The Cars

I liked this one. The hits starting out right away got me excited. Did not know any songs after the first three, but it was pretty good overall.

Eh, it was alright.

Album starts with some heaters and I was vibing but quickly got stale for me after that. Drum parts weren’t very interesting and felt stiff. Can respect the fact they inspired many to come

I dont know what got me into The Cars as a kid, but I've always been a fan. Catchy melodies but oddly unique compared to everything else on KSHE 95. I hear so much Weezer in this. Pretty sure The Cars were a big inspiration to Rivers Cuomo so that makes sense to me. Just looked it up, and Ric Ocasek (singer) was a notable record producer for famous bands like Weezer, No Doubt, and many more so it's cool that he's got his fingerprints on so many notable pieces of music history. Big fan.

I really needed this after just having to suffer through Soft Machine's "Third". This is why I'm here. To listen to some of the greatest artists of all time at their best. And maybe discover a few greats I hadn't known before. The Cars are legends, and this album is amazing. Hard to pick just one for the 1001 playlist, but I'll go with "Just What I Needed" ~ 4.6 Stars

This is one of those perfect albums. It's a great listen start to finish. What a debut by The Cars.

Some lf the album tracks such as “I’m In Touch With Your World” are more interesting than I expected from knowing the hits.

A strong 3. Ric Ocasek is an underrated and influential figure in the history of rock.

many iconic tracks, easy to listen, nothing ground breaking, but nothing offensive

C'mon. Classic after classic, easy to listen to, would go hard on a boat for sure. This is the type of classic rock you don't mind when it comes up. 8/10

I’ve always had trouble pegging down what exactly The Cars were. Are they a pop band, a new wave band, or a rock band? It’s probably why I’ve been familiar with their hits, but never knew it was their work. Maybe it’s my stupid brain, but it’s hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that You Might Think, Drive, and Just What I Needed were made by the same band. (By the way, Drive might one of my favorite songs of all time, it’s not here but I don’t know if that album is here, so I’m saying it now). Regardless, the one thing I do know is that The Cars make some good music, especially here. The synth elements add a nice flair to the album without making it cheesy or dated. To be honest, most of it feels like it belongs in the next decade. Hard to believe this came out in the seventies, albeit late in the decade. Overall, who cares what genre The Cars fall into? Good music is good music and this is good music. Favorite track: Just What I Needed Other hits: Moving in Stereo, My Best Friends Girl, Don’t Cha Stop, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight, I’m In Touch With Your World

College Favorite... decent trip down memory lane... in a car ;-)

A favorite album

Lots of hits

3.5* 82%

Recognised the song “My Best Friend’s Girl” but didn’t know anything else prior to listening. I really liked the guitars and the synth elements throughout the album. A lot of it sounded familiar in a way I couldn’t place my finger on. I assume that means they’re featured on soundtracks I’ve heard or else have heavily influenced other artists i have listened to (David Byrne and Scissor Sisters comes to mind)

.Just What I Needed! As duas primeiras são bem fraquinhas na minha opinião.. os refrões desse album ficam irritantes as vezes. Mas pra compensar, as guitarras são um tesão do comeco ao fim. Mas fora isso, album bem mediano. Pop agradavel e gostosinho de botar pra ouvir sem pensar muito. 3.5/5

This is like a greatest hits album.

It was enjoyable to listen to but didn’t really stand out to me. A few of the tracks were a bit synth-heavy for my taste and I found some of the lyrics quite repetitive. I did have a good time listening to it, just don’t see myself coming back to it. Fav song: My Best Friend’s Girl Least fav: I’m in Touch with Your World

Not quite a 4

Nettes Rock-Album, eingängige Melodien. 3-4/5

Ukjende for meg før no. Ganske bra.

Unremarkable new wave pop. I appreciate it had some elements that were ahead of its time and it's put together well. I just couldn't get into it.

Top 5 new wave album for me. No skips. Crisp production. All around great record

Wow that was relly gud.

one of my favorites

Listening to "Moving in Stereo" at the office: perhaps the very most dangerous game.

I’ve known of The Cars and have heard pretty much this whole album as one off songs, but I didn’t know any of the songs as The Cars before today. There’s nothing special about this band or album. The first 3 tracks are deeply rooted in Americana rock history, but are honestly mediocre songs are any era. They have a good harmonizing cadence that they find a hook and chant it for a few minutes over decent guitar riffs. Overall the vibe is cheesy 70s pop rock, not bad as a throw in song on a mix, but whole album, even at 35 minutes, is too much. 5/10 #52/1001

Some great songs at the beginning and then a bunch of filler

One of my favorite albums.

This is so much cooler than I was expecting! New wave without having that dreadful plastic sound which so came to represent the genre. 4*

This album was great at the time and reflective of where rock went in the 80s. Although I love the album cover to cover. I don’t feel the music passes the test of time.

Eu adoro esse álbum, ele tem músicas esquisitas, eletrificantes e pegajosas. Os caras tocam muito também, muitas vezes essas bandas do final dos anos 70 não são tão fortes no instrumental, mas não é o caso em The Cars. Não muito pra dizer além disso, puro suco do que seria os anos 80, adoro Just What I needed e Dontcha Stop

Thoroughly enjoyed this, short fun and well made with catchy hooks and memorable instrumentals 4/5

So many hits!

I ignored this when it came out as we already had Blondie , Talking Heads , The Clash , The Jam , The Dammed etc etc etc. I thought this was just mid 70s AOR..... How wrong I was. This was my first time hearing this and it's pretty good.

Love this album, it's the most '70s sounding new-wave album there is. While it does have a lot in common with contemporaries like Talking Heads, I do think this 'The Cars' self-titled holds its own in just being a great collection of pop-rock love songs, with some great, and ahead-of-its-time production. There are slower, and more slick parts here that remind me of guys like Lou Reed (especially 'Don't Cha Stop'), while the more flashy aspects remind me of groups like Queen (like with the closer 'All Mixed Up'). 'My Best Friend's Girl' is irresistibly cute, I love the way the guitar and bass lock in that refrain - might also be the most post-punky thing here. 'Just What I Needed' is as perfect as pop songs in this vein get, and the epic synth outro of 'Moving in Stereo' could've gone on for hours, and I wouldn't care. But easily my favorite track off this album has always been 'All Mixed Up', primarily because of those lush harmonies in the chorus - the layering is incredible. Short, slick, catchy, and hilariously horny at times - probably one of the easiest album out there to listen to. Superb stuff.

