Reviews (page 3 of 15)
Brum brum
Begynner å mistenke at jeg egentlig gir litt faen i power pop. Men på en annen side, desto mer de beveger seg inn i new wave traktene til DEVO og Talking Heads, jo mer bikker det over i irriterende. Kan derfor tenkes at problemet ligger i the Cars og ikke i sjanger. Likte Moving in Stereo.
Sterk start og slutt, men et søkk i midten. Ellers sterk powerpop / new wave og det er jo aldri feil
I enjoyed most everything The Cars did on this album, but none of it really blew me away. Every song here is a very well crafted pop song, and they were all very fun to listen, but none of them really grabbed me beyond that. The production is the best part, with the crisp, clear tones of the music. adding a lot of color and flavor. I also liked the dramatic vocals from Ric Ocasek, and the uniformly great guitar and synth work. I'm not quite sure what it is that prevents me from fully loving this, but I think there just wasn't much that grabbed me emotionally. Really enjoyable overall, but I doubt it will ever be an all time favorite for me.
Vist juba kuulasin seda albumit, aga ei jäänud midagi kõrva kriipima või üldse heas mõttes meelde. Kohati puhas rock, kohati veider kõla. 2.8/5
Nice late 70's rock to jam to
Nothing really sticks out to me in this album, it was more so just like mid filler background noise to me, just might not be my cup of tea though
So much fun! Honestly a great way to start a Monday after a long weekend.
Pretty good album, not really my taste but totally listenable. I feel like I've heard 90% of the songs on the album and even the songs I hadn't heard were pretty good. I'd say it's just a solid rock album.
Поначалу показалось что чето очень интересное, но по факту довольно стандартная нью-вейвовая попса из 80-х. Безусловно, это прикольно и есть пара клевых треков, но так, в целом, довольно скучно и сильно проигрывает мастодонтам жанра. В общем, неплохой проходняк.
It's a good album. Though, I'm never in love with it. Full of songs that are perfect on that playlist you have that plays in the background or in your ear as you're doing something else.
Catchy rock, kind of borders on pop to me. Some classics but all great energy
Não é memorável, não acredito que vou voltar muito a ele
Super fun album. It didn’t blow me away but I’m guessing it’s ahead of its time. Anyways, really fun melodies, short and energetic and playful, so yeah no bad things about this album. Favourite songs: Just What I Need, Moving in Stereo
An album that just about everyone likes and is still somehow underrated. Not one bad song here - really, not even one "meh" song - and two or three all-timers.
Another one of those albums where I’ve caught myself saying “I forgot they sang this”. Such a classic.
Great choice for the first song, I'm immediately curious, when I'm thinking whether I like it or not it proves me different. Overall a good album, the last song makes you feel like you saying goodbye to a loved one. But definitely the first song is the best.
1. Good Times Roll - not much to say on this one really. Catchy ig 2. My Best Friend's Girl - its cool. Seems like an album to listen to when its sunny outside so far 3. Just What I Needed - my favorite so far. I like the riff and the chorus 4.I'm in Touch with Your World - weird and colorful but very enjoyable. The random noises paired with strange nonsensical lyrics makes it a fun listen - tickles my brain in a way 5. Don't Cha Stop - I can definitely see how these guys inspired a lot of alt rock bands. This kind of quirky sound is in a lot of modern bands that I listen to. - drum segment on the second chorus is very cool 6. You're All I've Got Tonight - nothing that really stands out about this one 7. Bye Bye Love - nice-sounding instrumentals - im coming to appreciate the little ad-libs and stuff the lead singer does sometimes 8. Moving In Stereo - interesting one. Infers that a lot of the time we might perceive life to be different just because of the way we feel. - cool solo 9. All Mixed Up - gooooooood
I’m getting the vibes of what was the beginning of the classic 80’s sound. I’d heard Just What I Needed before, I just didn’t know it. Stopped at I’m in Touch with Your World. I’ll finish it, I’m just really curious to see what the next album is.
Är la okeeej
The Breakfast Club gets the girl, picks her up at 7, and strands her at a classy gas station bathroom.
This was a good album. I should listen to more by these guys. Definitely britpop, so I'll probably struggle to get into it like I did in Jr High and High school, but it's a little heavier than other stuff, so you never know.
Didn’t know it. Ok album rock with some synths which would become more apparent when the 80s started
What a great album. I'm 98 percent sure we had this cd at my parents house so this album it's possible I've heard before. 5 of the 9 songs are what I would consider classics and at 35 minutes this album packs a tremendous bang for your time buck. For a 1978 album this sure sounds 80s to me but I know there are some 1998 songs that sound so early 2000s so I think it makes sense lol
Ric Ocasek's got the hooks. Admirable but not the first thing I'm pulling from the shelf, or the 1,000th.
It was alright. Nothing outstanding, nothing offensive to the ears.
The sounds were amazing.
Real good fun
Perfectly fine but inconsequential music. Another one where MUST listen to is a bit of a joke.
I think I've heard most of these too many times. Generic 80s pop. Safe, nothing crazy.
I feel like this album brings up all the nostalgic triggers for me, sailing down the highway in the backseat of my dad's Bronco with the windows rolled down and cigarette smoke steadily wafting back to me. Somehow that's a positive, because I think of the music fondly. The sound feels unique to me, even if it didn't stand out song to song, and I'd enjoy listening again.
Yeah it's got a lot of hits and the album put The Cars on the map but holy crap I have PTSD from the endless radio play they got back in the day. They deserve a high rating but I'm ready to trade in this ride.
A bit too zany 70/80's for me. (Copied from my other group.)
So many hits on one album. And a debut album to boot. Upbeat, catchy, easy to sing along to. This album is just a lot of fun.
Brilliant. Will review properly later.
Not a fan of new wave, given the posturing and same dull baritone vocal style of every single singer. Here is another example. It's not bad, but it's still new wave and has all the bollocks that goes with it. Hell, the second song even has hand claps, which are to music what Woman's Rights are to Conservatives. I didn't know a single song from this, even though I was aware of the band. There's only three songs here I'd entertain the thought of hearing again. Their best ones seem to be those which have a darker edge, but they don't fully commit to that sound. That cover art is horrific.
It’s alright not the best definitely didn’t grab me
This album is full of so many classic hits. I've never listened to this album before, and there were only a couple songs I didn't know, because more than half the songs on the album were hit songs. Pretty impressive for a debut album. You aren't going to find any deep meaning in the songs or something out of the ordinary, but you'll find just good solid songs. Short and sweet and full of songs I could sing along to. My kind of album!
5/5
Almost sounds like talking heads which I will not complain about
It's good I don't see myself listening to it though. I can see these songs being in a 80s movie.
i have never heard of the cars ever this is so 80s breakfast club core im finallyyyy back (june 25, whoops) the first few songs were really good up until around Im in touhc with your world. I think i got sick of the sterreotypical 80s rock music movie soun. its good but i wouldnt put it on or buy it or anything
An easy listen. Nice for chilling in summer.
8/10 très bon
2/10 All of the songs sounds the same Sounds nice until the singing starts Expected more
Yeah :)
I had no expectations for this album, turns out I knew a lot of the songs already. It is new wave but it is grounded by good guitar work and well written songs. Good stuff
Great album with a number of classic rock staples I’ve heard multiple times
Let there be new wave! Pop! And it was. Thank you synthesizers for making a broader landscape of sound for artists to be awesome in.
