. ⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not bad as a debut, a bit dated now but still quite listenable

Annoyingly upbeat regardless of the sings theme. Lacks lyrics

Meh

Not my thing, too loud lol

The hits are great. The rest is pretty terrible.

Love it

This album is special to me, as it was a "game-changer" musically for me and exposed me and opened my eyes and ears to music other than radio-friendly pop/rock rut I was stuck in. This has to be considered one of the finest debut albums of the 70's and introduced me to New Wave and keyboard sounds I has previously avoided. Every track is fantastic and The Cars never quite captured the magic of this record on their other releases. Seems ironic that radio play and music videos kept the band popular following the first album. The only essential album you need to hear from The Cars is The Cars!

Not one bad or even mediocre track on this album. Fantastically put together. Near perfect album.

ALBUM GRADE: A- ALBUM RATING: 4.39 TRACK RATINGS: 1. Good Times Roll - 4.5 2. My Best Friend’s Girl - 4.0 3. Just What I Needed - 5.0 4. I’m in Touch With Your World - 3.5 5. Don’t Cha Stop - 3.0 6. You’re All I’ve Got Tonight - 5.0 7. Bye Bye Love - 4.5 8. Moving in Stereo - 5.0 9. All Mixed Up - 4.5

Synth heavy! A precursor to what was going to come in the decade we all know very well for too too much extra excess. The vocals sound really far back with synths front and center. A lot of pop with some punk and too much treble on the very bright but confidently played guitar. Lack of reverb is noticeable but makes each instrument easily identifiable in the mix.

bueno para la ruta

I used to think that I didn’t really like The Cars, but had never really listened to them much. Whenever they came on, they always just seemed kinda meh to me. After listening to this entire albumn, I now know that I don’t really like The Cars. I have also confirmed that they are, in fact, kinda meh.

So close to 5 stars. Just misses on a few songs.

Ah, this put a smile on my face. Was it the joyous cover art, the sentimental associations with roller discos c.1981, or the perfectly produced opening tracks (the 3 singles) that illustrate the best aspects of late 70s-early 80s pop rock? Right up there with Split Enz for integration of synths & guitars, variety of sounds, great harmonies/backing vocals. The rest of the album was all new to me. Even more variety, including some more experimental sounds, glued together with the same attention to detail in all aspects of production. And of course, those instantly recognisable lead vocals.

This was The Cars’ debut album, released in June ‘78. The month before, Cheap Trick released their break-out album, Heaven Tonight. I put them on either side of a cassette & for the next 12 months I flogged that tape to death driving around Sydney in my girlfriend Julie’s Holden station-wagon. So I know this album well. And it gives me just as much listening pleasure as it did back then. Side 1 is flawless. And the flipside is almost as good. Ocasek could write a terrific pop song. The Cars were one in a long line of American bands that may never have existed if The Beatles had not taken America by storm. My favourite moment is the Beatles guitar line in My Best Friend’s Girl - total homage to the Fab4. The song even ends with a Yeah Yeah Yeah in the fadeout. I love this record.

Apparently, even the band though this album should be called "The Cars' Greatest Hits". Front-loaded with three all-time great singles, many of the remaining tracks are staples of American AOR radio (although less so here). And they are really catchy singles, that still sound fresh, and helped create the formula for American New Wave. Are the watered down Cars- wannabees to blame for the relatively anodyne nature of American New Wave, especially when compared to English post-punk? Can we entirely blame the Cars for their pale imitators? This was so heavily imitated over the following decade. Clearly, this was super-influential on 80s pop, especially in America, for better or worse. Really, this is fairly typical pop-rock, dressed up in clean, fresh sounding production (courtesy of Roy Thomas Baker). The keyboards are the real stand-out feature on this record, and the thing that lifts it above its U.S. peers. The Cars are a 'radio band' for me; I enjoy their songs when they come on the radio, but I don't think I would ever choose to put one of their records on the turntable. I might buy a copy if I found one for <$10, but I would only ever play side 1 (and probably lift the needle after 'Just What I Needed').

What a fun album. So much energy and each track flows with a purpose. I've found it really hard to decide between giving this a 4 or a 5 but I think it has to be the 5. There's no real weak spots on here and it sounds miles ahead of his time. I'm really excited to give this a bunch more listens.

