Reviews (page 2 of 15)
Top to bottom, no skips.
Damn, this is one hell of a debut. Hit after hit after hit; I wasn't a big Cars fan, but I knew at least 50% of the songs on this album from their opening notes. Other than "I'm in Touch with Your World", which is a little boring and tedious, even the not-hit tracks are good. New Wave isn't my favorite genre, but this is one of the best examples of it.
One of the great power pop records of all time. 35 minutes of bangers. So many hooks. One of the great social gathering records. If you don't have a playlist ready and just need to put something on that everyone can agree on and doesn't suck, just throw on The Cars s/t.
Solid pop album!
This is a weird one for me. Its full of very popular songs. Songs that have outlived this band to begin with but its dont love any of it. I kinda like it in a Luke warm way. The vocals are a hit annoying and the synth stuff is kinda crappy too. The actual instruments are serviceable but thats it. Yet there are 5 songs on this album that I saved. Im not jumping up and dancing around when they pop up on shuffle but im not mad at it either. Otherwise I wouldn't save them. Im so in the middle on this one its tearing me in two. Crazy. At least it had that going for it. Usually when im in the middle I dont care at all. I care about this just not always in the best way but never in the worst way. Two and a half if I could. And tack on some zeros to that 5 to give it that scientific accuracy I guess.
A super 70’s treat. No wonder this spent so long hanging around the charts, a great blend of guitar and intro of synth into pop music. Enjoyed every track and will listen to more.
está bueno, normal
Onpa tylsä albumi. En ymmärrä, miksi tämä albumi on tälllä listalla. Jättää täysin kylmäksi ja sana kylmä kuvaa kyllä soundimaailmaakin. Jotenkin tosi perus-70-luku -albumi. Ei todellakaan erityisen hyvä albumi. Mikään biisi tai edes biisin osa ei herätä erityistä innostusta. 2/5
Very boring album in my opinion. The songs don’t really go anywhere and they’re not very interesting which is a shame because there’s a lot of potential for this to be good, more could have been done with the synths and the guitars don’t sound very good. I most likely won’t come back to this album but I would listen to Just What I Needed again, thats the best track on the album and quite a catchy tune but none others really appeal to me. The style of singing doesn’t really speak to me either it’s very monotonous and the lyrics don’t feel all that meaningful. Can’t complain about the mix though, whole album is very clear and you can pinpoint all the instruments.
not WORTHY
After the live Hawkwind album yesterday this was, *haha* 'just what I needed'
Really generic and repetitive. I'm sure this was good at the time, but it hasn't aged well.
Bilær. Hadde håpa på Heartbeat City, men denne funker bra også.
This is the equivalent of a really good fast food burger. It's nothing particularly mindblowing - all the elements can be found in thousands of other places. It's not going to change your life or be particularly surprising. I wouldn't hold it up as "the best album/meal I've ever heard/eaten". But goddammit, it's done REALLY well, and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if I can go as far as giving it a 5 - i've listened three times and I can't remember any of the tracks a few hours later, but it's a great example of the genre. A very, very strong 4.
What an absolute hit machine this album is.
this album rocks. Love the B-sides a little better than the front end
What an outstanding debut album! The number of hits alone make this impressive, but considering that this was from 1978 and many of the songs still feel fresh and approachable today, that's amazing.
I recognized about half the tracks on this album from the radio. Of course "Moving in Stereo" will always be burned in my brain with it's iconic use in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Still one of my favorite tracks from this album and really enjoyed the closer which I had never heard "All Mixed Up". So many memorable songs on this one I can't imagine The Cars ever surpassed their debut record.
this is actually nice 😦
On dirait les talking heads
3 - enjoyed it more than expecting, but not brilliant
So the band whose music is used in 80s and 90s movies? Or cheap Adam Sandler flicks? Lame.
Has its moments, but the power pop is not hitting today. Something very american about this. I'm in touch is bad. 3 Heard before? Some Owned: No, 108/425 (25%) Will I get: No
First 3 tracks are one of the best openings to a debut album in rock history. Angular, krautrock, new-wave, hard rock all rolled into one album, changing with every track. Great production, great hooks, and perfect guitar solos
Okay, you guys are making this way too easy on me. This is my second automatic 5 stars in a row, where I already like every song before it even popped up on here. The Cars are one of those bands, like Boston, where the 1st album is just perfect from front to back, and then the next one not as much and then the next one not as much. It's like they basically swung for the fences on the 1st at bat. I like a bunch of songs on their other albums, but this is the best total album for sure. Looks like this is the only one that made it onto this list too - makes sense to me. This came out the summer before my 8th grade school year, and I seem to remember it slowly catching on and they kept releasing singles (or the radio stations just played more songs) even through my freshman year in high school. Their 2nd album (Candy O) came out in '79 and then that got a lot of airplay too. I distinctly remember listening to all of this on the radio in the car, on jam boxes at the beach, and in the high school cafeteria at lunch time. At the time the mix of synths with rock guitar and pop beats plus the kind of robotic vocal delivery was pretty unique. Other bands had elements of this - like Devo - but The Cars were more approachable by more people I think. Then Gary Numan had a hit song called "Cars" (which had nothing to do with this band) - that actually went deeper into this kind of sound - in my mind. I remember it surprised me when I realized they actually had 2 different lead singers - because they sound like the same person. I now know there are 2 different ones but I bet I couldn't confidently name who is singing without looking at the credits. This was a lot of fun re-listening to this whole thing today. I know the words to all of these and the whole energy of it is really great. The ending of the album is awesome with "Moving in Stereo" transitioning directly "All Mixed Up". These songs have a slightly more hypnotic vibe than the rest of the album and cap it off perfectly. And then a saxophone solo ends it off - haha. Good job Cars! Liked songs on Spotify: 9/9 (perfect album) Rating: 5/5
pretty solid, overall had a very similar vibe between songs, but nothing too special, a few good songs in there but it really is mood dependent
Very good! What few fart noises that are on this record are muffled and not foul. Very gentleman like
An album full of great songs. I don’t listen to a lot of classic rock these days, but it’ll still get a 5 from me. Favorite tracks: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8.
8/10 Really, really good. Kinda proto-suburb punk, in a way. But still super polished and perfectly formed. If I had a historic hook into it, could even be a five
Love the album art
I’ve never heard this album but already knew more than half the songs. There is a noticeable quality difference between the singles released and the album tracks though and some of the songs started to sound very similar at the end of the album. All said, still a fun listen.
This was good! 3 -- I think everyone knows Just What I Needed
Uuden aallon vaikutteilla höystettyä pop rockia ja varsin toimivaa sellaista. Levy rullaa hienosti eteen päin eikä ole yhtään liian pitkä. Moving in Stereo-kappale tuo aina mieleen kasarin teinikomedian Fast Times at Ridgemont High eli suomalaisittain Kuumat kinkut.
Incredible. One of the best debut albums of all time. These are all classics of New Wave. And Ric Ocasek managed to woo Paulina Porizakova on the strength of these songs making him a rock star! 4⭐️
A fun, poppy new wave album. Just What I Needed is a great pop song.