Really great! So many interesting sounds throughout.

Hits, hooks and jangles.

Possibly a top 5 all time 3 song start to an album. Just one banger after another. It plateaued a bit after that with a little bit of filler but really, it would be impossible to expect that level of epic to be maintained throughout the whole record.

As a kid growing up in small-town Midwest with few radio stations and even fewer record stores, The Cars are probably the soundtrack of my high school driving days – although these tracks weren’t meant for me in the 90’s. Blasting the ubiquitous “classic rock” station (that still endures with the same songs) I came way too late to the game. So I groaned a bit when I saw The Cars on my review queue for today. They were very over-saturated for me and everyone else by classic rock radio. However it is hard to deny this hit-making machine. Maybe there isn’t a ton of substance, but it is fun and I do hear a lot more experimentation than they get credit for. It wasn’t a torture as I thought’d be!

Didn’t realize how awesome the cars are!!!!

This is my favorite album by them. "My best friends girl" and "just what I needed" are my favorites, but the whole album is fun to listen to. Gonna see if I can learn a few of these on guitar.

Very solid album - the three tracks I didn't know... there's a reason I didn't know them but they weren't bad - 6/9 absolute bangers... Really deserves 4.5

Fav: Just What I Needed Notes: Some bangers, some down tracks for me.

Wow, what a debut. So maybe amazing moments here. Best Friend's Girl gets me every time when that riff, and an entire generation goes to a special place when the opening to Moving in Stereo comes on.

Some bangers, though kind of vapid

A fantastic album. The five star albums are coming rapidly now. I didn't know The Cars before I bought this album, after I read about it in the 1001 Albums-book. They are as good as unknown in Europe. I thought they were a kind of plastic keyboard-driven bubblegum-pop act, but this turned out to be a very very strong album. It's obviously very carefully made, all the songs contain surprising and original details. And there are some great melodies. What more do you need? Highlights? 'Just what I needed', of course, 'You're all I've got tonight' and 'All mixed up'. Nice one.

Just what I needed

It sounds kinda modern. Pretty nice

So many working parts to these pop songs! The little flourishes and the vocals are so good.

If you had asked me to name a song by The Cars before listening to this I would have said Drive, for the obvious reason. And it's because of that track that I have never paid them any attention, because it's really not that good. I can now say that I have been missing out. Yes I do know My Best Friends Girl, and You're Just What I needed, but it had never clicked that they were by this lot. And this is rather a good album. From the first track I thought not bad, sounds familiar. By the second I knew why. And the other stand out track was Moving in Stereo. Yeah, it's a good album, not at all like Drive (thank god). Got to be worth a high 3.

Not sure whether it grew on me, or it got better, but I enjoyed the last 4 tracks. The first 5, including the only hit I knew, just didn’t do it for me. Basic Americana by numbers.

Its slightly better than I had thought it would be. What makes it special though? The radio play of the singles even nowadays? I don't know. It's well performed and glossy, which is something I normally avoid in albums of this vintage. Not really much more to say about it apart from it's complete lack of offensiveness

New wave that isn’t completely terrible. There are times and songs that definitely don’t do it for me, not a 5-star, but there are some undeniable hits. They knew how to ride the new wave synths in a pop-sensible way to not totally date and destroy the album. Side review from my wife: I hate this album.

This plays like a new wave greatest hits. Pretty solid all the way through expect for 1 track that is skippable in I'm In Touch With Your World.

Great positive vibe and excellent production.

Great album

A nice one. I could be wrong but I think it’d be more tasteful if the vocalists could do more emotive delivery. Most songs are indeed very good but many times I just wish he could do it differently, like one or even two keys higher, to align with energy. But in general, a very very good album. Catchy songs and it really feels timeless.

I always felt like the Cars were underrated and wanted to listen to them more. I think this album was great, easy 4 given the early start of 3 hits, but not quite a 5 because while I found 2 new songs I liked, it’s definitely a front loaded album. Love their sound. Feels uniquely them and they’ve got some iconic songs that showcase it really well. Moving in Stereo was a fun surprise. Really strong album to showcase the band and something I think definitely deserves a place on this list.

This album is just so freaking fun. A couple of bangers, and then i think it stalls out a bit. All Mixed Up I feel like just starts to evolve towards the end of the song, but overall I think it gets a tad bit repetitive. I dig the sound though, so a four stars from me

Lone of the better starts to an album that we’ve had on the list so far. Being so front-loaded on a short album takes away from the experience a little bit. The back half isn’t bad, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the beginning. Will come back to this one for the hits and that’s probably it.

Hot damn! What a 1, 2, 3 combo with "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed". There are so many radio hits on here. I didn't realize that this album should be in the conversation with best debut albums of all time. I really liked the rest of the album as well. "Moving in Stereo" had some fun synth in it. I was singing along to "Don't Cha Stop" and "Bye Bye Love" by the end of those song despite never listening to them before. The only song that I didn't like was "I'm In Touch With Your World". It was very jarring after those first 3 hits. This is probably another 9/10 album for me, but I'm going to give it another listen to see if it can tip into the 5 star range.

I remember when it first came out thinking it was so cool. Now it is so overplayed on FM radio I can’t stand to hear it.

I think I recognised one song. Not bad but very 80’s

Really liked this one! Not familiar with these Bostonians, so nice meeting!

Had no idea how many of these songs I actually knew. Enjoyed it the whole way through even if it's not entirely for me.

Solid hits throughout this one.

Really hooky and lots of fun riffs. It's an easy 3.5, but I'm rounding up just for so many great songs.

I didn’t think I liked the Cars, but this album is really good. Not really a boring song to be found.

Classics rock album. just what I needed >>>

Great songs. Rare to find that many on one album

Ne može se reći da je išta loše, jednostavno meni nije leglo.

Enjoyable listen but nothing stuck out for me, nothing bad about it, just not my taste. 6/10.

Another classic 70/80’s album

Some great songs, not consistently convincing, though. I was wondering about the Queen-like backing vocals, until I noticed the records had been produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had worked with Queen before. :-)

4.0 2x whole album is a banger

Catchy, well-crafted pop rock songs. Vocal, guitar, keyboard hooks with steady drums keep it interesting. Great three-song run of classics to open the album. I should learn this album on guitar to increase my skill, some of the leads are super interesting!