Surprised these boys are from Boston - they sound totally British new wave and I definitely hear British inflection in the vocals. Simple songs but effective - good pop. I love the synths in this album good mix of digital and analog including the legendary Roland jupiter-8. Good. 3.5

Enjoyable, just not memorable

A fun album, although it seems a bit derivative.

The Cars self titled album was an ok listen. It was very reminiscent of the 70s style of pop-rock, however it leant a little more into the synths that would become synonymous with the 80s. Best: Just What I Needed Worst: Bye Bye Love

Quite a hit filled album if I do say so myself, and I had no idea a bunch of those songs were pre-1980!

Car go vroom

This shit slaps

Really enjoyed this, a new wave classic. I was in a sort of new wave band in the 90s and I should have been trying to sound more like this rather than just make everything as loud as possible. Now I can see why it wasn't good, cos I wasn't trying to be this.

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

The Cars...cool!

I love this album. The Cars have a unique sound among popular bands of their era. Every song on this record is so good. So good.

I’ve loved this album since I discovered it as a pre-teen. It has been unusual in that with the move to digital and streaming music I consistently continue to mostly listen to the album in its entirety. I really miss hearing the songs in context when they are played individually. This album is a keyboard/synth masterpiece. As every song ends I anticipate the next one and to not hear it is a real disappointment. Just seeing the cover fills me with happiness. I’m shocked to read that “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” was never released as a single! And shocked that only the first three songs on the album were. There are at least three more that I would have sworn were also singles. I’ve never tired of listening to this album and likely never will. The Cars has been on my personal soundtrack for most of my life. I don’t expect that to ever change.

What the 80s could and should have been: fun, synthy tracks driven by a baseline of solid guitar, drums, and relatable lyricism. Not every track here stands out memorably, but those that hit do so in a huge way - "Just What I Needed" still gets airplay today and manages to sound nostalgic yet new, a throwback that still feels fresh in the modern era.

Has there ever been a stronger collection of songs on a debut album....a truly remarkable effort. 5 🌟

Classics from start to finish. Just enough rock'n'roll grit to be relatable and just enough new-wave polish and studio production to feel crisp and novel.

Best Song: Just What I Needed. More for familiarity than anything. Worst Song: All Mixed Up. I don't like the falsetto portions. Overall: The lead singer sometimes does this overly 80s affectation with his voice that actually makes it sound like he's emulating a baby voice. Don't like that. As for the rest, it has that kind of singalong quality that makes it somewhat enjoyable, but it's all wrapped up in that 80s aesthetic that I find unpalatable.

Sami jebeni hitovi

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

Similar to the Talking Heads, this is synth pop-rock that is just not quite there yet. Relatively monotonous, it's a little bit of everything but not enough in either direction. Very neutral

Great album!

Way more singles off of this than I had remembered, good nostalgia listening.

Classic Sound and Album from 1978. Quite a few hits on this album. Was never a hugh Cars fan but this album is solid.

Rock and roll, and sometimes proto-shoegaze. Quite enjoyable!

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!

listen

This album has a lot of their hits which are located at the beginning. It was a relatively short album. A couple songs carried on a little to long. I would listen to it again.

Nice classic rock album, first 3 songs are hits. The rest are pretty good too! Nice summer album

Familiar with The Cars and a few tracks off the album. One song gave an Oingo Boingo vibe, overall good album!

Not a fan

Very impressive debut full of hits.

Excellent

Nice, definitely worth the listen. Will return. This could grow on me. I really liked the synths on this album when they appeared. Really liked the last two tracks There were a lot of artists in this era with that dramatic talk-singy vocal style (like the talking heads and the cure)

10/10 - really good new-wave I can't decide what my favorite song is, probably the one that's everybody's favorite: Just What I Needed anyway, just an all-around really great album honestly don't have any complaints, can't wait to hear their other stuff, hope it holds up to this

BLAAAH!

Meni huomaamatta

Tvö ágætis lög þarna. Restin frekar ómerkileg.