This is not great but zi didn’t mind bits of it, might push it to 1.5 stars…. ‘Just what I needed’ was ok
Another album to reinforce my theory that this is primarily a list of albums that boomers listened to when they were teenage boys. Absolutely fine but by no means essential.
New to me, not absolutely unlistenable but very unpleasant. One star. Tom.
I liked this! It was pretty fun to listen to and the electric guitar solos were great. All of the songs were pretty feel good and catchy. I feel like I would have to listen to it at least one more time to know if it’s something I would want to return to especially bc it was mostly background music for doing my prelab :(. 3.4556/5
Me conecté con la sonoridad rockera que tienen, estando yo en la época quizás menos rockera de mi vida. O sea que chévere. Tienen coros interesantes. Medio queensoso inclusco, a veces. Chévere los sintes.
Loved it, so many great hits, fun synths
Fairly nostalgic stuff for me, and more recognisable tunes than expected
Good times role - 7.4 ; has potential, a bit repetitive, missing something but really nice background music My bsfs girl - 7.5 ; nice vibe, cheerful, kinda missing smth still but like this one more Just what I needed - 7.9 ; great vibes, love the background sounds, exciting intro I’m in touch with ur world - 6.9 ; had lots of potential, just needed something more, different sound effects Don’t cha stop - 7.4 ; good vibes n beats Ur all I’ve got TN - 8 ; best one yet. Transition into next song is 🔥 Bye bye love - 7.7 ; love the guitar Moving in stereo - 7.4 good vibes overall All mixed up - 8.2 ; best one for me, guitar 🔥 Overall: 7
I thought I'd never heard the Cars, then you get to the hits and realise they've always been there. Solid pop bangers with clever writing. At times a bit too glam/proggy in style/influence for my liking. Vocally similar to the Talking Heads. Pretty boring by the end, but honourable mention to Just What I Needed, what a beaut.
This is some great stuff. I loved the instrumentation on this, all the synths mixed with the rest of it really well. The vocals are standard 70s fare, though, not that they're bad or anything. Favorite Track: Just What I Needed
I mean, I would think that the high reviews here meant something. I tried to listen to this in my car, which is a pretty fast car, and I was not even driving fast, but I felt no enjoyment or satisfaction of listening this. Anyway, maybe back in the day this was something, but nowadays, naaah
Decent background listening
ETA: upgrading from a 3 to a 4. There are just so many classics on this.
Best period pop / AM radio music ever. The recording was pristine, great left-right separation, sonically wonderful.
This was described as being entirely composed of big hooks. Big predictable hooks.
Some solid bangers in there. Got my motor running
It was ok, some big tunes on this but the rest only ok from my perspective
I heard lots of Queen in this. Overall decent album
Så så bra. Älskar riffen på låtarna och mycket av ljudeffekterna de har. Mycket intressant sonically.
Good album. The Cars give a pseudo-New Wave vibe that feels like it's from later than it is. I guess you could say it sounds at least a few years ahead of its time. This is just a fun pop album that is an enjoyable listen throughout.
I liked it, very 70s i like that. i really enjoyed their instrumentals! And their vocals, i think they are really nice aswell. (´^ω^`) ! !
5/5
It was fine not really the classic that I think people say it is. Couple of popular songs, but overall not really my thing.
So fun, so spiky, so enduring. The singles still hit. “Just What I Needed” is up there with the great pop songs. Especially love “Moving in Stereo” as well.
3/5 imo.Not my typical go to genre but its good to explore new ones
Did not like this. It’s all competent I guess, but it’s not an album.
Meh
I found this pleasant but not over the top pleasant
So classic. I thought The Cars hits were more dispersed through their catalog but this is the one. A lot of these songs are radio hits and their sound is so foundational to 80’s guitar pop. Some of the album tracks are bizarre but I appreciate that this was a living breathing band that was trying shit and writing songs they liked that occasionally just turned out to be huge hits. Moving in Stereo stands out as the most underrated of their singles off this album.
On the poppier side of new wave, this record is pretty solid. I’d cut maybe a few tracks from it though.
its cars 3/5
Didn't really enjoy this at all on my first listen, but I gave it one more go before giving my review and I've warmed up to it a little now. I think this could be a grower for me. Favourite tracks: You're All I've Got Tonight, Just What I Needed, All Mixed Up
Car?
I hadn't heard this album before. It's okay. But there isn't a single track on it that I really want to listen to again. On top of that, I don't like the cover, which apparently has its own story behind it. 3/5
it's unbelievable how many songs from this album i grew up listening to riding with my dad while he had the radio on. just so many hits on one record! it's easy to see while they're so popular all these years later. will def be checking out the rest of their discography.
i’ll have to give it more time another time, can’t find myself in it
Timeless amazing production and songwriting
fine a bit too musical-esque though
full of classics and fun to wiggle to!!
Очень хороший рок, вайб по Кракову ходить
Ну классический рок, ка каталке можно не уважать. Ставлю 6/10. Есть звучание, есть музыка, классные соло партии. Песня All mixed up мне очень зашла и Just i needed. Просто хороший альбом.
Just What I Needed классная песня, В Don’t Cha Stop крутое соло и концовочка, Moving in Stereo классная. Хороший классик-рок альбом, я б сказал 6,5-7/10
Fun 3.75
mostly new to me - very serviceable and pleasant listening new wave but not exactly Talking Heads
Damn I didn’t realize how many mammoth songs were on one record here. The first three tracks & “Moving In Stereo” have all broke through to a status of infinite perpetuity on classic rock stations. Even “You’re All Ive Got Tonight” is pretty well-remembered from the classic rock radio of my childhood. I’d like to think that “Moving In Stereo” is the coolest and most ahead-of-it’s-time song here, though the whole album is a little leap ahead of the 80’s synth sounds. Soft 4/5
Este me gusto mucho, cada cancion sonaba unica pero todas mantenian un estilo, solo habria una que skipearia.
This album is fire from start to finish. Masterpiece
1. "Just What I Needed" 2. "Good Times Roll" 3. "Moving in Stereo"
Classic 80s sound. Few bangers nothing misses
No fav song
Iconic, its not often the music from one album seeps into as much culture as this one has for me. It has such a distinct style of synth power pop that earns its place as one of the greats. Going back to it now leaves me wanting something more but even then I can't help but nod my head along to most of the tunes. I like the vocals that have this sultry manic energy similar to a David Byrne, and the rock music is simple but very effective that makes the synthesis notes pop more in comparison.
Album piacevole con un bel sound anni 80.
This band has aged really well. There is a touch of dross on the record but generally enjoyable.
All the songs on this album sound the same to me, and they're fine I guess
I recognized way more songs than I thought I would. These guys seem to like to drag out one phrase into a whole song
An easy 5! Legendary! One of the most complete debut albums ever released by anyone. Kids from 1978 got to time travel, see and hear what the 1980s would sound like. Transcendent melding of all of the coolest bits of rockabilly, synthesizer, punk, and power pop, all renamed this new genre, New Wave. 6 of the 9 tracks are certified all time standards. "Moving In Stereo" would be the backing track in one of the most iconic film scenes from the 1980s in FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH. The only argument is whether their 1984 release Heartbeat City is even better than this one. They are both easy 5s.