Very much the template for New Wave. Old dudes hacking at it since the Beatles were still playing live and finally hitting paydirt with new haircuts, skinny ties and a couple of hits in My Best Friend's Girl (a bit annoying) and Just What I Needed (genuinely great). The rest of it is mostly filler. Some of it really grates for me where you can hear them stretching for late 70s relevance by going all angular. I quite like All Mixed Up because it reminds of Astronomy by Blue Öyster Cult but just not as good.
I know these ones
Anthem to happiness
Slow start but quite a few bangers overall, ended strong. Enjoyed this more than I expected.
Elsker album coveret😛 minder lidt om Pearl og Regina George. “My best friend’s girl” Crazy at sin bedste ven kommer sammen med sin egen ex💔 nok ikke et album jeg ville lytte til personligt. Meget grease agtig med bil temaet og fordi denne er fra halvfjerdserne og er sammen år som grease bliver udgivet (1978) kan godt lide tidspunkter i “bye bye love” Jeg føler lidt at sangeren er lidt inspireret af Robert smith. Ikke lige min type af albums
This quirky Cars debut is a really enjoyable listen. There's a healthy mix of punk and new wave with nods to the past influences but also an eye and ear to creating something new. There are Queen-esque choral elements, unpredictable key changes and experimental percussion to always keep the album interesting, and at just over half an hour you're actually left wanting more, not praying for the end. Best Friends Girl was the only previously heard song, but there are better songs. Good Times Roll is a great opener, Just What I Needed and You're All I've Got Tonight are probably my favourites today, but tomorrow it might be Moving In Stereo and I'm In Touch With Your World. I can't spot a weak track, and while it's difficult to point to a truly standout, great song like they had years later with Drive, this is a consistently good album creeping into the 5 star group, maybe because of the sheer unexpectedness of it.
TRACK LIST #1: Good Times Roll #2: My Best Friend’s Girl #3: Just What I Needed #4: I’m in Touch with Your World #5: Don’t Cha Stop #6: You’re All I’ve Got Tonight ⭐️ #7: Bye Bye Love ⭐️ #8: Moving in Stereo ⭐️ #9: All Mixed Up ⭐️ Day 1 of starting this journey and this was a good album to kick things off. I enjoyed the second half of the album way more and the track run from “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” to “All Mixed Up” was amazing. I can definitely see myself listening to these tracks often.
I’ve heard these songs a ton of times but never the entire album. What a great record! Surprisingly good guitar tone and riffs, along with all those perfect synth lines. 4.2/5.0
And that was The Cars by The Cars!
wow Avant garde
Totally immemorable. No idea how so many of these albums make the list.
Good music I recommend. All songs are very similar tho.
I liked this.
Hassuttelua ja humputtelua jeesjees ;P ja autot
Svängig skön lätt musik att lyssna på. Lite tonårigt kanske.
4.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-cars/the-cars/ Thank god, I thought the challenge was starting to throw me in a hellhole of jazz and blues records, but then it lifts me out with this fantastic new wave album! I guess I knew Just What I Needed from before (not sure from what) and I quite like that song. The rest of the album is also amazing. Don't know how I never got to this before, as this is right up my alley with the synthy sound.
When I see the Cars I drive straight to 5 stars.
I knew a lot of these songs but didn’t know they were all from the same band. This was fun.
Very typical 1970-1980s sound to it super short and fun listen only negative thing is I wish it was longer, strong 3/5
What's to say about this band that hasn't already been said? Good pop/rock/power pop. I was surprised at how stacks this first album actually was... I guess I assumed all these hits were scattered across a few albums, but no here they all are. I still can't tell the two singers apart, which at that point, maybe just have Ric sing 'em all? Anyway, this was fun.
Really fun!
idk not really my vibe
This album was so catchy and has radio hits I recognize. Surprisingly, the classic rock feel and the synths go well together. I liked this one a lot, even though it's not my normal music taste.
Feels pretty much like transition from rock to pop-rock or something, pretty good
En låt som levra, resten fillers
Not bad. The hits are obviously great, but the rest of album is solid too. 3.5⭐️
All of the hits hold up all of these years later...just doesn't have a ton of replay-ability for me to make it a 5.
Hard to believe this record came out in 1978. I think their sound was ahead of their time. I played the hell out of this growing up, and I feel like this inspired some other artists.
Solid debut album, chock a block full of hits of course. I found some of the lyrics kind of odd (let them brush your rock n roll hair?) (so bleed me) and yet the hits on here are undeniable. I ask myself "Do I want or need this in my vinyl collection?" and the answer is probably no unless I find it for $5 at a used record store. I would't go out of my way to spin this. That said, Moving in Stereo is pretty great. It's obviously a big piece of late 70s FM radio but for me it's a 4.
Feel like I would need to give this a few more listens than I already have to fully take it in, but regardless it's good power-poppy new wave. 8/10.
8.5/10 A solid new wave album that uses synths really well. Awesome vocals too.
Poop
The fact I’ve heard all these means they’re classics 100 emoji
Solid album, the cover is great
Good Times Roll, Just What I Needed, and Bye Bye Love are songs I've loved for a long time (thank you dad for the Classic Rock education). I was actually so hype to see this album as the next pick. The songs on this stay *chefs kiss* so good, and unironically are the perfect driving songs ( I expect nothing less from a band called The Cars).
I think my favorite was moving in stereo
escucharlo se siente como ver o estar en una romcom de los 2000 (la primera canción perfectamente podría ser la escena final+créditos)
Great album
The first listen seemed to pass me by. However, upon revisiting I found a number of bops on this album. Some decent early listening in contrast to some of the earlier 70s rock that we’ve had recently.
Decent pop rock. That noodly guitar on Best Friends Girl is great.
Starts out banging the hits, then fizzles like a mid life loser's sex life. Disappointment
if we wanna talk about really influential rock groups? not even a specific genre, just a rock band that really influenced the entire rock sphere? i think i'd bring up the cars. this right here is their debut. a very strong debut for sure. this is some real infectious pop rock music here. ahead-of-its-time is a common descriptor a lot of listeners say this record is like, and i agree! this could pass for something recorded ten or twenty years later. it's that level of AOR classic poppy rock music that could easily blast on any radio station, past or present and you'd enjoy yourself. these guys kinda put the "power" in power pop. short runtime and zero skips here. also my favorite track makes me think of big hot beautiful bouncing boobies. BOOBIES!!
Really good album, haven't really heard much by The Cars except Just What I Needed (banger) but this album impressed me. Each song offers something a little different and unique, enough to keep you entertained for the duration. 3.5/5
Banger after banger, kind of an insane debut album
Even the album opener is a banger. Good Times Roll gives me "Good Day Sunshine" vibes by the Beatles. The vocal harmonies and delivery in general give me a mixture of Queen and The Beatles at times, tastefully done and are incredibly pleasing to the ears, quite catchy as well. The overall sound of the album is quite similar to the stable rock sound of the 80s, if you're a sucker for new wave/80s synthpop-rock sound like me, then this album is an absolute delight to listen from start to finish. One of the best debut albums of all time; you wouldn't take it for one in the first place. It's packed with songs that are hit after hit, basically. Favorites: Good Times Roll, Just What I Needed, I'm In Touch With Your World, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, Moving In Stereo Skips: --
The first three songs on this album made me question why I ever gave another album a five. Those songs are transcendentally wonderful. The rest of the songs are strong enough to merit the album a five. But man, those first three.
Good fun album.
