The Cars
The Cars
Play The Cars
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MOG Editorial Review
It's rare that a debut album has feels as fully realized as the Cars' 1978 masterpiece, a collection of tunes that found them crafting radio-friendly rock hits and experimental new wave jams with equal vigor. While listeners might simply remember the album for infamous tracks like "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed," a fresh spin will make you remember that the band crafted synth-heavy songs like "I'm in Touch With Your World" that could have easily gone toe-to-toe with the Talking Heads output at the time. History might remember the Cars for their mainstream appeal, but their debut album serves as concrete evidence that they could craft something strange and wonderful just as well.
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AMG Review of Cars
Greg Prato
All Music GuideThe Cars' 1978 self-titled debut, issued on the Elektra label, is a genuine rock masterpiece. The band jokingly referred to the album as their "true greatest-hits album," but it's no exaggeration -- all nine tracks are new wave/rock classics, still in rotation on rock radio. Whereas most bands of the late '70s embraced either punk/new wave or hard rock, the Cars were one of the first bands to do the unthinkable -- merge the two styles together. Add to it bandleader/songwriter Ric Ocasek's supreme pop sensibilities, and you had an album that appealed to new wavers, rockers, and Top 40 fans. One of the most popular new wave songs ever, "Just What I Needed," is an obvious highlight, as are such familiar hits as "Good Times Roll," "My Best Friend's Girl," and "You're All I've Got Tonight." But like most consummate rock albums, the lesser-known compositions are just as exhilarating: "Don't Cha Stop," "Bye Bye Love," "All Mixed Up," and "Moving in Stereo," the latter featured as an instrumental during a steamy scene in the popular movie #Fast Times at Ridgemont High. With flawless performances, songwriting, and production (courtesy of Queen alumni Roy Thomas Baker), the Cars' debut remains one of rock's all-time classics.






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