This is some debut, including as it does the fantastic singles My Best Friend's Girl and Just What I Needed. While these are the highlights, there are other decent offerings, such as Good Times Roll and I'm in Touch with Your World. There is a tendency for most of the tracks to run along similar, one-paced plodding rhythms and the singer's voice is a bit lost in the mix on a couple of the songs. Other than that, a very strong offering - did it get any better than this?

This album has that essential New Wave sound, but feels like it was made to be a commercial success rather than from any real artistic passion. Due to my age, I am immediately drawn to that nostalgic 'radio new wave' sound so it gets a better rating than it should.

This album is the epitome of “3 stars”: fun at times, but it’s still inoffensive 80s rock. I get that the synths and the singing is cool, I don’t see this as some new-wave masterpiece.

really good album

All-time classic rock album, transitioning from the arena rock of the 70s to the New Wave and synthpop coming in the next decade. Every song is repeatably listenable.

Bit too much Queen in there, but definite power pop roots of Weezer.

When I talk about albums that were in constant rotation in the late 70s, I've had more bad than good comments.The Cars' first album is one I remember favourably. It was a welcome change from the hair bands of the day. The picking in the intro to "My Best Friend's Girl' had this sound that, back then, was quite unusual and the electronic drums were also kinda cool. I only know the four hits but the rest of the album isn't obnoxious

I really despised this album when it came out. I was just getting into punk and new wave in ’78 and then I started hearing these made-for-radio songs everywhere. People who had never heard of Talking Heads or Elvis Costello were suddenly big Cars fans. 45 years later, I still don’t like the hits but “Living in Stereo” is ok.

I had this record on high rotation when it was released back in 78, its incredible to think that its 44 years old! This astonishingly good debut album was instrumental in ushering the New Wave movement. Side 1 starts off with 3 bangers but the momentum flags a bit with I'm in touch and Don't cha stop. But they make it up on Side 2 with four of the most iconic new wave songs that seem to flow together so naturally: You're all I've got tonight, Bye Bye Love, Moving in Stereo and All Mixed up. If it wasn't for the two fillers this album would score five stars easily.

Enjoy the guitars on this, a bit different to what I normally like.

Love this album immediately, bit of new wave with mixed with classic rock. It’s a perfect blend of the two; catchy songs; lovely upbeat feel. This album is right up my alley, have to give it a 10/10. Going to listen to this album for a very long time.

I decided at the start of this to listen to every album from beginning to end. I regret that now. I guess you had to be there, but with hindsight this feels like a really overly commercial, uninteresting album.

nope, more 70s vanilla meh

Ekkert stórvirki, rann í gegn mjög óeftirminnilega. Ekkert hræðileg samt.

Didn’t keep my attention

When I first encountered this list, I immediately started guessing what albums would be on it. This was one of my first 10 guesses.

This is a pretty good classic rock album. The first half of the album is all hits. The back half of the album isn’t bad. Just pretty generic classic rock. Overall it feels pretty timeless and the songs are enjoyable. 7.6/10

A step away from the prevalent disco of that era. The promise that was all the best of 80s music.....

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

Never cared for these guys - wimp rock.

Can't go wrong with new wave.

Wall to wall banger 4

Even the non-radio hits are pretty good. Solid album and I was pleasantly surprised.

Quite a few big hits on this album. Really enjoy the spacey, new-wavey sound mixed with rock. Never listened to a full Car album before.

A nice listen

Apparently the bass player (deceased) was not the sharpest tool in the shed, but they sure had a great sound together. I wish they had just kept cranking out the albums. This is the sound of the early eighties and the beginning of MTv. Iconic. I only really enjoy the first three songs on the first side. Ah, the days of albums when you could bury the crap on the second side. The bigger your hits off the first side, the smaller the chance that anyone would ever bother to play the second side. The Cars used to rehearse and record in a storefront in Boston.

Lots of unexpected nostalgia from an album where I couldn't have even named the band. Loved it.

I really liked this! A few recognizable songs (and the perfect hook to get me back into the listening project)

The Cars are one of those groups where I know a ton of songs by them but don't really process it because I only hear them on the radio. Standout tracks: "Just What I Needed" (perennial favorite), "Moving in Stereo" (new discovery)

Þessi er bæði hress og skemmtileg. Hlustaði tvisvar og myndi gera aftur.

