The Cars (Official Thread)

TheCARS1979

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I believe the CARS were newwave guitar rock. Since the CARS formed in 1976 I dont think they are a 80s band either. In the late 70s they were considered the band that saved us from disco. When Benjamin Orr sang Just What I Needed, the song that made the CARS popular. They released the first album in mid 1978 with model Natalya Medenova on the cover with red lipstick. In 1979 , Candyo was a raw song, the whole Candyo album is now timeless. The most sought out album cover of all time with a girl named Candyo on the cover. Alberto Vargas came out of retirement to do the cover art for the CARS. In 1980 Panorama they still were kind of raw new wave with a song Ben Orr did called Running to you, Up and Down, Misfit kid, and Panorama an amazing song. When Shake it Up came out they changed a little more but never let go of the sound of the CARS guitar rock, newwave mix. When 1983 rolled around they just changed with the times. They were called mainstream. My favorite albums are the first 3. I love the 4th one too. Heartbeat City for me comes in at 5, but it don't mean I don't like it. Door to Door comes in last for me and also doesnt mean I dont like it. I m so glad they're back. I like the new album. I just wish Ben Orr was still with us. Its kind of heartbreaking.
 
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stepcousin

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Love 'em. Elliott Easton is my favorite member of the band. Those first few albums he is very prominent, his guitar is what I listen to most when I listen to the The Cars.
 

JimmyByrne09

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About 4 months ago, I would have puked on spot, once anyone mentioned The Cars. But then, I grew a pair, bought the "Best Of" album and now, as cheesy as they are, I think they're pretty good. I've grown very vulnerable to catchy, cheesy songs lately. I don't know what it is, but the cars just make me feel like jumping back and fourth. Haha
 

Soot and Stars

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I had a Cars session tonight and played both of these back to back listening to both albums in full since purchasing them:

52.jpg
the-cars-candy-o-cd-album-art-46575.jpeg


I really prefer the debut a lot although they are both good albums! The debut doesn't have a bad track on it! The two gems for me though are these two:

You're All I've Got Tonight
I fell in love with this track first hearing The Pumpkins cover of it. I won't attempt to insult fans of The Cars by stating which version I prefer but I love the original. It's got a great groove and thumping beat. This song burst with energy and is wonderfully strange!


All Mixed Up
I'm surprised this track hasn't been posted. It's darker in tone than the rest and is almost different than the rest of the album. I love everything from the chorus to the jazz elements!
 

mrJim

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The Cars are one of my all-time favorites. I was fairly young when they came on but I always thought of them as new wave driven by guitar first mentality. Which is why I like them so much, they just did on their terms. Ultimately I think they opened some doors for others.

I have a lot of their stuff (probably most everything) either on Vinyl or CD and I’ll never let it go. That said I never listened to that new stuff. I just felt it had run it course and really didnt have a place to come back to with anything new. After listening to it in this thread, I think I may have been right.

It doesn’t take anything away from how much I think they influenced music or how great I think they are.

I always felt Ric Ocasek generally had an indifferent attitude towards everything so it’s not overly surprising that it translated into some of his shows maybe even all of them. I only wish I was lucky enough to actually see one of their shows live.

To be honest that indifference just attracted me to them. Catchy goodtime new wave.. driven from rocking guitar, with indifference attitude. All the good music and Ocasek would stand there like he really didn’t care… kind of like “screw you just listen to the music and enjoy it, or you just leave get out.”

that was what made it pretty damn cool! for me Always was always will be

Jim
 

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