What a great album! Packed with hits, but also interesting at the same time. I'll have to put this in rotation.
I liked it when I was a kid but it doesn't seem so compelling now.
Great 80s track list
A haiku: Really cheered me up Almost all the songs are great Just what I needed?
Very mediocre
Distinctly mediocre.
This is a good record. The 3 hits at the start are the best tracks and it is a bit saggy in the middle however the last two songs finishes the album strongly. Great clear production and the birth of American New Wave.
I know about half this album very very well, and the other half not so much. Turns out that that half is a little spookier and slinkier, a little gothy even, intriguing but maybe a little bit less interesting than the hits.
Starts strong but peters out. Doesn't outstay it's welcome though. Decent
So many great tunes.
So many great songs on this, even the none hits which seems to be few on this album. Just What I Needed and Moving in Stereo are some of my favorites
This is practically a greatest hits album. I already knew 6 of the 9 tracks on here. The first two tracks are so overplayed they don’t make me feel anything anymore. But that’s not their fault! Then “Just What I Needed” comes on and is (as my students would say) straight fire. I turned the volume up loud for that one and left it there for the rest of the album. The band plays with ska and post-punk elements, both in a very poppy way, and that makes the non-hits more interesting. Highlights: “Just What I Needed” “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” “Moving in Stereo”
8 / 10
Iconic pop songs on this record. I remember hating the Cars though. Found them sort of annoying (especially Ric Ocasek) when I was young and they were popular. I also not really a “new wave” fan generally. Just a cheesiness to the music. However, I did try to listen anew and I found more to like than I thought I would. This one is tough. Feel like I should give it a 4, but my past bias is pushing me to 3.
who knew that The Cars had more songs than Drive and that I knew so many of them? or that Kylie Minogue was already on album covers in 1977? a surprise enjoy for me, driving pop rock that I could listen to again. 35 mins for the win.
It delights the part of my brain that enjoys Queen / 70s poppy rock. I don't have any thoughts deeper than that.
средненько, скучновато местами два раза переслушал чисто фон какой-то почти ничего не запомнилось может быть они двигали жанр или создали конкретный стиль, но я не прочувствовал 3.0
The self-titled debut from The Cars is an iconic pop rock record that instantly put Ric Ocasek and company on the map. It's an album filled with earworms that have remained popular to this day. It also helped shape the direction of music as the 70s faded into the 80s, making it a vital transitionary record. Source: Tidal - 2016 Remaster Format: 24/192 Lossless FLAC
This album took me back to my early teen years. I remember every song, and they're all great.
Cars!! 😼
pretty good
When rock becomes good pop. ‘Just what I needed’ is one of my go to tracks of my life so that was nice to listen to a few times again and is obviously my best track! Simple but efficient. Obviously appealed to the masses and I am of that herd but ultimately its simplicity and the fact other bands do this sound better is its downfall. ‘You’re all I’ve got tonight’ highlighting this and then the boring ‘moving in stereo’ is so forgetful it is my weakest track. 7.5/10
The Cars - The Cars Got that cool US new wave feel all over it. Devo, Talking Heads, Richard Hell, Blondie, Jonathan Richman, all shook up together in a paper bag and spilled out in a heap of clipped guitars, kooky vocals, driving drums, and interjection synth motifs. But over the top, these catchy Jagger/Richards type choruses. Can see why they sold well. All the right ingredients of the time with a sprinkle accessibility over th top. So perfectly acceptable without being Earth-shattering. Cos all the others on that list just did it a bit better. Listened a couple of times while watching a guy hook up his caravan whilst I ate a KFC and charged up. Felt a good enough soundtrack. Best Track - was goona go with the obvious one, the hit My Best Friend's Girl. But I did really like the change in tempo of the brooding Moving In Stereo. Worst Track - I'm In Touch with Your World. David Byrne did this kind of spikey discombobulation so much better 6.5/10
Pleasant catchy poo. Mercilessly brief, highly listenable.
Reading the reviews, I keep seeing 5 star ratings and comments like "every track is a banger" and "no skips." The highs on this album are undeniable and half this album is their greatest hits. I can see where this is in the conversation for greatest debut albums of all time. But I can't get behind the "every track is a banger" and "no skips" comments. An album that has truly great and iconic songs like "You're All I've Got Tonight" and "Moving In Stereo" can't co-exist with something like "I'm In Touch With Your World." That's the song where they lose their groove, their momentum, their hooks and just drop this weird, quirky song that doesn't belong. It's art pop on an album that's definitively new-wave and it completely falls flat. The first half of "Don't Cha Stop" also doesn't really fit with the rest of the album until the second half with the awesome guitar solo and the band settles in...the first half is like a bad version of a Police song. But the highs are incredible...these are songs that set moods and set scenes. That said, a lot of them have been used to death...for me, I can't divorce "Just What I Needed" from Circuit City commercials. Moving In Stereo never gets old but so synonymous with Phoebe Cates (not a bad thing) and also gets used practically anytime someone wants to set a scene for an 80s period piece. It was just used for the opening scene of The Shards on FX. So, I was a little wary of some of these songs headed into listening to this. I can't quite give it a 5, probably for that reason...would I come back to it on my own? Probably not. Would I skip any of the iconic tracks also on this album whenever they pop up on Apple music when it suggests something I should listen to? Probably not. It's a 4 for me. Also, I can't stand the album cover.
All the classics right up front. I typically get annoyed by repetition, but The Cars use it as their superpower. No wonder these songs have survived 40+ years.
Absolutely deserving of being called a classic. Such a great job bridging 70’s rock and new wave.
Some songs I loved, some I didn't enjoy that much. The last track was my favourite. Overall, 4/5, although I can see it being a 5/5 for someone who's a bigger fan of the genre.
Good Times Roll - 4/5 My Best Friend's Girl - 4/5 Just What I Needed - 5/5 I'm in Touch With Your World - 3.5/5 Don't Cha Stop - 4/5 You're All I've Got Tonight - 4/5 Bye Bye Love - 4/5 Moving in Stereo - 4.5/5 All Mixed Up - 4/5 I think this would still make the list if their debut just had Just What I Needed. A good album for what's to come in power pop and new wave in the next few years after its release, and the Cars make their mark in the best way possible. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Just What I Needed
I liked it for the most part. It's very danceable which is something I appreciate most in songs, however as a whole record it's kinda samey. No song stood out to me in particular.
Listened before? No Familiar with the artist? Yes, I know a couple of the songs here already. Thoughts: - I know the first 3 tracks just from the radio, which was a nice way to get my interest up for the rest of the album, lol. - I already love "Just What I Needed," but every time I hear it I can't tell if it's that or Stacy's Mom 😅 (the intro sounds identical I swear). - This is a good time! There's not really a song here I don't like. If I had a bit more time with it, it might go up to a 5, but a solid 4 for now. Favorite track(s): Just What I Needed, Good Times Roll
this is a 4.5/5 in my opinion - looooveeee just what i needed
Outside of the hits I didn't care so much for this album. Some of the crazy sounds were overboard. Still the hits carry it. 3/5
enjoyed this decently. sort of burned myself out on the cars in high school though so wasn't sure how i'd feel about it
Five star classic. No notes, perfect new wave power pop.