Might as well be a greatest hits album. 9.7/10 Best Tracks: "Good Times Roll" "My Best Friend's Girl" "Just What I Needed" "You're All I've Got Tonight" "Bye Bye Love"

Goed, maar niet zo speciaal gewoon goed

The Cars Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Literally every song is a banger.

Lots of repetition

i know this is all revisionist history but it's fun to hear late 70s music start to sound like 80s music

Decent songs on this album.

Horrible

Great songs, great productions. Loses its way a shade at the end

A mostly fun power pop record.

A couple of good songs. Pretty good, comfy listening

A perfect pop album. This is what we lost when pop musicians had to be pretty too. Seriously though every song is amazing and that this isn't a greatest hits just blows me away.

Inoffensive. Still feels like radio music when in album form, which isn't always the case. I don't really like it, and definitely wouldn't decide to listen to it on Spotify again.

Not my thing. 5/10

Wish I could give this a 3.5

Funnily enough this album was just what I needed. Perfect Friday album. Short and sweet and upbeat. Specific rating -4.3 Fav song - my best friends girlfriend Least fav - bye bye love

I feel like it's safe to say that I do indeed enjoy classic rock, and 16 year old me was really onto something (although I maintain that it feels equally as cringe as wearing a jumper around one's waist)

So many fun and iconic songs. Just a great time album really. Favourite song: Just What I Needed Least: I'm In Touch With Your World

Fairly enjoyable listen! Definitely prefer the more rock focused songs over the synths. Fav: my best friend’s girl, just what i needed, you’re all i’ve got tonight, bye bye love Least: I’m in touch with your world rating: 3.8

Like Hit Me One More Time..., The Cars is crowded with a number of huge radio hits that cut through and against each other. However, they aren't victims of the loudness wars, they're written and recorded for FM radio. Not as trebly as transistor radio hits, not as bombastic as the late-90s brick wall sound, The Cars has sonic depth and clarity that plays as well on a car stereo, in the roller disco, or at home on your turntable. And while each song is a sort of single, composed and arranged only to complete its own journey from studio to consumer, they are not so strongly in competition with each other as on the Spears' record. It sounds like a gang of hitmakers, doing what they can with a rigid set-up, just what they can fit on the stage at the tiny Boston club. So all the songs sound of a piece, but also like they're trying distinguish themselves from each other. And it is this sense of a gang working together, but with each edging toward the spotlight, that excuses some of the clumsiness (mostly Elliot Easton's meandering guitar) and uncools some of the sheen (does I'm in Touch sound like a very careful Magic Band?). If there is a competition here, it's between Ocasek and Orr. On aggregate, Orr wins with his four contributions - great stuff. 3.5 All very catchy, very cute songs full of funny keyboard noises and arch vocals. But somehow entirely unlovable. Rock music with no edge, pop music with no drama. Well done The Cars. 2/5

не моя вабще музика. спочатку здалося що це нагадає мені про фільм хеві метал, але по ітогу це звучання нагадало мені про nitw. а ще навіяло якісь думки про те як було б класно жити в 70-80х в америці і тусуватися в якомусь локальному рок бенд. хз вобщем. звучання недостатньо рокове але і хуйней не назвеш.

Musik, die meinem Vater gut gefällt

Amazing album! Almost feels like a greatest hits album. There are so many chart toppers on this one. The one thing that I didn’t care for is that the songs that weren’t hits aren’t that great.

Appropriate that the record and band are called The Cars, because this record is middle of the road.

This album serves as an age check during 'that one song'. Ric Ocasek nailed it with this album, its full of chart toppers and massive hits. 5/5

Yes this is the music of that era. Even though I wasn’t there I felt it.

It's alright, but it doesn't feel essential. Reminds me of Roxy Music at times. Favorite song: just what I needed.

I'd never listened to a whole Cars album before but knew the big singles — 3 of which are on this album. This was a decent listen. Overall the songs are catchy, but they tend to get repetitive (Let the Good Times Roll especially). I liked a few of the deeper cuts more than the singles, but nothing really stood out. There is some experimentation with sound — I forgot how country My Best Friend's Girl was — but it's fairly standard 80s pop-rock. Some of the songs sound like a combination of Queen and Talking Heads, which was kind of interesting. It's a competent album, but not groundbreaking for me personally. 3/5

Some occasional great, more new-wave focussed, songs. However, overall too much glam/soft-rock 80s vibes for me

First side sounds like a rocky version of Talking heads Second side sound more rock Bye bye Love is my favorite of the album

Stop familiar, disjointed snippets of the songs heard on the radio and I drove in and out of reception.

I love this album. When I got to borrow dad’s Infinity in high school, this and The Long Run by the Eagles were the two albums I listened to on repeat. Great start to finish.

I didn’t know it until today, but this is one of my favorite album covers of all time. The record itself is extremely tight & cohesive, and seems to have really presaged a lot of 80s rock. It’s kind of unbelievable just how pervasive a lot of these tracks are today. This is going to be in the rotation a lot more. Standout tracks are: “Let the Good Times Roll”, “Bye Bye Love” and “Moving in Stereo”. The synth in “Moving in Stereo” is one of the most euphoric things ever.

I can remember vividly when this album came out, I bought it. I spent hours listening to this on my headphones and it changed my musical tastes from the mainstream 70s rock/metal that I was listening to for the new wave music and then on to post punk, punk and alt rock. Every song is a standout for me.

A good album. Makes me think of walking to college in Springtime. Moving in Stereo was fun to listen to with headphones. Obviously I have heard a lot of the songs on this album before due to the radio.