Honestly plays like a greatest hits album. I wasn’t really around in the 80’s but this music is what I think of when I think of the 80’s… Overall great listen
This was a fun album but it was the guitar solos that really got me! A great surprise on what I thought wpuld be more poppy than rocky
8.5/10
Very very good. I'm 99% sure that this album was a direct influence to other bands that I like.
The Cars are kinda like Roxy Music for Americans. Biased coming in to this record because I already like Good Times Roll, Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed and Moving in Stereo. I like how they use more guitars than synths so it makes the synth bits sound extra special. I'm in Touch with Your World is a kinda deliciously weird song. I liked All Mixed Up, It's a good ending song.
Just some classic rock. I won't remember this much I think. Favorite Songs: Just What I Needed
I didn't know that these songs were by The Cars. I like them, but I am not a fan of this album.
A few goodies and a few mehs. 2.5
I haven’t even listened yet and the whole album is playing in my head. How was this made in ‘78?! Banger after banger and sweet guitar runs!
Not a single miss on this album, just a bunch of perfect pop songs.
Its good ,not great Defo need a relisten
This album has one banger after another. Every song writer should take a page Okasek’s book
not a fan of this panning. i love guitar that only lives in my right ear. electronic is always nice. effects are cool but the lyrics are kinda nothing, which is a shame because i do like the vocal affectation. i can definitely see the fundamentals of rock here. i like the sound best when theyre digging into that minor pop harmony. more pop rock / alt pop than anything else. hang on this good song was ruined by shitty drums just now STOP HITTING THE 1 AND 3 SNARE YOU PSYCHOPATH okay they are having fun with sfx. respect. moving in stereo is pretty goofy and awesome. if i could extract that song from this album and make a new album based on that song it would be a good album. as is, its just fine. i also like all mixed up, prog rock is the best rock and this evokes that. loses points in the first half but gets em back in the second. are those zun trumpets highlights: im in touch with your world, moving in stereo, all mixed up
I always thought the woman on the cover looked like Rachel McAdams. I also always used to think this was just another straightforward rock album, but it gets weird, which I appreciate. Not my favorite but still an interesting listen.
Fun, no complaints.
The closing song All Mixed Up might be one of the best finds on this list. This album is a joy. Ive breezed through it 5 times before 9am Really good. Its so close to a 5
Rating:★★★★ Really good! Classic songs I remember listening to when my dad played them. Still as good as I remember!
Best debut album ever? Banger after banger. 5/5
Holy shit, how can these all be on one album and it not be a greatest hits compilation? Unlike a lot of other music from this timeframe it doesn't seem dated. Thank you, I needed this today.
I have this and have always felt (backed up on listening again today) that the album started strong, weakened, then became bland. 1. Just what I needed 2. Good Times Roll 3. My Best Friends Girl
I've never engaged with The Cars deeper cuts. I certainly know the hits and a few other tracks here and there. This self-titled is an impressive debut record that clearly influenced a lot of bands after. 1978 wasn't exactly the crest of the New Wave but the music has that early 80s 'sound' and does it well. It's mostly fun, pop-rock with a masterful patina of synth and other New Wave-y sounds. It was good, overall. Didn't strike me as great (although the hits are REALLY good). It was a perfect companion to the start of a long drive, today. For now, it is a (4/5) from me, but I could see growing to love it more.
One of my absolute favorite bands of the 80s, this one got a 7/5 from me before I even pulled the vinyl out of its jacket. Ric, Ben and the boys blend a perfect balance of pop, rock, and punk into a "new wave" with some of the catchiest riffs, drivingest bass lines, and tropiest lyrics of their (or any other) time. Every track here is an absolute banger. As debut albums go, it's hard to think of one that had wider appeal or more radio play than this one, with a sound that shared influences with and yet set them apart from most of their contemporaries. They're a band that hit the ground running and stayed at speed for the long haul, as a strong case can be made that this isn't even their best work. Rounding down to a 5 because I have to.
Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 5 = 4.8 rounded up to 5 "Let the good times roll/ Let 'em roll" My favorite debut album by an American band. Which is also one of my favorite bands of all time. Been looking forward to this one, but didn't think we'd see it so early in the list. A shame that they only have the one entry as I think they've got an almost spotless run. Almost ( "Heartbeat City" is their last album, and you can't convince me otherwise.) But I can see it, with it being a British based thing, not sure they made much of a splash over there. This is also one of the few albums I remember liking just as much since childhood as I do now. It never gets old, it never gets boring, and I don't think it ever will. THE TRACKS "Good Times Roll" - I think I struggle the most with the stuff I really like. I end up resorting to gushing about how great the melodies and how loaded with hooks they are. Let's just start with a baseline here that ALL of these are chock full of that stuff. This one starts off with the iconic, simple as can be riff, develops into a full bodied groove, and spikes with a chorus that's capped by some Queen-ish harmonies. We get here an encapsulation of the band's appeal to me - solidly rock n roll, with just a dash of throwback energy ( see if you can spot the doo wop influences later on) but the other foot firmly in modernity with synths, and a clean ( but not cold) production quality. "My Best Friend's Girl" - The throwback vibes here are strong. We get the 50s/ 60s teen troubles lyrical content, and the Buddy Holly guitar lines , the handclaps, and the old school background vocals right alongside the modern instrumentation. Can a song be both ironically detached and fully sincere at the same time? This is a good argument for yes i think. "Just What I Needed" - This is in the running for my favorite Cars track and easily makes my top 10 songs of all time. Am I easily impressed? Maybe, but how many songs from this era hold up so well to modern ears. That synth line is pure gold. A note hear about Ocasek and Orr. UP until well into my twenties I just assumed Ocasek sang lead on all the tracks. I think this was reinforced by the few music videos that got big play maybe all seemed to only be Ocasek led ones. And they sound so much alike. To me at least. But yeah, when I found out this was not Ocasek I was momentarily confused. "I'm in Touch with Your World" - By far the weirdest track on the album, and if you only heard this one you'd be forgiven for lumping them in with acts more like Devo. The goofy ass sound effects in this are anything but serious, but they aren't treated as such. It's all played straight, and works like a charm because of it I think. "Don't Cha Stop" - Propulsive and as balls out rocking as the band manages to get. The galloping drums in the chorus are the key here, but the guitar work from Elliot Easton are nothing to scoff at. Side two "You're All I've Got Tonight" - Guitar work on par with the last track, but this one is a step above, with my favorite drumming and I think the best synth work on any track aside from "Just What I Needed". Dirty, playful, and a more than a little desperate. "Bye Bye Love" - With a title blatently stolen from the Everly Brothers you might expect this to be a sweeter, more melancholic number. Instead what we get is boundless energy rolled up into an upbeat kiss-off when the chorus kicks in. "Moving in Stereo" - The darkest track on the album, both instrumentally with the plodding beat and the downbeat synth, and with the vocals, as ambiguous as they are. I think for whole generation this one is tied to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but I bever saw that movie til much later. For me this is all brooding and introspection ( but not too much). Not so much slow motion swimming pool scenes. "All Mixed Up" - Confusion and sadness where the last track was all brooding. Great harmonies on this one, and a very solid if downbeat ender for an album otherwise full of fun and energy. We won't being seeing any more of these guys on the list, but I highly encourage you to pick right up with Candy-O after this. It honestly feels like these two could be a double album with how similar the vibes ad tone are. They are so fully-formed here that there's not even a noticeable climb in quality. Just more bangers one after the other. On and on until the end of Heartbeat City. Are there less and less radio hits as you get there? Sure, but ymmv. And "Door Door" is... rough. Just ignore that one though. HIGHLIGHTS - Every single track MIDLIGHTS - LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS These guys bridge all the eras up to that point for