Enjoyable, but I never really felt like it got into its stride. Stuck in second gear or maybe a bit of traffic. It all sounds good and is a canter of new wave pop goodness but I didn’t do anything in particular for me.
It's easy to like the cars in that they are easy to absorb with pleasant melodies and interesting percussion noises (I think many are synth blips and burbles as well on top) that vary over time in the songs. Its delicate and clean and the energy is consistent and driving through out which I think makes the album. Instrument separation is great. It is at its core a bridge between rock and pop music and for that it's commendable and probably interesting at the time. It has a very mild punk edge I suppose due to vocals but too glossy to make the cut in that regard for me. I listened to it many times which is testament to its easy nature. Not sure it can elevate itself to the big league though.
Another surprising little pop-rock album. It's a bit too full of radio singles for my liking, but it's a fun listen with a lot more depth than you might initially expect. I'm showing my prejudice here, but I assumed this was a British band and raised an eyebrow when I saw it was American. Given the date of release and that this is a debut album, I think it's quite an impressive offering. Not one for my favourites playlist but generally gets a thumbs up from me. High three star rounded up.
The first song made me immediately think of Queen. The I see that this album has the same producer as Queen. Quite lame and lazy to pick up the sound of one band and inject it in another that's playing totally different music. The album isn't bad, it's just kind of boring. If I pause it and get back to it, my immediate reaction is "oh, it's still this." Neither a rejection nor attraction, just a big of an exasperation.
Super fun album from start to finish. A dang good time.
Meh
I wouldn't have been able to define new wave to save my life but on the strength of this, I like it. The album started strong with '...Good Times Roll' and continued in the same vein, then finished without going on too long or beginning to sound stale. They got the late 70s/80s synth rock thing right and it sounds 'of its era' but not too dated.
I mean, really it doesn’t get much better than this. This band should have been as big as the Beatles.
I found this albums later in life and it turns out that I have heard ninty percent of it throughout the years. I had no idea just how many great songs are 9n this album. It very quickly became one of my favorites.
I think any three songs off of this could have been hit singles which is a blessing (very catchy songs) and a curse (very redundant).
Fun rock album. Singer has a pleasant voice to listen to but it lacks the punch to really score high on this list. 4/5
boilerplate classic rock (complimentary)
I had The Cars placed firmly in the 80s, so I was surprised to see this was 1978. That said, this album surely had some influence on the 1980's sound to come. While the album is really front-loaded with Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, and Just What I Needed, I think my personal favorite is Moving in Stereo towards the end.
It’s … ok. Some songs are classics, but most are forgettable. 3.5.
Good
Nunca había escuchado a The cars y para ser la primera vez no me disgusto; se nota que es parte de la primera ola del new wave, aunque cuando escuche "Good times roll" pensé que iba a ser mucho mas interesante, mas leyendo que es un álbum tan galardonado. No esta mal, se siente como escuchar canciones de radio que ya conocías por tu viejo, pero prefiero escuchar a Bowie que me parece un artista mucho mas completo/con otra vuelta de rosca, aunque similar en esencia (como en Aladdin Sane). Capaz no lo estoy juzgando con la vara correcta y debería tratar de situarme un poco mas en lo que era la época o el genero, pero recayendo en lo mismo que dije anteriormente; creo que existen proyectos con un sonido "similar" mucho mas interesantes, y las letras tampoco es que me cautiven demasiado... No creo que sea malo, simplemente flojo. 5/10
Gotta love the cars so I knew I’d like this. The beginning of the album has a bunch of hits and then the album closes with the surprisingly great “all mixed up”
easy listening rockpop, liked it
Experimental Rock, 80s-esque 8/10 Gtr: 8 Mbfg: 8.5 Jwin: 9.5 ⭐️ Iitwyw: 7.5 Dcs: 8.5 Yaigt: 8 Bbl: 8.5 Mis: 7 🚮 Amu: 8.5
Yeah it's alright
💫bye bye love, i'm in touch with your world 👎moving in stereo - elo reminiscent? - LOVE the guitar motif in bye bye love that was so gotg. insane riff too!! - sax in all mixed up goes so hard. 7.8/10 --> not as folky as i personally like but when it comes to pop rock this is great.
Idk man. To its credit and disservice half of this album was just listening to the classic rock radio stations of my childhood. They have style, they're clean and energetic pop/rock songs. I could see how exciting this would have been fresh but it just seems less interesting to me in 2026
Kjennskap: 10% Meget hørbart. God radiorock.
That one Cars hit is on this album - which as a whole is okayish.
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Ganz okay.
This is a great album. Nearly every song is single-worthy. Cool guitars and synths all over. I hadn't heard a lot of these. I'm in Touch With Your World stood out as something different but just as good as the rest.
Like Talking Heads but with less irony. Like DEVO but with fewer robots.
Since I wasn’t alive at the time of release I can only assume how big of an impact this album made. It seems like it’s full of hits that I hear in the wild on a regular basis. It was good to give this a full listen so I could appreciate it for what it’s worth, but I don’t think I’ll revisit it unless I find it in the $2 bin
RATING: 6.5/10 HIGHLIGHT: Just What I Needed LOWLIGHT: Good Times Roll
Forgot how many bangers are on here.
Great debut album
3,7
oh wow this was a LOT better than i expected. did not have very high expectations going in only knowing "just what i needed" which i was honestly pretty lukewarm on, but i very much enjoyed the full album a lot more! this is joining the short list of things i've found from this project so far that i'll actually come back to, and honestly is one of the best albums i've gotten so far overall. i think i just like power pop honestly and this is like THE power pop album so i guess it makes sense i liked it. also totally deserves to be here! 5/5
Knew way more songs than I thought from this album!
Good times roll ~ se vlece, ponaula, dobr sam nc posebnga Best friends girl- ~ catchy, upbeat, fun Just what i needed ~ intro pudobn stacys mom, upbeat, dobr solo, ne razbere se glih pomema Im in touch with your world ~ slow, funky, tezko se zastopjo lyricsi, do zdej najslabs track Dont cha stop ~ upbeat, ni glih neki Youre all ive got tonight ~ upbeat rock love ballad Bye bye love ~ ena bolsih tracku na albumi Moving in steteo ~ boring, se vlece All mixed up ~ regret overall upbeat sam zlo umirjen album, neki dobrih traku sam nebi ceuga albuma se enkrt puslusala
A welcome blast from the past, starts off with a bang, tails off slightly but it’s still a great album end-to-end.
It was really ok. Some good guitar in there. However it was very samey and a little bland.