Great album. Such a classic and truly one of the best debuts ever, I think. Highlights are Moving in Stereo and Just What I Needed.

just what i needed. 4/5

Had heard the hits, which I was fine with. Other songs didn't really change my opinion much. Liked the Blondie record that came up early better FWIW

so many lowk nostalgic songs i didn’t even know was them

Classics

Wow, where do I even begin with Cars (2006)? This movie exceeded my expectations in every way possible and left me feeling so incredibly entertained and satisfied. Pixar has once again proven that they are masters of storytelling and animation. When I first heard about Cars, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. How could a movie featuring only vehicles, with no human characters, keep me engaged for a full two hours? But Pixar managed to do just that, and more. Director John Lasseter's attention to detail is truly remarkable. Every car and truck in the movie becomes a unique character with its own personality. The way they bend and gesture in ways that are true to their construction is just incredible. It's these small details that make the world of Cars so immersive and believable. And speaking of the world, the story itself is filled with charm and heart. Yes, it may contain a well-traveled theme, but it's delivered in such a way that it feels fresh and meaningful. I found myself genuinely caring about Lightning McQueen's journey and rooting for him every step of the way. Now, I'm not a racing fan by any means, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this movie. You don't need to be a racing enthusiast to appreciate the story and the characters. The film goes beyond the world of racing and delves into themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the importance of slowing down and enjoying life. It's a message that resonated with me, and I'm sure it will resonate with many others as well. Visually, Cars is a feast for the eyes. The animation is stunning, and the attention to detail is mind-blowing. The scenery is so beautifully rendered that it's hard to believe it's not real. From the reflections on the cars to the weeds growing out of cracks in the sidewalk, every little detail has been meticulously crafted. It's a visual spectacle that left me in awe. But impressive visuals alone are not enough to make a great movie. Thankfully, Cars delivers on all fronts. The characters are well-developed, and the story is engaging. Pixar took the time to give us a movie that is not just visually stunning, but also emotionally resonant. They didn't succumb to the pressure of making a shorter film to cater to shorter attention spans. Instead, they stayed true to their vision and created a movie that is both entertaining and meaningful. Cars started off with a disadvantage in my eyes, but it quickly won me over. It made me care about its characters and their journey. It made me reflect on my own life and the importance of slowing down and enjoying the journey. It made me want to take a road trip and explore the unknown. It made me appreciate the scenic route. In the end, Cars is a testament to Pixar's ability to create movies that go beyond entertainment. It's a movie that makes you care about something other than yourself, even if just for a little while. It's a movie that reminds us of the power of storytelling and the magic of animation. Pixar has once again made it look simple, but we all know that creating a movie as wonderful as Cars takes a tremendous amount of talent and hard work. I can confidently give Cars a rating of 8 out of 10, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a well-crafted story and breathtaking animation.

Every track is gold. Just What I Needed is one of my all-time favourite songs

First song set the tone for the whole album and was riding a good vibe wave. Will definitely listen to it again.

Iconic

Can’t think of a better opening three songs on a debut. An incredible piece of work and full of ideas. Excellent.

Solid bangers

Love this album - full of great hits all the way through

I didn’t hate it. But I won’t be rushing back.

Super fun and catchy album

Good.

It was a pretty good album which fused like electro pop rock elements and I can say I enjoyed all of the songs of the album however only 4/9 ended up on my playlist which is still a pretty good number since I don't usually listen to this type of music

Get in and enjoy the ride.

This is some good stuff. Its pop. Its fun. And I mean, these are catchy tunes.

The sound of The Cars is the sound of familiarity. It's the sound of 680 CFTR on the radio as my mom drives to the grocery store in her Nissan Pulsar that had an excuse for a backseat. My friends called that car "KITT" because it did look like it was from a TV show. My mom loved that damn car - I think it made her feel cool. I know it made me feel cool too.

lot of hits on here that i didn’t realize were all on the same album

Started off with the hits and then slumped in the middle but regained its momentum by the end. Glad I listened all the way through.

Overplayed AOR from the 80's. That being said a ton of great tunes on this record.

Middle of the road rock, which suites quite nicely to the background while doing office work. There were also some echoes of Talking heads, which is never a bad thing...