For a while this was one of the few vinyl albums my housemate and I owned, and it would get a lot of spins. Plays like a greatest hits album, and brightens the mood instantly. Love the sound of this album.

I consider this a perfect album. Completely solid from start to finish without a wasted note. They struck the ideal balance between good old fashioned rock and roll and new wave synth flourish. Some of the catchiest tunes ever recorded.

A lot of hits here. I get why people like The Cars but it's just too poppy for me. Iconic though.

Such good new wave, so many iconic songs

This was a blast from the past. I listened to The Cars a lot when I was a youngster. This album is actually older than I thought.

Really more like 4.5 stars. This is like a greatest hits record plus a few lesser songs. Of those, you got a highly entertaining number using every random percussive instrument known to man, plus kazoos, and the last track is tremendous.

It's pretty great. Almost every track is solid gold. I just don't think that "I'm In Touch With Your World" and "Doncha Stop" are all that great. So close to a perfect 5.

bem meh música de rádio, sei lá não é muito minha vibe 2/5

Tosi mukavaa ajomusaa, myöhempään kuunteluun.

Great sound.

It would be enough Orr's 'just what I needed'

This sounds like the year it was released. Perhaps a Holden Gemini

Some good solid driving.

Yeah, I like the guitars. More if a pop style than I'd usually go for but it's great album.

Never have heard this album before, but obviously have heard a lot of songs. The first half of the album seems to have the hits whereas the second half is more experimental. 35 minutes which I tend to think is around the sweet spot for a lot of albums. Glad I listened to this one

Love this album, My mom says I hated it as a kid but I don't remember that.

Amazing. This is an all-timer.

There's a little more depth to this album that I thought there was. Some good deep tracks beyond the popular ones.

Fun 80s pop

p415. 1978. 3 stars I knew the singles, but never listened to the album. This is good stuff - quality power pop, echoes of Blondie. The singles are the standout tracks, the rest is well done but not memorable. Short and sweet, still holds up today.

I was surprised by how many hits were on this album from good times roll to best friends girl to bye bye love. All the other songs were pretty good and enjoyable too.

2 1/2

I mean...yeah, I get the appeal. You can definitely see why this album has a lot of nostalgia for the Boomer and Gen X crowds (at least, based on what some folks have told me). It's a fun album. Solid addition to this list. Can't say it's an automatic five-star for me but it's absolutely worth a listen. Fave track: Just What I Needed. How could it not be? It was just what I needed.

Seriously!? This is an album I should listen to at all, let alone before I die?

Hi- Bye Bye Love, Moving In Stereo, All Mixed Up Lo- Don't Cha Stop Growing up with The Cars getting heavy rotation on the radio and media, I've always considered this album just a matter of fact. Most of these tracks are reasonably fun and boppy. Don't Cha Stop is obviously inspired by "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and is kind of a weak end to a pretty decent first act...But the flipside is where you get 3 very solid tracks (all seamlessly blended into each other) that really kicks sounds ahead of its time, preceeding albums by The Cars will sound more like this. Another thing to note about this album is its fidelity; It's absolutely great for 1978, rivaling Steely Dan and similar albums.

very energetic pop/ pop rock album that has some interesting songs

Wow, that was really great.

Lightweight, poppy, not stood the test of time. Was very enamoured of this record as an 18 year old mind.

I love this album, especially the last three tracks. It's so good.

-"Good Times Roll," "My best Friend's Girl," "Just What I Needed," 'Don't Cha Stop," and "You're All I've Got Tonight" are all classic radio hits of various sizes. All very catchy and fun -"I'm in Touch with Your World" has an unexpected change to some spookyness, very cool -All greeat, totally class rock tracks

Where are the bangers everyone is talking about?

This is a damn impressive album. Five all-time greats on one album. The fact that this was their demo makes it 10 times more impressive.

Wore out my vinyl copy of this when I was young. What an album!

Niet zo speciaal

I remember this album well. I was 15.

Whopping debut album. Knew most of the tracks but never realised it was from 1978!!! I would have guessed '82 or '83. Cover art 5/5

This was actually a brilliant album. Well written and sounds way ahead of its time in terms of style and genre. Really enjoyable with many string tracks. Also kept it concise and impactful with it being only 35 minutes. Will definetly give it another listen

Muito bom.