Soft but decent. Varied but not intense. Sounds like a 70s album but feels like an 80s album. Short but not too short. Not a 5 but not a 4. Very easy listen, great length to get a flavour. 4.5
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background
ωραίος ρυθμός, ροκ, ίσως πολύ ρυθμικό και έντονο για εμένα αλλα δίνει καλά βάιμπσ. ο ρυθμός στα περισσότερα τραγούδια επαναλαμβάνεται. κάποιοι απο τους στοίχους είναι καλοί με νόημα.
I dunno - it's just not for me
Not a bad album, it’s listenable to me…
Nostalgia hit after hit for this listener...
A pretty good new wave album. I can’t say I was especially familiar with The Cars beyond knowing the name, but Just What I Needed is one everyone will recognise. It’s a fine line to tread between new wave and an ‘80s before the ‘80s power pop, but they straddle it pretty well. It fades a bit in quality by the end, but hangs on for 4.
A great New Wave and Power Pop album full of great songwriting, angular guitar riffs, synth flourishes and on some tracks (“I’m In Touch With Your World”, “Moving in Stereo”) an entire inventory of sound effects. There are no bad songs on this album but “Just What I Needed” “Don’t Cha Stop” and “Bye Bye Love” would be my favourites.
A really good debut album with a great new wave (synths/keyboards) and power pop (guitars) sound. It opens incredibly strongly with the trio of ‘Good Times Roll’, ‘My Best Friend’s Girl’ (possibly my personal favourite) and ‘Just What I Needed’, before making a slight misstep with ‘I’m in Touch with Your World’. It’s not terrible, but the array of bizarre sound effects add nothing. ‘Don’t Cha Stop’ is a solid closer to the side, however. Side two is perhaps marginally weaker overall, but it still has some great stuff, including ‘You’re All I’ve Got Tonight’ and ‘Moving in Stereo’.
It’s the Cars! It’s just fun nerdy rock and it needn’t be more.
Not really
Came here for Just What I Needed, stayed for Moving in Stereo.
Great new wave record, and an incredible debut. The whole album is just fun. There’s a good amount of radio singles, but still some cool artistic experimentation. A defining album and a strong 4
3,9 Highlights: Good Times Roll, Just What I Needed
Great album! All time Classic.
Bryan Ferry is very influential musician
No los conozco de nada, ni el disco ni a la banda. Me han sonado a rock clásico muy correcto, con mezclas de sintetizadores electrónicos en alguna canción y para pasar un buen rato, incluso para conducir (que se note el chiste, por favor, no soy tan obvia). Tampoco me ha entusiasmado mucho.
Ett fruktansvärt starkt poprock-album med en låt som kanske har den bästa refrängen som någonsin gjorts. Ibland får man bortse från de tidsenliga syntarna. Det här är obligatorisk lyssning!
Nice and fun to listen to but a little boring. Didn't stir anything within me. Maybe the exposure effect can help me see why this album is so great.
Great
This was really good. I knew a few of their songs but I liked it all!
All mixed up bäst
Pretty decent pop album; don't come at me whining it's New Age as it absolutely isn't.
Bardzo, proszem ja was, interesująca płyta. Rockowo-nowofalowa, ale nie aż tak oczywista, z radością do niej wrócę.
banger
Just What I Needed is a very special song to me but the rest of the album was Just Okay!
so so good!! loved this. just had such a fun time listening through and felt like every song was filled with hooks. Just What I Needed is a classic and could listen to that every day. Can really see how this influenced lots of artists I grew up loving (the Killers most notably) and it was punchy and sharp. I also love You Might Think off one of their later albums and am maybe inspired to go and listen to some more
great album. hit after hit.
Well this was a great "discovery" for me. Couldn't have named you a Cars song before listening, but I knew several, and every song is great. Good vocals, lyrics, music and hooks all the way through, and their sound is impressively restrained for the time. Let the good times roll!
Uplifting and cool!
Id watch them in my local venue and would have had a great night out. Not sure this would be an album Id put in thr top 1001 though.
This goes hard in the gym. I really enjoyed this. Top tracks: Just what i needed, You're all i've got tonight, Bye Bye Love, Moving in Stereo
The guitar is a lot of fun
almost perfect
GIGA BANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!! (4 stars)
I really didn't enjoy this. There is a part of me wanting to give 1 star but I can accept I'm tired and it probably deserves 2.
One of the best debuts ever and for good reason, not sure if I can rate it any higher, yet another example of an album I would give a 3.5 stars if half ratings were possible
Well well well, all the best tracks are greatest hits. That’s not their fault at all. There would have been no way in telling how the songs on here are going to fly. Almost half the songs are hits. Amazing. On the other hand, I’m in Touch with your World….clearly not going to be a hit. Don’t cha stop isn’t good either Bye bye love is a good one that wasn’t a hit. Hey!!! That’s what I’m looking for! Good album. I’m done here with talking Choice cut: My Bestfriends girl
Heard it a million times but it's still catchy and influential.
5/10… power pop / classic rock / *1978
Power rock anthems!! Vocal effects remind me of the Talking Heads, but the instrumentals are much more Boston-esque. Solid car-top-down bangers. I think Just What I Needed was already in my road trip playlist, but You're All I've Got Tonight is my favorite. Bye Bye Love is a solid second place too. I love their song Drive, so I want to also give Heartbeat City a complete listen. 3.5/5.
Listened before?: only the track Just What I Needed i think Good Times Roll - 4/5 My Best Friend's Girl - 4/5 Just What I Needed - 5/5 I'm in Touch With Your World - 4/5 Don't Cha Stop - 3/5 You're All I've Got Tonight - 4/5 Bye Bye Love - 5/5 Moving in Stereo - 4/5 All Mixed Up - 5/5 Average score: 4.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ah yes, the Cars. No "classic" band has ever made me go "oh THEY sing that song from my childhood I could never pin down on anyone!" more times than them. It's that anonymity that made listening to them a kind of non-starter in my listening journeys. Their big hits were just enough for me. Now, having listened to their debut - and, per most lists, their best album - I can't say my opinion has changed much. There's some good deep cuts here, but none have nearly enough of the spark and oomph that those first 3 opening singles have. It's an uphill battle this album has to fight, that matching of the same fire as those singles. There's one gem past the singles I would say, the closer, "All Mixed Up," which I found to be quite a departure for the otherwise very standard new wave sound. "You're All I've Got Tonight" is also an underrated track that should have been a bigger hit. I wouldn't mind hearing that one once in a while on rock radio. The Cars had a reputation for playing very mechanical gigs, and, somehow, that same assembly line process is apparent in the studio as well. None of the songs are particularly adventurous, or progress in any way other than the most straight-ahead way possible. In a car sense, this is the musical equivalent of a Ford Focus: reliable, dependable, nothing particularly flashy, and gets you from A to B. Expect a smooth trip, but you won't get any joyrides out of this one. I doubt I'm the first person to ever make that comparison. Key Tracks: Good Times Roll, You're All I Got Tonight, All Mixed Up
Nice synths! Pop version of rush
Basic but Classic. Es un poco tranqui por momentos pero es objetivamente un buen álbum.