## In-Depth Review of *The Cars* by The Cars Released in 1978, *The Cars* marked the debut of the Boston-based band and became a cornerstone of the new wave genre. Seamlessly blending rock, punk, and pop elements, this album is widely regarded as one of the most influential records of its era. Below is a detailed review focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** Ric Ocasek’s songwriting on *The Cars* is characterized by cryptic yet relatable lyrics that often explore themes like love, longing, and alienation. Tracks like "My Best Friend’s Girl" showcase Ocasek’s ability to encapsulate complex emotions with simple yet poignant lines such as: *"She’s my best friend’s girl, but she used to be mine”*[1][2]. This line captures heartbreak and nostalgia in a succinct manner. Other songs like "Just What I Needed" feature lyrics that are both introspective and playful. While not overly verbose or poetic, the lyrics remain engaging due to their conversational tone and universal appeal[2][3]. However, tracks like "I’m In Touch With Your World" veer into surreal territory with abstract imagery that some listeners might find less accessible[2][4]. --- ### **Music** The Cars’ musical style on this album is a masterclass in blending genres. The band combines catchy pop hooks with rock energy and new wave experimentation. Key elements include: - **Synthesizers**: Greg Hawkes’ use of synthesizers adds a futuristic dimension to tracks like "Bye Bye Love," giving them a space-age feel[2][3]. - **Guitar Work**: Elliot Easton’s streamlined riffs provide a rock backbone while maintaining a polished sound. His work shines particularly on "Moving In Stereo" and "Since I Held You"[4]. - **Vocals**: The interplay between Ric Ocasek's deadpan delivery and Benjamin Orr's soulful voice adds depth to the album. Orr’s vocals on "Just What I Needed" are especially memorable[1][3]. - **Rhythm Section**: David Robinson’s drumming is tight and restrained, complementing the album’s sleek production style. The music is undeniably catchy, with tracks like "Good Times Roll" and "Let’s Go" epitomizing The Cars’ ability to craft radio-friendly hits without sacrificing artistic integrity[1][4]. --- ### **Production** Roy Thomas Baker’s production on *The Cars* is impeccable. Known for his work with Queen, Baker brought a polished yet edgy aesthetic to the album. The production balances clarity with texture, allowing each instrument to shine without overwhelming the mix. Highlights include: - **Layering**: Synths are layered seamlessly with guitars, creating a dynamic soundscape. - **Vocals**: The vocal production ensures that both Ocasek’s detached delivery and Orr’s emotive singing are front and center. - **Minimalism**: With a runtime of just 35 minutes, the album avoids filler tracks, adhering to the principle that less is more[1][5]. While some critics argue that the slick production occasionally sacrifices raw energy for polish, it undeniably helped define the band’s signature sound[4]. --- ### **Themes** The album explores themes of relationships, desire, and modernity through its lyrics and music: - **Love and Heartbreak**: Tracks like "My Best Friend’s Girl" delve into romantic complications with a mix of humor and melancholy[1][2]. - **Alienation**: Songs such as "Moving In Stereo" evoke feelings of detachment and introspection through their atmospheric soundscapes[4]. - **Optimism**: Despite moments of introspection, tracks like "Good Times Roll" celebrate carefree enjoyment[2][5]. These themes resonate across generations, contributing to the album’s timeless appeal. --- ### **Influence** *The Cars* was instrumental in shaping the new wave movement. Its blend of rock energy with pop accessibility influenced countless bands in genres ranging from alternative rock to synth-pop. Artists such as Weezer and The Killers have cited The Cars as an inspiration for their melodic yet edgy approach to songwriting[3][5]. Additionally: - The album introduced synthesizers as a prominent element in mainstream rock. - It proved that new wave could achieve commercial success without compromising artistic vision. Its enduring popularity—bolstered by hits like "Just What I Needed"—cements its status as a cultural touchstone[3][4]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Cohesive Sound**: Every track feels like part of a unified vision. 2. **Timeless Hooks**: Songs like "Just What I Needed" remain instantly recognizable decades later. 3. **Innovative Production**: Roy Thomas Baker's polished approach elevated the band’s sound without losing its edge. 4. **Genre Fusion**: Successfully blends rock, punk, pop, and new wave elements into an accessible yet sophisticated package. 5. **No Filler Tracks**: At 35 minutes long, every song contributes meaningfully to the album[1][5]. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Lack of Raw Energy**: Some critics feel that the slick production sacrifices spontaneity for polish[4]. 2. **Abstract Lyrics**: Tracks like "I’m In Touch With Your World" may alienate listeners seeking straightforward narratives[2]. 3. **Formulaic Moments**: While cohesive, some songs adhere closely to pop-rock formulas without much experimentation[4]. --- ### **Conclusion** *The Cars* by The Cars is an exceptional debut album that showcases the band’s mastery of melody, innovation in production, and ability to craft universally appealing songs. Its influence on new wave music cannot be overstated—it remains a benchmark for blending artistic ambition with commercial viability. While it may lack raw energy or lyrical depth in some areas, these minor shortcomings are overshadowed by its strengths. From iconic singles like "Just What I Needed" to deep cuts like "Moving In Stereo," this record delivers one classic after another. Ultimately, *The Cars* stands as one of the finest debut albums in rock history—a must-listen for fans of new wave or anyone interested in exploring how genre-blending can redefine popular music.

Kende 'm al, een favoriet, "Just What I Needed" in het bijzonder.

good fun! I enjoyed this album for the most part. Last few songs drop off a bit but it's an enjoyable listen. Classic late 70's

I enjoyed this album a lot. Very catchy and very fun. Some songs were a bit weak compared to others, but none that I disliked too much.

So good!

More of a crowd pleaser than a masterpiece. It’s not necessarily mediocre but it’s not an album I’m looking forward to playing again Just What I Needed Moving in Stereo You’re All I’ve Got Tonight All Mixed Up Bye Bye Love My Best Friend’s Girl Good Times Roll Don’t cha stop I’m in touch with your world

pretty good, a jolly old time

The strokes before the strokes were the strokes. Good Chunes!

Classic 80s

A fun and well-made pop album. I recognize this is quality but I can’t say I’m super into it myself. Best song: You Might Think

It's alright

No esta nada mael disco Los coches del grupo Los coches

The chorus! 😍😍😍

7/10

What a great album. All the hits hit hard, and the deep cuts could've been hits. That one, two, three punch of opening tracks is bold. I am here for it.

overrated

Crazy wie I dem Albom us luuter klassisch 80er songs kes wörk schlächt esch

A couple of good songs, but it gets very monotonous after a while.

The singles were great! Love the guitar work on this - really interesting and probably innovative for the time, and really helps this to stand out from the other synth-rock of the era. The rest of the album was kind of underwhelming to me songwriting-wise though.

Never listened to The Cars before. It was pretty short but solid album with a few good songs. I liked Good Times Roll, Just What I Needed and Moving In Stereo. Probably not something I'd revisit often but not bad. 5.5/10

I'm very close to giving this a 5. I can easily listen to this record from front to back and everything works, kinda sounds like a more commercial Devo now and then. There's nothing wrong with this but just cause I think it could be more, issa 4.

Starts out with three well known bangers, I really like the overall sound of The Cars. Pretty sharp guitars and love the vocals. There's even some synth I didn't expect. Pretty good!

Nice synthrock. Smooth.

Great find!

So many hits on one album. Amazing.!

Classic album! I love the cars and this is my favorite of theirs! It's literally got so many of their best songs on it! My best friends girl, just what I needed classic!

Would listen to again. 4/5

Often touted as the ultimate American new wave/pop crossover, in reality The Cars are much more pop and less new wave than, for example, the CBGBs bands like Blondie or Talking Heads who hit it big about the same time. In reality they’re straight ahead rockers and any connection with new wave is oblique at best. It sounds a bit overproduced in retrospect and the occasional weak tracks really are weak. What they are very good at is knocking out bona fide hits. Best Friend’s Girl in particular is a top notch bit of chart-ready songwriting.

I listened to this one once before and didn't really care for it. Just What I Needed is an absolute banger though.

Classic fun. So many catchy songs. Loved it.

Classic rock. Distinctive synth throughout. Lots and lots of classic hits.

I personally prefer Heartbeat City but this is an excellent debut album and a must have for any fan of the 80's. Rest in peace, Ric. You and the lads did good.

I enjoyed it. Not sure I’d go back to it, but very listenable!

Most of the songs are kind of annoying but the last two songs are good

👍

One song does not make an album and the rest is fairly meh.

Fine, held up by a couple big hits

Always liked the cars and I had this album. This is the first one I might give 5 stars as a "Must Listen" making me feel that the whole must listen album thing is just 100% subjective based on your history, not based at all on how good the actual music is. I always found the cars lyrics fun--it's like they'd just make up new uses for words that rhymed wherever needed, this whole album is packed with new uses for old words and weird twisty little phrases that kind of work or might even sound deep if you don't look into them too much.