me. You've got elements of doo-wop, Buddy Holly style guitar lines and melodies, 60s R&B girl group harmonies, bubblegum pop hooks abound, top of the line 70s production values, and a look towards the next few years even with their incorporation of synths. And they never let those synths overtake them, managing to straddle the decades almost all the way to the end. That last album gives in a bit to the production excesses of the era, but we're not here to discuss "Door to Door". These guys get everything right on this one, and cement themselves as one of the unsung heroes of the era. They did fine for themselves. I'm sure Ocasek is not hurting for money at least. But they also existed in the era of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Van Halen, U2, the Police, and other much flashier and MTV-ready acts, and I think they get a little bit lost in the shuffle because of that. I don't think I've mentioned the term "New Wave" once in this review. Not because I rankle at it though. I think nowadays it's become unfashionable to use that one in particular, but to even try and classify stuff at all. I myself love a good classification system, and I rely quite heavily on curation. Who has the time to investigate everything for the good stuff? Labels like "New Wave" are just the highest level of curation in my opinion. The heavy metal family trees are the best, the more unviewable they are on a full screen the better. But The Cars are the epitome of a New Wave band to me. They are thoroughly modern, even forward looking ( look at all the stuff Ocasek and team influenced or had a hand in producing - their influence is ALL over Weezer's first for example) but they unembarrassedly looked backwards for inspiration and incorporated it, not entirely without irony, to court the mainstream. I'll compare them to the Ramones once again here - those guys CRAVED mainstream success. All they wanted was a giant record deal and mass adoration. I'd also call the Ramones power pop, just like the Cars. I love a lot of punk bands, but I often think they misinterpreted some of the lessons imparted by those guys. Anyways... I think what I love so much about this album is that it pushes all of my musical buttons. They are a melody-first band who are able to still maintain a bit of an edge. They don't ever get too full of themselves, and incorporate just enough humor and earnestness to avoid a lick of pretentiousness. There are no 4 minute guitar solos or weird experimental throwaway tracks. If I knock these guys for anything it would be a lack of emotionality in the vocals. But this is more than covered for in the instrumentation. This is good times and hummable tunes. Nothing too deep. On a Cars album you don't have to worry too much about filler. They are on par with the Ramones in their ability to pour the sweetest of bubblegum pop melodies into the harder mold of rock n roll, and they don't seem like they ever courted trends too much. There are bands I like more, and there are bands with a higher output of hits - but few I can think of who were as CONSISTENTLY top tier as these guys. They put down Zeppelin numbers in that respect. Another top 10 album. Two in a row! Let's see if we can keep the streak alive. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - No skips! FURTHER LISTENING - Cool for Cats by Squeeze - Pretenders by Pretenders - "Get the Knack" by The Knack - New Clear Days by The Vapors - "In Heat" by The Romantics - Back on the Streets by Donnie Iris - "Look Sharp!" by Joe Jackson - Marshall Crenshaw by Marshall Crenshaw - Vacation by the Go-Go's - The Blue Album by Weezer - Return of the Rentals by The Rentals
Listening to this album today made me realize that I know absolutely nothing about The Cars. They are one of those big early 1980s acts that didn’t extend into the 1990s enough for me to take notice. This is a new listen and I really enjoyed this album. Wish I could’ve spent more time pondering it today but it’s been a busy week. It’s got enough straightforward rock in its DNA to keep my attention. Perhaps the 1978 year helped restrain some of the more arty and synthier directions you could feel the band itching to go with during certain tracks. A successful debut that makes me curious enough to see what else The Cars did. Track Highlights Good Times Roll Just What I Needed You're All I've Got Tonight. Moving in Stereo
Nice american New wave one of the top of the 80s
didn't satisfy me melodically
Excellent album, Good Times Roll, Don't Cha Stop and You're All I've Got Tonight were sooo good.
In the late '70s, when punk rock was being actively made and listened to on both sides of the Atlantic, The Cars... Well, technically they were making punk rock, too, but an intellectual kind (intellectual punk rock, as we know, would later be called new wave). I'd describe their sound as "Roy Orbison playing The Clash." There's a huge mix of layers and genres: classic rock from the early '70s, '60s vocal harmonies, blues motifs, avant-garde electronics, and, of course, synthesizers that sound very cheerful yet unobtrusive. Plus, two lead vocalists — a classic move of the past, but forgotten by the time the album was released. The Cars would later realize that the possibilities of electronic keyboards were limitless, and guitars could be relegated to a more secluded place. So their remaining albums, while occasionally more hit-making, were rather banal and drowned in a sea of synth-pop. But the first one was magnificent.
Straight heat
Nicht sonderlich interessant
Many hits of course but some of the mixing and effects don't hold up well to me
A perfect album to celebrate # 500 with. After the wastelands of Punk Rock receded we welcomed a new dawn that was called “New Wave” and it was gloriously upbeat and snappy. Feel good music for feel good times of the late 70s and 80s. High School fever dreams.
Oh wow, dit had ik niet verwacht. Een soort Queen, maar dan wat meer new wave, en daarnaast wat beter in albums maken.
I was surprised I enjoyed this one as much as I did. Never would have said I was a big fan of the Cars even as I liked some of their songs. I thought this whole thing was quite strong and sounded very well for a debut. Was considering giving it a 5 but gonna settle for a 4 for now.
Classic songs on a classic album
Clasico
I thought this would be awful, but it wasn't too bad at all. It even almost scraped four stars, but it's a solid three.
When i listened to the songs but before I read about the band I would have guessed they has some English roots (despite the dialect) since this kind of music is something I really associate with early English rock. Its kind of slow in a way that I don't really like. Other than that I like the album though. Some catchy songs and some that I don't remember at all. A middle of the road album as a whole.
Quite pleasant rock - keyboard stuff
Já tinha ouvido o Heartbeat City (que eu adoro) mas esse não. Certamente vou gostar também. Dito e feito!! Amo essa vibe dançante e gostosa e energética do pop rock glam anos 80 que eles trazem
Ridiculously good album front to back
nice
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Good Times Roll, Just What I Need Yea, okay, so this is one of those bands where I have heard several of the songs, and finally get to put a name to a face, as it were. The Cars also further illustrate my complex relationship with the New Wave genre. This album is pretty light on the 80s synth, and leans more into the post-punk-y, rock-oriented, Talking Heads style approach, which I am generally more on board with. Overall, this is middle of the road for me.
Tottaly agree with the top review but "Just what I needed" is a good enough song to make it atleast a bit special. Its a fun listen but its really abouth it. All the synths and weird effect are kinda dated.
a fantastic album, really good catchy songs, love the vibe
Good Times Roll- a bit repetitive but still a good song,8.5/10 My Best Friend’s Girl- nice intro,nice song all around,nice guitar and lyrics,8.7/10,* Just what I needed- nice song,nice but short guitar solo,nice vocals,9/10,* I’n In Touch with Your World- nice and intresting percussion,nice guitar,8.7/10,* Don’t Cha stop- nice guitar,ncie solo,shocked to see it one of the less popular tracks,9/10,* You are all I got tonight- nice drums,nice solo,nice synth,9/10,* Bye Bye Love- nice short synth solo,also a pretty good guitar solo,nice piano and guitar,9.2/10,* Moving in stereo- nice song,nice synth,8.7/10 All mixed up- vocals are so nice,nice sax solo in the end,9.2/10,* Album rating: 9.1/10
Would I listen again: yes This album is a lot of fun and I was bopping along happily. I thought it sounded more 80s than 70s. Thought the guitar riffs and lines were great
Solid album. A couple of fabulous songs. 3.5
pas mal de sons goofy mais l'ensembe est très sympa. Les guitares sont coooools. J'arrive pas à trouver de son qui se démarque et que je surkiffe mais l'album au complet a une super vibe
Love the first three songs, after that it gets a bit stale, some songs are still standout, but rest aren't that intersting to listen too, and too eighties for me (even tho its not from then). 1. My Best Friend's Girl 2. Just What I Needed 3. Good Times Roll
Something new and it just clicked with me - both lyrically and musically it’s very good!