Now that’s some classic dad rock! Likes: Good Times Roll; My Best Friend’s Girl; Just What I Needed; You’re All I’ve Got Tonight
I loved My Best Friends girl as a kid, I was obsessed with this album cover, the woman on it had such an ethereal beauty that I couldn't describe, or look away from. Turns out the album itself is mediocre, it lacks strong composition and the vocals are incredibly grating. 2/5
This album is really enjoyable, at least for some time. Sure, some songs are not much interesting, but it is fair to say that is not just another New Wave album. It is, overall, a very energetic record, with some really nice tracks. Some hints of experimentation with the sound, even though not much innovative or impressive, flow throughout the record, creating some dynamics that are really great. It's a very entering-the-eighties album, but it has a very nice sound, and some very catchy melodies. It's not great, but pretty remarkable. And it sure is a fun listening.
It has so many elements which should sound dated and cheesy, but it just works somehow. It's cheesy at times, but it knows it.
A car ride that just passes you by without further thoughts rather than a high-octane drive into the sunset. But hey, at least it didn't crash!
It sounds like what talking heads could have been if they layd off the weirdness (for the most part), dialed those vocals back and added in a better guitar player. And that makes the total pallatable but not great to the point of finally clicking with me. Good effort, cars.
There is a tendency to approach every album in this book as though it must have broken new ground, rewritten the rules or permanently altered the direction of popular music. The Cars did none of those things. What it did was almost perfect the crossover between New Wave and American rock radio, which is a less dramatic achievement but a very considerable one. This is not the work of callow youth. Ric Ocasek was approaching his mid-thirties, while he and Benjamin Orr had already spent years in unsuccessful bands together. Punk and New Wave offered experienced musicians as much of an opportunity as they did spotty teenagers. They allowed people who had learned the old rules to discard the unnecessary ones and become more direct. The Cars sound like a band who have finally discovered what to retain, what to remove and, crucially, how they should look while doing it. Close your eyes and you can see the wraparound sunglasses, spiky hair and black leather jackets. The sound and the image arrived together. The opening run is extraordinarily assured. “Good Times Roll” establishes the method immediately: clipped rhythms, synthesizers sharing equal billing with the guitars, and Ocasek producing the act of singing rather than appearing to experience the song himself. There is always a slightly petulant lip protruding from the vocal. “My Best Friend’s Girl” sounds like a band in love with rock and roll but equally attracted to the detachment of Talking Heads, without any desire to turn the song into an art-school lecture. Then there is “Just What I Needed”, which is simply sublime. Its slightly roughened synthesizer glides into place with portamento before Elliot Easton’s guitar joins it, and the two sounds become inseparable. The harmonies are held back just enough to stop the song blooming into conventional power pop. That restraint makes the excitement feel contained and therefore more potent. I can imagine the chords being transferred to an acoustic guitar, because I am not an imbecile, but I do not really hear it as a song awaiting arrangement. It exists in my head as a fully formed New Wave combo performance. “I’m in Touch with Your World” is where the album becomes properly odd. It limps. It sounds slightly broken. Ocasek declaims from somewhere across the room while the arrangement embraces an angularity that recalls early XTC. It never feels derivative, however. When the chorus briefly hardens, it becomes unmistakably The Cars again. This is anti-rock made by musicians who remain entirely capable of playing rock whenever they choose. “Don’t Cha Stop” demonstrates how neatly The Cars could compress the signifiers of American New Wave into three minutes: clipped rhythm, forward propulsion, wobbly treated guitars and an aloof but declarative lead vocal. I can see American teenagers swivelling to one side, clicking their fingers, swivelling to the other and clicking again, all while attempting to appear as though dancing has occurred accidentally. The Cars were not interested in reinventing the relationship between the song, the band and the audience in the manner of Wire, Gang of Four or Talking Heads. They wanted to get on the radio. They took the textures of New Wave, kept the hooks and made the whole thing acceptable between Foreigner and Fleetwood Mac. That commercial instinct occasionally reveals the limitations of the material. “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” has phased toms that initially threaten to break into “Making Plans for Nigel”, before Easton’s guitar pulls it firmly back towards Cheap Trick and American power rock. The stomp and Roy Thomas Baker’s block harmonies manufacture plenty of excitement, but they disguise a fairly ordinary song. It works best when felt rather than inspected, and at 4:13 it stays a little longer than its ideas warrant. “Bye Bye Love”, also 4:13, earns the same duration more comfortably. Its lyrics are delivered conversationally, with Lou Reed’s deadpan transplanted into immaculate crossover pop. The music possesses the frenzy of American New Wave, while Ocasek responds to emotional calamity with a glorious “Yeah, well, see ya.” This is one of the defining tensions within The Cars: the band is permanently in motion while the singer appears determined not to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing him react. “Moving in Stereo” is the album’s most interesting departure. It is useful to hear it as a Greg Hawkes instrumental decorated by occasional vocals rather than as a conventional Ocasek song. The spacious, atmospheric possibilities opened by Bowie’s Low seem to have been studied and translated into The Cars’ own language. They are not making their own “Warszawa”; they are asking what such a piece might sound like within their vocabulary. The answer retains a rock pulse and pop arranger’s instinct while allowing duration and atmosphere to become the point. Two conspicuous production devices appear. One works beautifully; the other deserves confiscation. Moving Ocasek’s voice across the stereo soundstage because the song is called “Moving in Stereo” is daft literalism. Stop it. Giving the chorus a telephone-like notch filter, however, is inspired. It changes the emotional perspective of the track and makes the vocal feel transmitted from somewhere outside the arrangement. At 4:43, the song never outstays its welcome because it needs the slower tempo and the room to breathe. The closing “All Mixed Up” may be the strangest construction on an already peculiar debut. Benjamin Orr sings with such natural American warmth that I can hear him performing “A Horse with No Name” all day. Underneath him, Hawkes refuses to allow the song to settle into soft rock, filling it with angular “ba-ba-ba-ba” synth patterns before one keyboard sound begins parping like a bloody tuba. Baker then piles Queen-like stacked vocals on top. It feels as though every member of the band asked Ocasek whether they could do something peculiar to his song and he shrugged, said “Yeah, whatever,” and let them get on with it. That generosity is central to the album. Ocasek supplies the songs and the public persona, but this never sounds like a frontman supported by anonymous musicians. Hawkes’ synthesizers frequently act as commentary from just outside the song. Easton plays nothing wildly groundbreaking, but repeatedly supplies exactly the right amount of American guitar muscle. Orr offers a warmer and more inviting alternative to Ocasek, while David Robinson keeps the whole machine taut and propulsive. Baker gives it scale, sheen and startling clarity, occasionally becoming too pleased with his own cleverness but generally understanding exactly what the band requires. The Cars does not alter the grammar of popular music like Bringing It All Back Home, nor does it sound astoundingly different in the manner of Remain in Light. It brings a new voice to American radio by absorbing power pop, art rock and New Wave into an identity so complete that the band seems unmistakable from its first few seconds. It is not earth-shattering or dramatically out of the ordinary. It is just a bloody good album, and bloody good albums are rarer than we like to think.