One of the strongest debuts of all time, practically every song became a hit. I've obviously heard so many of the tracks so many times that I don't exactly ever throw this album on anymore these days. But think you gotta safely say this was a straight up new wave pop rock masterpiece

a very legible lyrical album, with feel good catchy beats.

Six out of five stars for the Cars. "Let them brush your rock'n'roll hair" alone puts this album among the constellations and it's not even from the best song, which is "Just What I Needed" - the best rock song ever. If Buddy Holly hadn't died in a plane crash but instead fell into a wormhole to the future and came back to 1978 as Ric Ocasek to show us the way.

I listened to this album on a channel called Classic Rock. The top comment is from a guy who talks about the custom hi-fi setup in his 1965 Pontiac GTO. “Cars were blaring along with meatloaf, Styx, Edgar Winter Group, Warren Zevon, Kansas…” and so forth. So that pretty well grounds this recording in time, place and cultural zeitgeist. Like a lot of music of its ilk, I feel no need to revisit some of these megahits, which are probably playing right now on your local Boomer FM album-oriented rock stations. But past the first few tracks, I hear a tension within the band between the vaguely retro bubblegum pop hits of “Good Times Roll” and “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend” that made this band famous and more adventurous fare like “Moving in Stereo” and “Don’t Cha Stop.” Suspecting there may have been multiple songwriters, I checked, and they’re all credited to Ric Ocasek. Which I supposed figures: In addition to marrying Paulina Porizkova, he went on to become a sought-after producer, with credits on albums from the likes of Bad Brains, Weezer and Guided by Voices.

Heckuva debut, and heckuva kick-off song on a heckuva debut. First three songs all bangers. Second half forgettable. But what an album to launch a band on.

Unassailable killer:filler ratio here

I knew the singles but never heard this all the way thru. Wow. Not a filler song in the bunch, really. Proof that if you avoid LPs full of hit singles for 3 or 4 decades, it can sound fresh then.

What's not to love about this one? It was also fun to get reacquainted with "I'm in Touch With Your World". What a wonderfully weird song.

Loved all of it! only 1 song I didn’t know

I do like me some New Wave!

Gives you a lot of the early 80s classic rock vibes. Great album to turn on for a long hike or on a long car ride

Ein, zwei gute Lieder, aber ansonsten etwas öde. Ohne Ecken und Kanten und inoffensive, man macht damit nicht viel falsch halt

Hit after hit 4.5

Love the Cars, what a classic opening album from an underappreciated American band!

It’s 1978 and a new, local rock band hits the Boston music scene. Let The Good Times Roll, and they did! The Cars is like a greatest hits debut, seven (out of nine) of the songs became hits and got plenty of radio play. Strong start, strong finish with a new sound at the time. Always liked Moving In Stereo and evidently still do. L = (4.5*s) J = (4.2*s)

What a debut album...almost every song is a greatest hits. A slight dip in the kick ass with "I'm in Touch With Your World" and "Don't Cha Stop" but still not bad. The Cars figured out how to make a great rock song. Just when you think it's perfect they throw something else in that elevates it even further. "Moving in Stereo" could be my fave Cars song...it's so good. Perfect driving back from an awesome trip in Sedona...4.25.

What an incredible debut by The Cars. It's basically hit after hit for 35 minutes. They bring a great sound with mixed vocals, some good guitar and keyboard lines and a couple of off-the-beaten path tracks that work. I guess you could improve it by removing the final song, but even that song isn't bad. Just rename this The Cars Greatest Hits and call it a day. Been looking forward to this album and it delivered. Full marks. 4.38 stars

Loved this, top shelf dad rock. Certain shades of Queen, even Sparks and Talking Heads. Of course Just What I Needed is a stone cold classic but I also loved You’re All I’ve Got Tonight and Moving in Stereo. Just a solid solid 35 minutes of rock goodness. (4.5 stars)

I only knew the first three songs, frim the radio I suppose. The rest were forgettable.

I enjoyed this and knew most of these songs of course. Some of the songs I hadn't heard were pretty catchy too. I originally didn't like The Cars much but I've grown to appreciate them a bit more now. 4 stars

The first 3 tracks are all classics. An incredibly strong opening for a band's debut. There's another run of 3 classics later in the album. 6 of the 9 tracks are certified Best Of material which is quite impressive given the career they ended up having. 4 stars.

De jaren 80 komen er aan

1- 2/5 low-key wanna skip 😞(i did soz) 2- 2.5/5 like 😈 but also idk 3- 4/5 already heart this song😈🙏( i know it’s popular🙄) 4- 3.5/5 i fw this (?) yea i do 😈 5-3/5 😈🤨😏 6- 3.5/5 i can c me fw this 😈🙏🤭😏 7- 4/5 this goes harddd 😈🙏‼️ 8- 4/5 listened 2 this alot b4😞 it just goes so hard tho😈🫃 9- 3.5/5 idkkkkk ngl wait kinda real tho 😈

Pretty good, light weight

A decent half of an album but fizzles in later stages but better than I was expecting.

Forgettable 80's-sounding synthy pop-rock.

The Cars had a number of hits on pop radio back in the late 70s and 80s, and I've heard them all, mostly on the radio at the time. I enjoyed the songs, but I have mostly just thought of The Cars as an 80s pop band. And I suppose they sort of are, but Prince was also on 80s pop radio. Sitting down and actually listening to this album consciously, as opposed to stumbling across one song at a time, often in the background, I see that this is a lot better than typical 80s pop. This is really good. If I had a 10 point rating, I might only give this 7, but a very strong seven. And I would even consider 7 1/2, so I'll be rounding up when converting to a 5 star scale. Having heard all of these, I am pleasantly surprised to be giving The Cars 4 stars.

A classic! The one miss is "I'm in Touch With Your World" which sounds like an elementary school band trying to write a Talking Heads song. The rest of it is just a delight. Nearly every track is a classic rock radio hit, and the few new-to-me songs were great as well.

cars are everywhere

Just what I needed is a banger the rest are pretty good sax at the end was good variation

Fine album.

To find out this was a debut and not a greatest hits album took me by surprise. I don’t know I knew and enjoyed so many songs by the Cars. Great album.