I love the cars i dont need to justify it
Bra! Velar lite mellan en 3 eller 4 i betyg. Jag gillar albumet men det finns lite magplask.
The production and songs are super slick and catchy but the overall weirdness of the whole record makes me think that it's punkier than anyone notices on the first listen.
This album was just what I needed.
Where chugging, palm-muted guitar pop meets melodic new wave synths and dry 70s production. Done with a sense of humour, but ultimately fairly dull.
Not my favorite, but decent pop rock. Pretty impressive for a debut album to have generated so many hits.
i can appreciate that this is early new wave but what i can not appreciate is how every track on this album is dripping with misogyny. it's just exhausting. the music itself alternates between fun early synth stuff and rather dull rock, but it's simply impossible to appreciate anything when every word sung is about how women aren't people. give me a god damn break.
So negative out of the way first: This album has a real problem with the way it treats women. There's definitely a fair amount of objectification here exemplified by songs like "Best friends girl" and "Just what I needed" (seriously the "I needed someone to feed/bleed" lines are ick) which made me cringe a fair bit as I went through. It really distracts from the good which is... Well most of the music itself. I suprisingly like the singing and the tunes themselves are pretty 70s but really work. It's just that the lyrics feel... Antiquated. It's one song about Women after another and it is all very 70s-edgy and antiquated. Which I'd be able to overlook for a few song, but it is... Every song.
Bastante top
Pretty early enw wave, with some great synth influences, particularly on the first track. I do struggle with the lack of hooks, and the energy of the album does get quite lethargic, particularly when they aren't doing mcuh interesting with the music
not awful but sort of annoying. 2.5
电子音|迷幻
Где-то 3,5 на самом деле, но ладно
It's a banger of an album that I have heard too much of over the years. And yet....listening through good earbuds made me appreciate their subtle uniqueness instead of being out off by the rigid structure of the songs.
Вперше це чую, але це досить добре, десь на 3,5. Дві останні пісні найкращі
Great album
I'm not a big fan of this style of classic rock and the British indie rock music that is subsequently inspired. However, I can appreciate this as being a well made album and would understand completely If someone rated this a 4 or a 5 out of 5. The guitar is probably my favourite component instrumentally.
Legendary album. Heard these songs growing up all the time.
This was shorter and more familiar than I had anticipated. I knew at least three of the songs off the album. It was nicely produced.
It's ok. I'm not the biggest fan of The Cars, but it was ok.
so sentimental, love it
This was okay! Nothing a million special no offence.
I like it, I like classic power pop when it's got a punchiness like this. is it amazing and groundbreaking probs not, but ya know what I'll take it
I didn't know this band. Interesting listening, I had a rather good time. I'm giving it a 3.5.
Outside of Drive and My Best Friends Girl this is a band I don't know much about. I think they were probably a lot bigger in the US than they were in the UK. Anyway, none of that matters. This was a really good album. In addition to My Best Friends Girl there were several other good tracks, and Just What I Needed was fantastic. I like that albums were shorter back then, almost a less is more.
If you had asked me up until today what genre the Cars were I’d say “Rock”. They are the coolest not-nerdy New Wave band ever. Even the dorky songs are cool.
This was fine. Quintessential 70s rock, knew the hits. Some good guitar work but I dont see myself returning.
Really dig the production/singles on this one. Sounded more Devo than I had expected (which is a good thing).
aldrigt hört talas om bandet men bangers!
Kan godt klare en lytning mere.
More like 3.5
This was blah. Nothing to write home about.
Good Times Roll, My Best Friends Girl, and Just What I Needed are definitely the stand out songs. The rest of the album is not bad. I'm tired of writing things that no one but me will ever read so no more for this one.
Cool for a few songs but then got repetitive
Not really fussed by the The Cars, but this isn't a bad album. Perfectly listenable.
Really like the Cars. Excellent album cover. Came out in 78 deep I to my punk rock. However has the new decade arrived started listening to them more. Really like the 50s rock n roll sound and the energy. A good high 4 pity no half points
The first 3 songs are ones I’ve heard on the radio a million times and can’t stand to hear anymore. Some of the others weren’t so bad I guess.
Songs feel kinda samey, its giving soundtrack for opening shot of suburban america in a family movie
Whole album sounds like a bit Fred Armisen would have done on SNL/Documentary Now. There's some nice riffs but the songs are too silly to take seriously. Just What I Needed is definitely the highlight, which is worrying since I'm not exactly rushing to put it in any playlists.
Repeat listen
Good album, with some elements of electronic music, but still very guitar driven. Solid.
I love the rhythm in a lot of the songs.. I'm guessing it was made in the 70s-90s. I like how the songs have this good groovy beat the background. I'm giving this album a 3/5
Not a miss on this album. Most of the tracks are known hits...I'm in Touch with Your World is brand new to me but a great, complex trip of a track.
yayyy i’ve been meaning to listen to this, just haven’t. i forgot to listen to this today. got to it in like the last half hour. really really liked it. favorite track is good times roll by far, didn’t know that was the cars.
Lots of good tunes on here Bonus points if you listen to it while driving
Podoba mi się ten album.Szczególnie niektóre piosenki (Just what I needed). Całość jest ciekawa i wciągająca. :)))
7/10 (dropped from 4 to 3, relisten)
Eh. Its okay? Kind of confused me i didnt feel like it had a cohesive sttle
Good times roll - 5 My best friend's girl - 5 Just what i needed - 5 I'm in touch with your world - 3 Don't cha stop - 4 You're all i've got tonight - 4 Bye bye love - 4 Moving in stereo - 4 All mixed up - 4
AOR ? MOR ? more like BOR … ING Sounding more like the J Gilles band than I would have thought for a band I think of as synth rock Then best friends girl comes on - which I always wrongly thought was by J Gilles.
YYYYEESSS!!!