Old version AC/DC같은 느낌. 마블 영화에 삽입될 것 같은 가벼운 펑크락. 기본기에 충실한 기타리프 옛날느낌… 1번 트랙이랑 8번 트랙이 제일 좋았다~
Sonorités qui font penser à queen peu de diversité entre les morceaux, mais sons intéressants !
1. is the the guitar?? so sick 2. a boogie 3. yess🤸♀️ 4. ? 5. heads bopping 6. hell yeah 🤸♀️ 7. nice 8. so sick with headphones 9. nice ending and is that the saxophone?
I was gonna say this album hits you like a car, but that's just too easy. Seriously though, The Cars debut like they've already arrived. It's like listening to a greatest hits album... that also happens to be a debut. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - Good Times Roll - My Best Friend's Girl - Just What I Needed - You're All I've Got Tonight - Bye Bye Love - Moving in Stereo - All Mixed Up
Just what I needed is a tune
I knew alot of these songs didnt know it was from one album
Tampoco me ha dado para mucho, entiendo que es influyente y es buen disco para haberlo escuchado pero tampoco me he quedado con nada en concreto. La ultima canción está guapa.
Good songs but nothing special (at least for me).
I didn’t realize I knew so many songs by The Cars. It was a fun album.
Good album. I didn't realize that many of the songs on this album are ones I am very familiar with and didn't piece together that it was The Cars.
Let the good time roll...yawn. Repeat it and it may sound better. Nope, it just sounds crap. And don't let me even start on the rest of this weak ass dross. Here she comes again, I fukin doubt it. Wank. Sorry but wtf is this doing on a list that supposedly reflects innovative interesting music that influences and creates new directions. This could not be more basic, generic and utterly boring if it really was trying. They're not in touch with my world. They're just dull as dishwater and that's a compliment.
The Cars are yet another one of those bands in which I rolled, and remarked that I’d heard of them before, couldn’t name any of their songs, but somehow also already had one downloaded as well. Half of the album is on their Top 10, yet the only song I already had downloaded was the albums closet, “All Mixed Up”. And you know what?? It’s still my favorite at the end of the day. Probably because I’m already familiar with it, but I just really like the more somber feel to it. It’s super interesting. The background vocals, the trumpet, the way it slowly fades out. It’s a really good song and I think it deserves recognition. Now let’s talk about some of the other songs on this album. First of all, I’d already heard of the first 3 songs on the album before. Not only are all 3 of them bangers, but I had no idea they were performed by The Cars. I do now though. I was listening to this one all day, and I thoroughly enjoy it. Of the first 3 songs, “Just What I Needed” stands out to me as the best. Noticing a pattern, I did a bit of a deep dive on the album. Most of my favorite songs from this album are sung by Benjamin Orr. Benjamin and Ric Ocasek trade off lead vocalist duties on this album, and in tandem they’re both quite good. That might be a big reason why I think the album is so interesting. It’s always staying true to what the band should sound like, but mixing it up song to song in a way that’s very interesting. Of the 2 singers though, I think Benjamin is my favorite. He has less songs to sing, but even “Moving In Stereo” is interesting enough to write about. It’s got a lot of movie soundtrack qualities to it. It just sounds like something you would hear at the end of a movie, it doesn’t have a ton of vocals, but it’s also very much a “second half of the album” kind of song, if any of that makes sense. I don’t know, I just kind of love it. It stands out to me as the most different song on the album, and it’s very musically interesting. Meanwhile, the only song I didn’t like on this album is “I'm in Touch with Your World”. It just kind of annoyed me, and I didn’t like anything about it besides the guitar playing. I think it’s supposed to be strange, and it definitely is. They can’t all be winners, and that was the only song on the album that I would skip if I heard it again. Luckily, it’s followed up by “Don’t Cha Stop”, which is perhaps the catchiest and ear wormiest song on the album. It’s appropriately repetitive, fun, and makes me want to dance, with an awesome guitar hook to boot. Even the album art is pretty fun and memorable. Man. This is a great album. I almost want to give it a 5. The whole thing together is better than the sum of its parts, but the parts are also just really solid. I’m going to revisit this one in the future. It could end up getting a 5 for sure. For now though, let’s call it a 4.8. Loved this one.
7,5/10 Heeft zeker een aantal goed klinkende bangers maar niet heel veel super speciaal klinkend. Geen nummer die ik nou super slecht vond ofzo.
Arguably their best album, and one of the best classic rock albums, ever. I love love love The Cars.
Such a great album. I didn’t realize all of these classic hits were on one album.
I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. I love late 70s/early 80s New Wave acts like Devo or Japan but this just wasn't it for me. The singles were pretty good and I really liked You're All I've Got Tonight, but past that there isn't a lot I'd come back to too often.
Shame on me! I’ve always enjoyed the cars singles but had never listened to a whole album. Unbeknownst to me, the cars are deliciously weird! Like I’m going to have to spin them for a few days!
Pure pop perfection.
Really phenomenal, energetic, some hits I recognize, but just groovy throughout. Great listen!
I had forgotten how great this album was. So many hits!
nice little groovy album of bangers. short and sweet
This album generated so many more hits than I expected
Its alright
Ja conhecia e gostava do album, mas nao ouvia na íntegra há mais de década. Divertido ouvir de novo, com a cabeça mais madura... ainda soa simples e direto.
Brilliant, pretty much flawless
Didn’t really do much for me
This was released in 1978?? Wow - that's one heck of an achievement, given synth tech was in its infancy at that time I played this a lot during the 80's It's a great album with a bunch of songs that still stand up today I want to go 4.5 because the dud tracks are so bad, but let's instead focus on the superb quality of the awesome sounds on this record
I love the cars I love this album I guess it’s just what I needed after yesterdays???? New Wave rocking kings Best Song: My Best Friends Girl 4.5/5.0
Never really got the Cars always found them a bit boring, this album has done nothing to change that opinion
On today's edition of "So, you want to start a classic rock radio station!" we examine a quintessential masterpiece. Nearly every song on this album is a radio hit and even the ones that aren't are pretty interesting. The synths aren't just there, they dominate, in a good way.
What can I say, this is one of those albums where I said "sweet I love this one" and was thrilled to listen to it again. One of the best of all time for sure
Great album. I had only heard 2 songs from this album before and have never really been a The Cars fan but I was pleasantly surprised with this one.
Gostei, acho que quando eu vi o ano de lançamento 1978 eu criei uma expecativa e as expectativas foram atendidas kkkkkk gostei muito dos arranjos e a mistura de sintetizadores com guitarras e tal funcionou muito pra mim, fiquei interessado em ouvir mais dos caras porque ainda parece um experimento essa mistura toda
Interesting
One of the best debut albums of all-time and The Cars best. One of my first vinyl albums.
This is what’s playing in the beginning of an 80s movie and I love it
You know, I really love Just What I Needed and expected to like the rest of the album but it was just… fine. Season: Early Summer Favorite Song: Just What I Needed
Really good. Some of their classic jams. Such a cool rhythm.
Fantastic.