Has a number of very good hits on it. Impressive for a debut album. Good classic album to listen to

Interesting!

Lots of solid tracks. A couple filler songs, but overall a solid record.

I love this album. It's really tight and has a bunch of fantastic songs, and their sound is amazing. I think there's just enough dead weight to not give this 5 stars, but it's really close.

Almost textbook rock songwriting with nothing unusual on the surface but a few weird moments on closer inspection. Enjoyable throughout. Only real complaint is it was too short - but maybe that's just right. 4.0/5.0: Great

Lots of people are praising this album as a 5/5 but I just don't see it. I have a feeling nostalgia is fuelling some of those ratings. There's not really wrong with the album, I just think there's better albums out there.

Love the sound, like the tunes. Good vibes, just would have liked more bangers. No bad songs, but no songs better than Just What I Needed.

Amazing

2/5 Some hits but this just isn't for Chad!

Good album. I had heard a few of the songs before and they are great. Good stuff

Best Weezer album

It's a good album. Hell, I guess it's a great album, but it just feels a little generic to me, even if they might have contributed to the invention of this generic sound. Still, it deserves its place here.

There are great moments in this album, especially the 2 last songs when the band becomes more uplifting. Enjoyable new wave, but I can't say I would come back to it very often.

Always admired The Cars and Ric Ocasek as a tight band and producer (see Weezer, Nada Surf, No Doubt) but don't think I ever put on this album or any Cars album fully. Probably heard it in the background when I was a toddler. This album is tight. Sure some new wave influence but Power Pop city. Catchy as F, guitars forward. Short and sweet from front to finish.

I get triggered whenever I hear Just What I Needed.

Background music for sure. Relatively inoffensive, and some thoughtful and novel (for the time) synth usage, but I can't imagine a time, place, or mood where listening to this would feel appropriate. I hear the Suicide influence, so it gets another star.

balto

Decent album. 3 stars

Excellent. Could be a greatest hits.

Albumzinho gostoso. Dá para imaginar dançando nas boates, cantando alguma música loucamente. Gostei principalmente de My Best Friend's Girl, Don't Cha Stop e a dobradinha You're All I've Got Tonight e Bye Bye Love

2,5

A perfect pop-rock album. 5 out of the 9 nine songs still get radio play (Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, You're All I've Got Tonight, and Moving In Stereo). The other 4 tracks are pretty good. I'm In Touch With Your World is so goofy with all the sounds effects - I love it!

Classic 4/5

They might as well have just repackaged this album when they put out their first greatest hits. It’s nothing but gold on here!

I never knew how amazing this album was! This is why I do this. To discover gems like these

A short and sweet buffet of bangers.

I think I definitely wasn’t in the mood for this album.

I mean, it rules

One of the easier rates on the list. A pop rock/power pop record to define everything that precedes it. It's almost as if all 80s rock started and ended here

Fine album. Not something I’d turn on real often but I like it.

I really recognised the cover but hadn’t heard this album before. What a bop! Really enjoyed this perfect half hour slice of synth heavy pop rock. Great stuff!

kinda boring

This is actually quite good. Those first three tracks are obviously classics. But I ended up really enjoying the rest of it as well.

Really great!

now THIS is a proper album. notice how they didn’t make the album longer than it has to be while still maintaining unique personalities for each track? perfect amount of catchiness, perfect amount of boldness. chef’s kiss. elliot smith and david ackles, TAKE NOTE

Omg i love new wave so much i knew this was gonna be absolutely fucking great and boy was i RIGHT x

A very fun album all around some great gituar and keyboard combinations my favourite track is don’t cha stop by a long shot

Hit after hit! Great use of synths and I feel every song on this album was in some sort of 80s movie.

Lovely catchy tunes - thanks!

Started out ok, felt pretty generic rock. But as I listened more and more, it got better and better. Just What I Needed is a classic, great song. Other fun songs were Don't Cha Stop and You're All I Got Tonight. They ended the album Moving In Stereo and All Mixed Up, both of which had really good music, great vibe. Overall most songs are 4s, with a few 3s and a couple 5s, but all together, this album just hits the spot. Best song: Just What I Needed

i don't like the cover art, i don't like the vibes, and crucially, i don't like the music

Just fine, nothing really stuck with me.

I don’t mind this, but not particularly notable

weezer начинали свою карьеру под предводительством Рика Окасека - фронтмена the cars. теперь я понимаю почему они принципиально хотели поработать именно с ним

just what i needed is a classic but the rest is boring

Classic.

So not my style but Just What I Needed, Bye Bye Love, and Don't Cha Stop are okay. Moving in Stereo is good. Love the futuristic 8-bit synth sounds on the album. Pity about the REST.

Neat to see Ric Ocasek while he was still playing (I know him for producing Weezer's blue album). It's a solid enough album but none of the songs really stuck out to me. Cool this is on the list but also would've liked to see a Weezer album.

Kul! Bra! Inga riktiga bangers kanske men ändå riktigt bra. Var lite förvånad över att det kom ut -78, känns nyare. Någonstans mellan 3-4 för mig men jag ger det 3 av 5 idag.

An ok album with one two good and recognisable songs, but nothing that exciting.

Neither bad not good

A lot of hits on this one. I would give it a 5 but a couple songs came up short.

Pop that no longer appeals to me. You can listen to it once, but you quickly forget about it because it doesn't arouse any emotions.

The Cars were great and this album is pretty damn good too. Also brings back some wonderful 80s memories.

One of the best album of music history!

Amazing album. Feels like i'm going to an unknown family cabin to be murdered in a cool slasher

Felt a bit flat to me but can see that it’s a solid new wave album which isn’t my thing Favourite song: Just what I needed (is it a murder song?!?)

Baller status

This is great. Kind of proto pop/punk/new wave and in a good way. Lots of songs I'm coming back to. A great listen. Maybe this is a low 5. Like 4.7. But I haven't had a really really good album for a while so this is a 5. Best songs: Moving in stereo My Best Friend's Girl (some superb little guitar licks here) Just What I Needed

Hard to believe this is a debut album, just so many great songs that I heard many, many times over the years. Really enjoyed listening to this all over again.