This debut by The Cars is as ok pop rock album with fun poppy tunes and some new wave instrumentation. It has good guitar riffs and nice vocals, but sounds mid most of the time. "Just What I Needed" is somewhat a classic, but one at the very botton of the list of late 1970s pop rock classics.

Overall groovy vibe, probably would have enjoyed this more if I was jamming out to it at the time of release

It’s fine… another rock album. Did nearly every song need a call and response vocals though? That was annoying as hell.

This was close to being good. Some good tracks just not a fan of the vocal style. Also think I'm going to have nightmares about the crop of the album art that Spotify decided on...

Boring

I had no idea that I was a Cars fan. I know their releases, and liked them well enough, but this whole album was stellar!

Very very good. Some absolute bangers and lead to Weezer so a good thing in my opinion.

Kachow! This was fine.

This was really good! The main thing that stood out to me was just how tight the rhythm section is, all of the grooves just locked together perfectly (even the quirky, disjointed rhythms of I'm In Touch With Your World) Most of the songs were more simple but the texture always built and varied throughout to keep things interesting, and there were some great flourishes and interweaving melody lines to spice things up to perfect effect. Just a really enjoyable record from front to back

Catchy tunes, but a bit dated

Dynamic, engaging pop rock. Well ahead of its time. One of my new favourite bands.

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

Throwing a toaster into a bubble bath full of toddlers isn't normally how I get to spend my weekends, but on those special occasions when the stars align and there's a certain magic in the air, I will find myself doing exactly that. I've never questioned why I have such a desire to do it, it must just be hard wired into me from when I was growing up. My parents always seemed fairly relaxed and my household was full of life and joy interjected with the occasional blazing row. This was only because we love eachother and I'd imagine it was pretty typical of most nuclear families in the 70s. Every few weeks I would beg my mother to allow me to have a sleepover with my school friends, to which she would reluctantly agree. I remember playing all day, eating junk food and just having such a laugh. We would play in the fields behind the house until dusk, but this would often lead to us being covered in a musky cocktail of sweat and mud by the time we were done. Mum would send us all up to the bath and we would all jump in together, like we were celebrating an FA Cup triumph. I would usually insist that I was clean first and would leave the bath having barely got my armpits damp. I would head into the kitchen, unplug the toaster and run back upstairs. The other kids were still lathering eachother up, having a great time and I just casually tossed the toaster in, killing them all instantly. I remember the feeling of overwhelming happiness coursing through me. Such a thrill. We buried the bodies in the same fields we had played in just hours before and didn't mention it again. The police found no evidence and we were free to do the same thing again and again without anyone becoming suspicious of the children going missing at our house or the sheer volumes of toasters my family was purchasing. More innocent times.

You might say - The Cars remind me of the guy who begins a fuck with lots of promise but then pulls back at exactly the wrong moment, forcing you to resort to your fingers to finish the job. -but I wouldn't.

Good this. I bet Partridge is a fan. Good driving music. I might buy driving gloves. Vegan ones obviously. Well done everyone. Cook Pass Babtridge.

Overall, this is a good album with a few weaker tracks that I didn't enjoy as much. I like how experimental this band got with technology (apparently they used large amounts of it). Highlights: My Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, You're All I've Got Tonight

A defining moment in New Wave, setting an example for the genre for years to come. Just like Parallel Lines, it's an incredibly well-polished pop masterpiece with a strong reliance on synths, dance rhythms, and punk-inspired vocals and instrumentals. 9 tracks, 6 of which are top-tier hits that could each stand on their own. The production is among the best of the era, everyone is well-mixed, nothing is overwhelming or taking too much of the spotlight. The guitar, synths, vocalist, drums, bassist... they all sound fantastic. You have your guitar solos. Your innovative synth effects that showcase how crazy you could take the genre. And not to mention you could dance, sing along, shake your head, whatever, to any of the tracks. There are 3 unusual tracks here. "I'm in touch with your world" is one of those avant garde pieces, reminds me of "Mother" on Synchronicity, but more akin to their postpunk contemporaries. It grows, but understandably some people couldn't stand it. "Don't Cha Stop" is a bit on the boring track, probably my least favorite, but if you like their signature sound, you couldn't hate it. Finally, the closing "All Mixed Up" is a really good track on its own, it's hard for me to call it a weak track, but it stands against the pop monsters of the other tracks. Hardly any weaknesses. All tracks are really good. Deserves a perfect score, doesn't it?