This will be light work today, as I’ve heard this album and most of the songs about 100 times. I love the Cars. I will give my older brother, Jeff, credit for introducing me and my younger brother, Dustin, to the band. Dustin, much like with KISS, was way in on the Cars before I was, but I got there. I'd put them solidly in my top 20 favorite bands of all time. In fact, I think the Cars are one of the greatest American rock bands ever. They were, for me, one of THE rock bands of the 1980s. They were able to combine pop rock, new wave, and electronic music better than any other band. Plus, they were weird without being a turn-off. They also had two lead vocalists, so it’s almost like they were two bands in one. This is their debut album, and it's packed with songs you've heard on the radio for decades. Track 1 is Good Times Roll and I remember as a kid listening to this song for the first time and being very confused. For a song about the good times rolling, lead singer Ric Ocasek, guitarist and lead vocals, sounded like he was about to go to sleep. Plus, the music is more of a slow rock jam than a party anthem. That was your introduction to what the Cars were. They weren’t anything you were expecting. The song was Ocasek’s sarcastic response to all the rock and roll party songs. You know, the sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The song was the third single from the album. The song rocks, but the synths set it apart. There are all these synth sounds interweaving with the heavier-sounding guitars. The song was like nothing you had heard on the radio at the time. Plus, Ocasek’s lyrics are downright confusing most of the time. “Let the stories be told Let them say what they want Let the photos be old Let them show what they want Let them leave you up in the air Let them brush your rock and roll hair Let the good times roll” Let them brush your rock and roll hair? What? Brilliant song and a great way to introduce the band to the listener. Track 2 is My Best Friend’s Girl and Benjamin Orr, the bassist and other lead singer of the band, takes over on vocals. Orr couldn’t have a more different voice than Ocasek. Where Ocasek is more the odd-sounding, sarcastic singer, Orr is closer to what a rock and roll singer might sound like. Though he, too, has his quirks. He has a weird affectation on his voice, whether conscious or unconscious, I don’t know. The song is about Orr’s best friend’s girlfriend, who used to be his girlfriend. Orr paints a pretty good picture of the girl, and she sounds like the perfect woman. Again, there are some odd lyrics to the song. “You've got your nuclear boots And your drip-dry glove Ooh, when you bite your lip It's some reaction to love When she's dancing 'neath the starry sky Ooh, I'll make you flip (Here she comes again) When she's dancing 'neath the starry sky (Here she comes again) I kinda like the way, I like the way she dips.” What are nuclear boots and drip-dry gloves? Who cares? The song is so fun, and unlike Good Times Roll, it has a nice retro rock and roll chug chug chug guitar sound to it. Just a fun song that is easy to sing along to. That’s one thing about the Cars. They were going to give you easy hooks to sing along to. Track 3 is Just What I Needed, and it kind of sounds like My Best Friend’s Girl's fraternal twin. The songs definitely have their similarities. However, because both are just fun rock songs, you don't even mind. Orr is back on vocals, the song has some fun, odd lyrics, and when we get to the chorus, the guitars get loud, and there’s a synth line that just hits you so good. This is one of my favorite songs by the Cars. “It doesn’t matter where you’ve been as long as it was deep, yeah.” Orr would pass away way too soon, effectively ending the Cars in 2000. He was only 53. Fun fact: Roy Thomas Baker produced this album. Baker in his time also produced albums by the Rolling Stones, The Who, Nazareth, Santana, T. Rex, and perhaps his most well-known productions were with Queen. I’m talking all the good Queen albums. Track 4 is I’m In Touch With Your World and it’s truly weird. It always reminded me of a Devo song. It’s very regimented, I think that's the word I'm looking for. I’m not sure how to explain it. Ocasek is back on vocals, and he wrote the song. One critic called the song psychedelic. I’m not sure that would have ever come to my mind, but I can see it. It’s psychedelic in a sci-fi way. Greg Hawkes, the keyboardist for the band, said he loved playing this song live due to all the little electronic sounds in the song. Not my favorite song on the album, but not bad by any means. Track 5 is Don’t Cha Stop and it’s another fun new wave jam. The song was a B-side, but radio stations flipped it and began playing it. The song eventually reached 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It’s got a great solo by Eliot Easton. Easton is the lead guitarist for the band and is really underrated. He doesn’t get a chance to throw out many flashy solos, but he works his arse off on this tune. Just a great, poppy rock jam. Track 6 is You’re All I’ve Got Tonight and much like the rest, I feel like everybody’s heard all these songs. The band only released three singles off the album, but all these songs were on classic radio, and probably still are. You may be a Cars fan and didn’t even know it. You may have heard these songs playing in the background for years, but you never stopped to see who performed them. The song is about Ocasek’s need for some loving, some companionship, and he’s not picky about who it’s with. “I don't care if you hurt me some more I don't care if you even the score You can knock me, and I don't care And you can mock me, and I don't care And you can rock me just about anywhere It's alright 'Cause you're all I've got tonight You're all I've got tonight.” Again, Easton shines in this song. It’s like the first three or four songs were a little light on the guitar, and the last two have been all guitar. This song is a great new wave song, but with more guitar. Track 7 is Bye Bye Love, and Orr’s back on the vocals. I must mention, Orr isn’t just a pretty face with a good rock voice. The man plays a solid bass, which you can hear shine on this song. I love this song as it rocks, but has a softer bridge leading into a cool chorus you can sing along with. I also haven’t praised drummer David Robinson. I mean, he was one of the greatest basketball players in college and the NBA, the Admiral….wait, wrong David Robinson. Robinson is one of those drummers who doesn’t really stick out. Not because he’s not good, but he does his job right. It’s got to be pretty easy on the nerves knowing you never have to worry about the drummer. Just ask Motley Crue. Great song and one of the best on the album. It should have been a single. Track 8 is the song that most men my age remember as being attached to one of the formative moments in their young lives, Moving In Stereo. Yes, this is the song that’s playing in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High as Phoebe Cates comes up out of the water and unveils one of the greatest sights known to pubescent dudes. Beyond forever being etched in my brain’s core, the song is really good. It’s a little slower and heavier than most on the album. Orr again is on vocals, and the group is super tight. They have some sort of effect on Robinson’s drum kit. There’s a lot of moving sounds from side to side, moving in stereo, so to speak. I’ve got to believe the song is best heard with earbuds or headphones. Again, nonsense lyrics. “Life's the same, I'm moving in stereo Life's the same except for my shoes Life's the same, you're shakin' like tremolo Life's the same, it's all inside you.” What’s that? Who cares? The song is hypnotic, and it’s in my top 5 favorite Cars songs. Track 9 and the final cut, is All Mixed Up, and I must point out I just noticed Moving In Stereo fades into the beginning of this song. It’s like they were meant to be played back to back. That’s odd. All Mixed Up was released as the B-side to Good Times Roll, but radio stations apparently began playing Moving In Stereo and All Mixed Up back to back, according to Wikipedia. The song has a bit of an R.E.M. feel to it during a breakdown section. I think I also hear what sounds like maybe French horns, but I assume that’s a synth. Hawkes moves from keyboards to sax to play out the song. It’s a great solo, too. That’s it, nine songs and 35 minutes of perfection on their debut album. I, for sure, recommend listening to this album before you die, and think it’s easily one of the best 1,001 albums ever released. It offers you the best of the 70s and 80s in rock music. The Cars would later go on to make even more great music and become huge MTV video stars. Their videos were as strange as their lyrics most times. This was an easy and fun one to hear.
Wasn't sure about this when it first started, but after the first couple songs, I started getting really into it. One of those albums you just can't help but move your body to. Standouts for me were "I'm In Touch With Your World", "You're All I've Got Tonight", and "Bye Bye Love". Short, too--when it ended, I actually said "damn!" out loud because I was so disappointed there wasn't any more. Definitely has the potential to become a favorite.
This album is definitely a 6/5.