Conocía a la banda por su tema "Drive", en este álbum me encontré cosas parecidas pero a la vez muy diferentes. Una escucha placentera, una mezcla de rock antiguo y clásico con sonidos galácticos modernos. Dan como resultado un par de temas muy buenos. Se nota además la producción y la cantidad de herramientas utilizadas por lo que le subo un poco también la nota.
Somehow I had hoped for an even better album. Apart from "Just What I Needed", it is "just" a solid effort.
Hits and misses
Great 80’s sound
Not a fan of the band. Had to listen to them too much working retail 20+ years ago. However, can't deny how many hits they had on this album.
Never heard of this band before. But I did enjoy the album. pretty much 35 minutes of proper classic rock and doesn't go all soft at any point. But it does partially delve into a little bit of post punk at times.
Every single song on this album sounds like it could be on a mainstream radio station. Obviously, this album has three very popular Hit songs, as well as some more filler. It's a solid Ford Truck. Favorite Track: "Good Times Roll".
Not something I would gravitate towards or will probably ever listen to again. It wasn't bad but there's nothing memorable about it and it doesn't leave me wanting more.
Pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this album. Sure there were some misses, but it's aged amazingly well for being 50 years old and even sounds ahead of its time at times. A number of hits to start out the album, and melodic overall
maybe, I'm too new gen but to me it seemed overall mid.
just banger after banger tbh; first three and last three songs go insanely hard - however, if i had a nickel every time i heard a song with the phrase 'good times roll' in the title i would have uh three nickels so far. thin ice. still, this was incredible - might have to increase rating to a five. lowkey torn for favourites 1. All Mixed Up 2. My Best Friend's Girl 3. Bye Bye Love
Good harmless fun
DUNG GER DUN… YOU GAVE ME JUST WHAT I NEEDED (just what i needed…)
I found this to be like status quo bland name bland songs bland album! Its brilliant if you like diluted pop/rock music. Its not all bad as I did enjoy some of the guitar playing in parts, but apart from that I dont need to play it again.
Heard of The Cars before but never listened to em Nice pop songs. Enjoyable. Queen esque backing vocals Heard 'Just what I needed' before, good song. 9 songs, in and out, leaves you with a good taste of Cars in your mouth. Not that ive been licking Car bonnets. Though im not ruling it out. 3.5
It's fun, but it hasn't aged all that well. Not like it's bad, but I can't imagine anyone discovering this in 2026 and thinking "Wow I really like this! From now on I am going to listen to the Cars." It's like white bread. Favourite: Just What I Needed Feels like the very definition of a 6/10.
A very standard but enjoyable pop album from the late 70s. Mixing was done well and the music was pretty neat.
Solid album. Sounds more 80s than 70s to me
molto bellino
Started off strong and stood steady through the rest of the album. A good listen worth coming back to.
Brilliant album and fun listen
Much more melodic/harmonic than rock normally is. Reminded me of Don’t Bring Me Down by ELO
Never even heard of the band, but I love this decade so bring it on! #1: good times roll, great opening, like the guitar riffs #2: a little more country, less rock, but I am enjoying it. The ending is a bit repetitive, though #3: just what I needed, catchy #4: I'm in touch with your world, I like the random samples going on in here, reminds me a little bit of crack cloud #5: don't cha stop, I really like this one, the guitar riffs, the lyrics, the overall classic rock nostalgia #6: you're all I've got tonight, what a banger #7: bye bye love, ironically I had to leave the album for a bit during this song to go walk the dog #8: moving in stereo, another good song, nothing special though #9: all mixed up, the backing vocals really add to this song What a wonderful debut album, why didn't I hear it sooner? It feels very true to the era of that time. It is also a great album to study to! genre: new wave, power pop, and proto-synth-pop
Well, could be worse
shit slaps
groovyy LOVE ALL MIXED UP
Close to fifty years on I’m fully prepared to call this the greatest pop record of the 70s—yes, it’s better than Rumours—and I’m nearly prepared to call it the greatest non-Beatles pop record of all time. It’s almost unsettling how flawless this record is: the sound, which dozens of other groups (and Ric Ocasek himself as a producer) spent the rest of their lives trying to reproduce and failing, and the songs, which are so good that six out of nine of them became colossal hits—and one of the remaining three (“All Mixed Up”) is even better than those. I’m in awe. We’re not worthy, etc. Best track: “All Mixed Up”
great album, short sweet enjoyable just what i needed and im in touch with your world highlights
I remember listening to this album when I was younger. I have liked these songs ever since
So I’ve heard every song on this album before, but I’ve never heard of The Cars. Which is insane, because every song here is so good??
This one's fun. Power pop is a genre that I feel like I haven't gotten a ton of for this album project. Maybe if the Weezer Blue Album was on here I would've been able to talk about it more passionately. Oh well. I guess we'll have to settle for an album from the band led by the blue album's producer. Okay, obviously Ric Ocasek and the Cars have a very strong legacy in their own right, with plenty of beloved hits to their name, a number of which appear on this shockingly fleshed-out debut album of theirs. I mean, you've got "Good Times Roll," "My Best Friend's Girl," and "Just What I Needed" right at the top of the album! That's a killer three-track run if I've ever heard one! The rest of the album doesn't quite match that level of consistency, but it's still a very strong debut all throughout. The energy behind the music is great and the new-wave sound still holds up very well to this day. Both Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr have solid singing voices. The blend of guitars and synths makes for an engaging album listen with no room to bore you. This album is rather tight in its pacing, which I really appreciate. This is a really good debut album. It's very hard for bands to leave a mark on music history with just their debut, but I think the Cars did that just fine. Good album. 4/5.
Greatest studio album that the band ever produced. Not the best band in concert. They were a band that was meant to be Iistened to on the crisp sound of vinyl.
It’s definitely not bad; however, there’s a certain lethargy about the entire album that really doesn’t make me want to give it any more than a 3/5. It’s like you’ve got the right piece of equipment for the job, but you didn’t give it enough power, so it’s no good.
I had no clue how many bangers they put on one album and a debut. Bonus points for a tight 35 minutes. I am buying the vinyl of this.
Fabulous debut LP. Own It.
Heard many times before; 4; Every track on here is a lot of fun and feels like a classic song. I really enjoy the punchy and relatively sparse sound as well as the fun guitar solos and licks interspersed throughout. Also really enjoy how they make judicious use of synthesizers. They sound sleek and buzzy without sounding corny or overdone. I think it has something to do with how their use compliments the rest of the instruments - they come and go in short interesting bursts. Favorite Track: Just What I Needed
Cool and groovy.
i like it, pretty vibey. i like "bye bye love", "you're all ive got tonight", and "just what i needed".
Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:✔️
Classic album full of hits. Crazy how short it is.
not too bad but i don’t want these old ahh songs bro
classic nu wave heck yes
Not a huge fan of the esoteric singing but there are some good songs. I like Moving in Stereo the most
100% deserves a 5/5! This is a gem! Just What I Needed My Best Friend's Girl You're All I've Got Tonight Bye Bye Love Moving in Stereo Good Times Roll All Mixed Up I'm in Touch with Your World Don't Cha Stop
A couple bangers but the rest is just ok. My best friends girl and just what I needed
classic rock