A sneaky 4. More like a 7 out of 10 but I'm feeling generous.

Amazing album all the way through. Made me smile when I heard it because it’s just so much fun.

Maybe I need to give it another listen but this album seemed to blur into one long bland classical rock track. Good in general but nothing stood out to me.

Really good album quite enjoyed this one. Never heard of this band before.

Favorites: Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, You're All I've Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, All Mixed Up

doesn´t do much for me, only like the last song, maybe because it was the last song

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

Into the first minutes of this album I thought it was going to be quite boring, but after a while I noticed it was rocking away quite nicely. Not mind-blowing by any means, but just a very solid album.

Started strong, I was really enjoying the album, but it started to lose me, maybe it's my attention span this morning. Where's my ritalin?

What a debut. One of the best debut albums of all time. The Cars arrived with this album, fully formed. The first three songs is a career for most bands. 5 🌟

reisst mich gar nicht vom hocker, 08/15 rock‘n‘roll

Erinnert mich an eine Mischung aus Franz Ferdinand und teilweise Queen...nur langweiliger

Das Cover WARUM?!?! Sehr tight, ganz lustige pop-rock nummern, ironisch überspitzt öfters mal. Im vergleich zum gestrigen Album sehr easy listening, gut für eine AUTOFAHRT geeignet xD Rocky Horror hört man manchmal, und klingen irgendwie wie die Vorfahren der Viagra Boys auf 80er. hat mir überraschend irgendwie getaugt - hab mich allerdings einen Tag später an kein Lied erinnern können, darum nur mittelmaß

I've never liked the singles from this album, so I'm basically evaluating how much the deep cuts redeem it. I'm in Touch With Your World is better, but definitely a more lowkey track, not something to bank on as a salvation. Don't Cha Stop is pretty obnoxious, like the big hits. Moving in Stereo is the best song on here, sounding like if Brian Eno had never left Roxy Music. All Mixed Up continues in this vein but also adds some Queen-like vocal harmonies. So there are three tracks on here that move this from a low 2 to a high 2. Not a statistical change, but it makes me dislike them less, I guess.

Love the Cars! I have definitely heard all of the big hits from this album for my whole life, but the few that I haven’t heard were really interesting. Surprisingly short album too!

expect 3. not offensive not terrible.

A classic

Un d'aquells discos que mai et canses d'escoltar. Sense grans singles destacats ('Drive' vindria anys més tard), tot ell és un conjunt de temes sense màcula. En els anys de més brillantor en la música pop més creativa, aquest destaca com un dels seus discos més disfrutables. No és pas poca cosa

persoanlly it hasn't aged that well, but still good for what it is

liked this album more than i thought, not my favorite though

didn't expect to dig this so much

Some fun new wave. This list does have a lot of new wave, this is somewhere in the middle of the previous ones

alright

Not a favorite of mine, the genre. The hits are decent. Highlight Tracks: 1,2,3,6

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

A new wave classic.Love the drums and harmonies in "Good Times Roll"."My Best Friend's Girl" has a great guitar part and great harmonies."I love the song "Just What I Needed", a lot because i also love the Car Seat Headrest "Not what I Needed" which is kinda of a reworked version of this song made by Will. "I’m In Touch With Your World" is kind of weird, with a lot of synths and guitars all over the place, not as enjoyable as the previous ones. "Don’t Cha Stop" is very catchy and has a great guitar solo, and great guitar work overall." You’re All I’ve Got Tonight" has great flangered drums , a very good chorus, and the song is finished with a great solo and a repetition of the chorus. "Bye Bye Love" sound a little bit similar to the last one, but with a better synth work, in my opinion.Great transitional intro to "Moving In Stereo", with greath synths and vocals from their bassist,is certainly one of the top songs of this album.The last song, "All Mixed Up"has great harmonies, however, it's not that great, possibly one of the worst with "I’m In Touch With Your World". A solid 8. If not for thos 2 songs, it would have been a 9. Favourite track(s): Good Times Roll/Just What I Needed_____ Least Favourite tracks: "All Mixed Up"/"I’m In Touch With Your World". Can see the influences that they had on weezer's blue album (which ocasek produced).