1. un poquito muy teen-com al principio para mi. mientras mas avanza el álbum me gusta más, no tiene tanto tono heartfelt pero con un poco más de “cuerpo”. muy rock and rollero clásico de los 70-80. piola. un poquito me recuerda a queen y un poco a led zeppelin. algunas canciones suenan muy parecidas entre sí con el mismo sonido. desde la mitad se aprecian más solos de guitarra cules. honestly. las últimas canciones bien wenas. fue mejorando y cerró bien. best songs; you’re all i’ve got tonight, bye bye love, moving in stereo, all mixed up. 6/10
unfortunately struggle with this glammed up kind of power-pop - think many of the things that people love about this are the things that don't land at all for me. the ultra-dry production, the angularity, the over-the-top harmonies - all just not for me. even Just What I Needed, a song that in theory i love, that i can see as a perfect object, i can't bring myself to love. recognizably influential and incredibly crafted, just not my thing!
His voice sometimes sounds like David Bowie, sometimes like David Byrne, and sometimes like Freddie Mercury. It’s a pretty short album, but totally worth a quick listen. I think I need to listen a couple more times to fully enjoy it, but it just feels a little repetitive for me at the moment… Not sure how to explain, but the variety is just not what I’m looking for.
Probably the most agreeable new wave album of all time. That comes with its pros and cons - sure, The Cars have undeniable hits like “Just What I Needed,” but it’s kind of missing the edge that the rest of the scene had, no?
May 5th - Day 1 - The Cars - The Cars First Listen: 5/10 Favourites: You’ve all I got Tonight, Moving in Stereo, All Mixed Up
Ohhh yessss! Just what I needed! Yeah, have to say this classic album is a guilty pleasure. I love just about every song, but wonder if that calls into question my “taste.” But you know, f* taste! Boolean rating: YES! Not sure it’s what everyone needs, but boy is it fun.
It’s a no from me
Very strong. Just great musicianship and although it does feel like rock from that era, they very much have their own sound.
Only 35 minutes! Love a short album. Good blend of talking heads and moody electronic music. Moving in Stereo is a BOP
Подростковый рок. Наверное в 78 это звучало свежо
Enjoyed the album, but I think it's a rather safe one. It appears to be a great bridge that helped usher rock 'n roll guitar tones into mainstream pop. The guitar work is composed of a quite a few bits of rather simple, repetitive chord structures with a handful of great solos thrown in between. Then, we got some nice synth elements that sit in the background of tracks, and permeates through the album in a nice accenting way that feels like a precursor to many synthpop tones you find in the 80s. Laired on with some great, pop style vocal work with some real infectious hooks. "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", "Just What I Needed" & "You're All I've Got Tonight" all have quick hooks that's lyrics feel deeply ingrained in Americana, fueled by their continued prevalent use. Bit of a shame that it's essentially "advertising music" nowadays— but I think that it's contemporary place in culture today highlights how great this album is for mass appeal. Like, I feel you would be hard pressed to find anyone mad you're throwing on this album, or tossing a few of these tracks into a group playlist. It's super safe, because again it feels like this bridge between rock 'n roll, synth & pop. There's, in a corny phrasing way, "a little something for everyone." I think Elliot Easton's tone & playing on this album are fantastic, and a huge attributer to making the album super approachable for many. It feels in many ways, like it's the perfect 70s rock tone, partnered with some more pruned back and easily digestible playing— but sprinkled with moments of style that shows he knows his chops. Album has an absolutely heater opening set of 3 songs that land in a fucking wet fart of a couple tracks, and then redeems itself on the rest of the side-B. Going from "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", "Just What I Needed" into "I'm in Touch With Your World" is like, getting cold water splash on you, and "Don't Cha Stop" doesn't bring back much confidence either. Thankfully, those two are undoubtedly the weakest entries on the album, and side-B was overall an enjoyable experience. I think this would be a great album to own, but I don't think I'd be spinning it a whole lot nor throwing in tracks into playlists. Again, I just think the work in a contemporary sense is just too heavily associated with advertising, and so the hooks, while infectious, just have this sort of tainted feel to them. Like I'm watching a fucking car commercial every time the hook from "Just What I Needed" start playing, it's kind of sad.
Just What I Needed is leagues better than everything else on here.
Meh. It’s okay. Uninspiring and forgettable. 5/10
pas mal !
En soit c'est très classique mais ça marche bien, bon mood bonnes musiques
Alright new wave, nothing mindblowing, but fine to listen to.
Fun listen drenched in 80s vibes
Ric Ocasek's vocals have the same shouty and nasal pitch as David Byrne & Tom Verlaine, but The Cars are far closer in nature to Blondie & The Go-Gos than they are to the Talking Heads or Television, which means that this isn't deep music - it's not even deep pop music - b/c it's pop & nothing more. Blondie reached perfection once w/ 'just pop music' on Parallel Lines, & it's been done before & since, but it's not an easy thing to pull off, at least from 1970 onward. The Cars don't quite reach pop perfection on this debut, tho they get damn close. The two geniuses are Elliot Easton & David Robinson - the lead guitar is as rockin' as anything while the drums thump & pump. I love this most: at times, you'd swear you were listening to the Allman Bros.
Cars 4 La cover est très cool comme le morceau d'ouverture. J'ai adoré le changement de placement du snare sur Just what I Nedded. Les harmos sont belles, y a de la tensions dans les morceaux et c'est globalement bien éxécuté, mais parfois ça pourrait monter en puissance. Would listen again. Good Time Roll, Bye Bye Love,
Never realized this album had so many of The Cars biggest hits. Great short album, enjoyable listen
Vroom vroom.
5/10
Sounds like a nice, very-basic, by-the-book rock album that's easy to listen to.
This is a prime example of when, just because I recognise more than one song, I get a knee-jerk reaction to rate it higher than I would normally think appropriate. Not this time Cars.
the cars are the main contributor to urban sprawl and environmental degradation. the cars are a waking nightmare. 1 star.
What’s this guy’s deal eh? Did he fall into a vat of chemicals and get powers or something? The Cars rule
Amazing three track run to open the album. “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” is another favorite of mine on this album.
this album was really out of my style of music, first time hearing about this band
This is probably considered some kind of cult classic but I found it pretty bland!?
not my personal taste tbh
It needs some time for the engine to warm up, but when it does there’s some amazing tracks on here. True to their own sound.
Moving in Stereo is phenomenal. Already knew and enjoyed half of this album. Was great to listen to the whole thing!
Cool album! My friend recommended me a song from them the other day ;p The album cover is a bit creepy but so cool…
I had a go at The Cars about 10 years ago as I kept reading they'd been a big influence on the likes of The Strokes and some of the early 00s indie but I didn't really see it, and saved a handful of tracks from across their albums. I seem to have pulled My Best Friend's Girl and Just What I Needed from this, their debut album, and then moved onto the likes of 'Magic' and 'It's All I Can Do'. I've now had this on rotation for a full week and I was clearly in too much of a rush previously because there's really no filler here at all. It's indie enough to be extremely cool but also poppy enough to be damn catchy and replayable. I no longer care if it influenced The Strokes or not, I'm having this one for myself.
it was cool, i found one song fun
Cars understood something a lot of rock bands never do: cool is useless unless the songs land. These songs land. The band fused new wave, power pop, and electronic rock into something sleek enough for the future and catchy enough for radio.