Dat derde album van Big Star kun je eigenlijk niet echt meer omschrijven als Power Pop, als je iets daarna dit hoort. Het is zoet, het is catchy, en het heeft een lekker tempo. De eerste drie nummers vooral, daarna zakt het wel wat in. Ergens vind ik het heel goed in elkaar steken, maar aan de andere kant kan ik veel songs niet écht serieus nemen. Enfin, ik heb grotendeel van de nummers mee geneuried, dus een ruime voldoende is wel op z'n plaats. 7/10 Highlights: Just What I Needed Bye Bye Love All Mixed Up

Album vol met veels te aangedikte 80-s tracks. Maar gelukkig waren de echte guilty 80's nog niet aangebroken in 1978, anders was deze plaat echt helemaal uit de bocht gevlogen. De zoete catchy powerpop wordt nu af en toe aangevuld met een rock n roll solo. Toch nog een nawee uit de 70's. Het is pop en het is zoet, en toch ben ik blij dat de synths en echte guilty hooks hier ontbreken. Dat maakt deze plaat wel behapbaar. 7/10 Just what I Needed You're All I've Got Tonight

this is definitely one of my all time favourite albums, one hit after another, pure gold and the 2016 mastering gets even more out of it

Why do I feel funny when in my pants when I hear "Moving in Stereo" from this album? IYKYK DOGGLER! Seriously though, next time you listen to that track- pan between the left and right channels. Trust me, it's cool. The rest of the album is a damn-near masterpiece. If they had an extra guitar playing the keys parts instead it would be perfect, but that's just my own personal preference.

I liked it. Out of the records in the same era this has a bit of a different vibe to it.

3/5

Oh, very fun! I know at least a few of these songs already, but could not have told you they come from The Cars. Nice work, y'all 👏👏👏

This album is only 9 songs long, and 4 of them are bonafide classics, and that's not including Good Times Roll, Bye Bye Love and All Mixed Up. Seriously, inject that saxophone at the end of All Mixed Up straight into my veins. Just What I Needed is in the conversation for the best pop song of all time. This is new wave. 5 Stars.

Totally listenable if maybe a little average. I like that this isn't needlessly 1 hour and 10 minutes with like 3 seven minute tracks as they albums often are.

This feels like a bit of an inflection point for the punkier rock elements of the '70s starting to give way to more of the '80s synth pop. This has a bit of a nice mix of the two in a way that sounds pretty fresh compared to a lot of the other stuff I've gotten on here (though still dated now of course). I generally don't really love the '80s pop stuff, but I think I like the songs that lean into it a bit more on here, the others can be a bit generic sounding. This also gets out to a hot start, the first three songs on here are all hits. It falls of a bit after that, but the vibes are generally solid. This feels like a 3.5 to me. It's not my favorite thing in the world, but the vibe is good and there's a few hits. I think it's going to be a round down situation, but it's close. Favorite song: Just What I Needed Other: Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, Don't Cha Stop, Bye Bye Love, All Mixed Up 2/4/25

I love The Cars. I love this album. Every song is catchy, fun, and a hit. No notes.

Ocasek and Orr are a lead duo for the ages. The Cars (the album) indelibly changed the sound of music in a way that people should write books about. Long live The Cars.

i'm half tempted to give this a 5 but there was one or two songs that were a little lesser

fun album, pretty basic rock but still enjoyable listen.

Loved listening to this. Something about the sound was just so juicy, sultry but upbeat. Can't wait to listen again

I suppose when you open your album with 3 of your best ever songs the rest may seem a bit lacklustre by comparison but still a bloody good record I enjoyed revisiting.

very enjoyable pop rock

Fine

I didn't know what to expect and honestly didn't get much.

Bubblegum pop, as Spotify calls this band, isn’t my thing. Getting through this album from start to finish was a real struggle.

The Cars never did anything to me, boring pop music that blew up for some reason. I find this just an annoying amalgamation of music styles that have more bite, watered down to... this.

Not a horrible album 7/10

Some good tracks but not my favourite.

Nothing wrong with this album, but I found most of the tracks to be a bit bland and boring. I like their hit, Drive, but the sound of that track is world's apart from the fare on this, The Car's debut album.

I love almost every song on this album. I mean, they kind of also all sound the same, but when they’re all bangers, that’s all right by me. “All Mixed Up” is kinda skippable though. 3.75 stars.

Holy smokes this album kicks off with a bang! The first three songs are certified HITS. Unfortunately, the rest of the album struggles to live up to their standard. They never really find their footing again as they lean heavily on their synths and even try their hand at some Bowie-esque tunes.

A debut album with an incredible list of hits I don’t listen to outside of radio play.

I like the Cars, and several hits on this album that certainly make it noteworthy enough for a 4/5. However, the Cars do get old kinda quick. Couldn't real stand to listen to another playthrough. The album could've benefited from another song that's closer to "Drive" to change it up a bit.

Collection of radio friendly BANGERS. I don't have a car so -1. 5-1 / 5

Some very early new wave. Rather middle-of-the-road as the genre goes, basic lyrics and verse-chorus-verse structures. The chorus of 'Just what I needed' does pop off to be fair but the rest I forgot soon after listening. Pleasant to listen to; won't blow anyone's socks off.

now thats more like it!! the harmonised sections in "good times roll" are literally identical to Queen damn this was very enjoyable i liked it, it's fun and energetic and still feels very modern despite being almost 50 years old

what a vibe!!

Leading the way of “Cool Rock” skirting the edge of comical, but laying down such intricate tracks mixed with the subtle synth, and backed by tasty guitar riffs and paired with exquisite production value and mastering. Perhaps the vocals push this the farthest into atypical territory and cast a bit of light on the comical tones. However, when considering other cool bands ala Cake or Devo, the Cars feel like the format to construct around. This album being the blue prints for jovial and tight rock mastery. It is in a class of its own, and stands today as music made for the sole purpose of having fun.

Excellent songs all around. Ric Ocasek has such a penchant for perfect power pop. Love this album.

LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! It has something really special about it. It was technically released in the seventies but it sounds quintessentially “80s” which says a lot about how influential the album was at the time. It’s wildly catchy and fun. The production is excellent, and it’s definitely dated but in the best possible way. Nearly everything on the album is a “hit” song. This is probably The Cars best album (the two following this one are both great) so definitely worth your time. Oh and it’s like the perfect length, does not overstay it’s welcome at all, not bloated just to pad the run time. Perfect album!