One of my favorites. It's so much fun and it's The Cars man!

Ei vakuuttanut. Laulajan ääni ärsytti vähän liikaa ja soitantakaan ei oikein maistunut. Jumittelevaa pre-kevyt-punkia tms.

Perus kasarijurnutusta. Eipä tästä paljoa irti saanut. Esim Modern Lovers teki saman huomattavasti tyylikkäämmin. Toisaalta ei tämä myöskään mitään Talking Headsia ole. Menevämmät kappaleet olivat jopa paikoin ihan hyviä mutta negatiivisen puolelle valahtaa arvio.

Excellent new wave gem, thoroughly enjoyable. Talking Heads crossed with Roxy Music. Sounds as fresh as a daisy.

I know i've listened to this once or twice in 2020 or 2021. Decent power pop album.

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

A reoccuring theme in rock'n'roll music is the want to fuck your boys girl.

I love it!!

Proto-post-punk, some een beetje te classic rock.

6/10

Interesting instrumentation choices, the songs feel varied throughout. All very danceable, every song has a distinct driving feel to it. Memorable guitar riffs and hooks. Some of the vocal harmony moments were cool, some felt sort of forced. Album got stronger from “Just What I Needed” and beyond. First two tracks just felt like anything you could hear on classic rock radio, but the third track is iconic, and after that it feels like more risks are being taken. Incredible flow throughout the album. Last two tracks are a cool note to go out on. Still upbeat, but weirder and almost haunting/mysterious at times. Every song could be a hit.

Just What I Needed might be my favorite song off of the album. So far the album feels upbeat and full of joy. The odd background synths overlaid over strong guitar riffs and consistent high hat rhythms are very neat. In touch with your world - has a really lovely groovy guitar lick as the song opens. Whimsical noises really add to the instrumentation of the song. A whistle is included as is a metronome sound? Shimmering synths chime in and out in a gorgeous fashion. -You're all I've got tonight - driven by drumset. Power chords by lead guitar. Vocally fairly simple. -Moving in Stereo has a fun and bright background synth melody

A gem.

Only knew moving in stereo beforehand, loved the sound of the rest of the album, almost queen-like.

Ah this has some great pop songs on - always loved 'Best Friends Girls' and some of the other tracks. Not consistent enough across all songs to be brilliant, but really enjoyed the album.

I love the Cars. This album has several of my favorite Cars songs on it. Amazing album

undeniably a classic with tons of great hooks and radio hits that have been huge forever, but I'm just not a big new wave guy

3.5/5 i'll have to relisten

So fast so good

Tight pop-rock of a bygone era; a PG favourite.

urgh it's gonna be new wave, I just know it. Ok yea it is, but it's got a bit more rock in it than later new wave. I'd still prefer this genre didn't exist but I'll give this 3/5 cause it's so short and didn't drive me up the wall in that time.

Classic.

Really good! A lot of the unknown songs where kind of funky and different, not just straight forward classic rock. Also reminded me of Talking Heads a little bit. 7/10

Really impressive debut album!

Don’t like but good

Noting it is a strong 3… a fun ride… hehe

It was fine. One or two jams.

I liked it, it was unexpectedly nice.

Outstanding one of the best ever!

10/10: Might as well be a greatest hits album.

Okay. Quite good, but not what I expected

Nothing really jumped out at me. Maybe I was too afk doing work, but it really just sort of... melded into the background. Nothing like a Dave Brubeck that really captures your attention.

Superbe album got hooked from the start

Nice and jammy, some songs had queen vibes for me. Casual, definitely from the late 70's, liked it, but not crazy abuot it.

Meh

This album was amazing. Really creative use of electronic and effects. Original song writing. The well known hits from the album are perfect pop, and the unknown tracks are excellent gems in originality.

All but three songs on this album have been FM radio staples as long as I've been paying attention and this is a debut, it's difficult to imagine an album have that kind of pop cultural impact today, I think it would be impossible.