A solid album and a bit of a gem, IMO. This is produced really well, I think. The sound was very crisp throughout the album. I enjoyed the upbeat nature of this album, the fun elements (like all the synths/funky sounds) and the way the vocalist's voice felt perfectly suited to the music. This is teetering between a 3 and a 4 for me.... I might have to give it a 4. Nearly every song was enjoyable to me. I didn't care much for Dont Cha Stop and You're All I'e Got Tonight. Favorite Tracks: Good Times Roll Bye Bye Love All Mixed Up Just What I Needed Best Friend's Girl
I Needed Someone To Feed 1001 Albums Generator 278 (4/24/2026) The Cars' debut album is the most 80's sounding album not from the 80's that I've ever heard. The mix of glammy rock, new wave, and power pop on display here is fantastic, and the only real misses are due to The Cars starting to get a little weirder than they should, most notably on I'm In Touch With Your World. The album definitely blows its load early with three massive hits in a row, but there are some really solid deep cuts here, like Don't Cha Stop and You're All I've Got Tonight. Great, classic pop rock that was certainly ahead of its time. 4.5/5, rounded down to a 4. Favs: Good Times Roll My Best Friend's Girl Just What I Needed Least Fav: I'm In Touch With Your World
Meh. 2.5
Good. Nostalgic sound
Kickass power pop and new wave songs. It is a song away from being a perfect record IMO.
I enjoyed that. Far more than I thought I would.
Great album. High energy, heavy riffs, catchy as hell.
molto bello e chill
I really liked Just What I Needed and I can see how they must be pretty ahead of their time as they sound so 80s for 1978. But it's just not for me.
Some good songs but not my thing
Bangers
Buen álbum. Ayudó a definir el new wave en EEUU. Para nada pesado, moving in stereo es mi fav. No sé si lo volvería a escuchar, pero safa.
Starts out pretty strong, but tapers off in the back half
Oh what a nice little throw back to one of my dad’s favourite albums 💖haven’t listened to this in a while. Makes me miss him a lot. Love you daddy - great taste as always.
Ya tons of classics and sold vibe. Didn't really grab me, very much enjoyed. 3.8
its cute, i'm just so tired today i can't feel the vibe at all
Bara lyssnat som hastigast. Schizofren blandning mellan amerikansk FM-rock och new wave på ett ganska bra sätt. Var lite orolig i öppningsspåret som hade Quenn tendenser, men det styr upp sig. Landar i en stark tvåa
Det bjuds på ren och rak powerpop åt new wave-hållet, mitt emellan Blondie och Costello, i My best friend’s girl. Då är det ganska medryckande. Men i övrigt lyfter det inte direkt och blir emellanåt lite arty utan konstnärlig finess.
Gäsp! Ännu ett menlöst New wave-band. Varför?
Påminner en del om Roxy Music. Särskilt i öppningsspåret. Men klart tramsigar framtoning. Inget speciellt.
belongs in the world of Edward Scissorhands
only listened to the first half but pretty good
Очень хороший альбом. Впервые послушал эту группу и она мне понравилась
TOP!!!!!!
70s-80s vibe, rock&roll. Would listen to it once in a whule but not on a daily basis.
A bit too zany 70/80's for me
many that are good. good :guitar:
Didn't know this, but a strong album.
I really hate to say this but this would have been an easy five for me if they didn’t take a few tracks off in the middle.
New wave for people who like Tom Petty.
Perfect pop
Catch up #5 Sept 29 2026 Chock full of absolute bangers (and a couple duds) , this put The Cars on the map with all time classics like My Best Friends Girl, Just What I Needed, and Bye Bye Love. In a sea of disco, this was awesome synth powered pop rock that would herald the coming 80s sound. Funny story: later, frontman Ric Ocasek would marry Czech model Paulina Porizkova. A matchup dubbed “the ugliest man in the world with the most beautiful woman in the world”. Jokes on them, they stayed married from 1989 to his death in 2019. Rip Ric. You were one of a kind. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ha estado bien, aunque no añadiría ninguna a mi playlist
Lighthearted but a bit lightweight
8.5/10
Some catchy moments and the clean production is fun but some tunes had me a tad bored
I revisited this after writing it off as too pop-ish a few years ago. I love it now.
Its kinda interesting, sounds like i expected, every song sounds kinda alike tho. fav song is Im in touch with your world.
Incredible opening 3 songs, then about 15 forgettable minutes of album tracks. Then Moving In Stereo… I thought I heard this before, but a cursory search of Youtube was fruitless. This was absolutely the standout track after the trilogy of classics at the start. Segueing into the last song, All Mixed Up, it was worth waiting for. I contemplated giving this 2 stars because of the very mediocre middle section, but the concluding tracks changed my mind completely. 3 stars
I’ve heard some of the tracks in the radio before, but never knew the band. I like this. In this bands influence on future generations ,e.g. Weezer (Just what I needed) is clear.
Normalito. Nose si esto es predecesor de bandas que escuché anteriormente pero no encontré nada nuevo que me satisfaga.
Ya lo había escuchado, no me parece muy bueno pero zafa. 6/10
Sunglasses on, janked up on caffeine, dressed to kill. A little bit Talking Heads' artsy nervousness, a little bit Blondie's pop smarts, a little bit Split Enz's melodic mastery. Of it's time but always fresh. A perfect little confection, lime fizz with a double shot of grenadine.
This is a classic. Nuff said
Wonky synthpop meets AM classic rock.
Un 7.5/10
Good music to listen to in a car.
I knew more songs on this than I thought I would. I knew Good Times Roll, My Best Friend’s Girl, and Just What I Needed. I also recognized Moving in Stereo from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I liked this.
I thought The Cars was a pretty good album. This album is definitely a real trailblazer as it had a lot of the sounds that became commonplace in the 80s new wave movement. The synths are all here though somewhat different from what the genre would produce and there is even a saxophone solo in the last song. The vocals were also pretty interesting as Ric Ocasek could sometimes sound like Freddie Mercury (especially in the second song). I wouldn't say that this album is a s interesting as some of the albums that would come after it due to those doing much more and feeling more polished, I still thought that this was a pretty good one. Best Song: All Mixed Up Worst Song: Good Times Roll
You could have told me this was a ‘best of’ album; I can’t name a Cars song that isn’t on this record. As I listened to this I had a few “oh wow, that’s a Cars song?” moments as well. This one feels kinda like that Bad Company record that had all their hits on it. What a record!
Muuy bueno. Me gustó
Un album escuchable, y rápido. Entiendo porque las 3 primeras canciones son las mas escuchadas. Estan buenas
I knew more songs on this record than I thought I would, lots of hits from the 80s. But The Cars aren’t really my thing. -TomB
Loved this album. The singles are brilliant. We got to know they weren’t really a new wave band but older guys jumping on the bandwagon. However, it’s still a great album.
Meh
I feel like every Cars song I know is on this one album. There absolute hits. But the other songs are kinda filler. Good Times Roll My Best Friend's Girl Just What I Needed Moving in Stereo
This was ok - being New Wave it ought to be up my street and it often felt like it was going to click for me but never quite did on this listen. Maybe repeated listens would help but as ever, finding the time is a challenge for something that I’m unsure about.
Generally ok with a couple of bangers thrown in. I'd listen to a lot of other new wave albums before this though.
I already listen to this album a lot during the summer because it puts me in such a good mood when I listen to it in the car
I enjoyed this, surprised The Cars aren't more acclaimed than they are
Not bad overall. Some good guitar licks and the lyrics are catchy in a couple tracks too. At the end of the day it still sounds too pop-y for me. Loved the added synths and keys on the album, really made it stand out. Favourite tracks: Just What I Needed, Bye Bye Love, Moving in Stereo, All Mixed Up 3/5
First half is shit but the album grow in the second half. beautiful guitar work throw out the album. The choruses of these songs are so basic the lack that punch.
Me da fleetwood mac vibes and i am here for it, me gustó bastante y lo volvería a escuchar