Ever since I heard that The Cars were in the studio again after 24 years on hiatus (Ric Ocasek in 2007: "it will never happen, mark my words"), I've greatly anticipated this record. The Cars were (are?), in my view, the greatest New Wave band. From the late 70's through the mid-80's, they were all over the radio and MTV. Featuring the potent combination of impossibly catchy tunes and Ric Ocasek's oblique and cynical lyrics, they were part of the best that the 80's had to offer. Part of the soundtrack of my most impressionable musical years.
Ocasek had a new batch of tunes that he was preparing for a new solo album, and had the wisdom to admit that what he actually had was a killer set of Cars tunes. He just needed The Cars. So he contacted the other members who were only too happy to give it another shot. Four of the five original members are here, missing only bassist/vocalist Benjamin Orr, who passed away in 2000 from pancreatic cancer. But from dedicating the album to him to using one of his old bass guitars to play the bass parts on the album (handled by keyboardist Greg Hawkes), Orr's spirit was definitely present during these sessions. Ocasek also admitted in a recent interview that half of these songs would sound better with Orr's smooth vocals (on most Cars records, the vocal duties are split about 50/50 between Orr and the quirkier, jerkier Ocasek. I've always preferred Ocasek because his vocals are more idiosyncratic, but Orr had a killer rock voice, no doubt.)
The previous six Cars albums can be divided roughly into three groups. The classics (The Cars, Candy-O), the very good (Shake It Up, Heartbeat City) and the mediocre to bad (Panorama, Door To Door). This new one fits firmly in the middle category. Fortunately, it does not sound like an old band trying to recapture the past. Move Like This sounds as if it were recorded contemporaneously with their other material, yet feels alive and relevant on its own terms today. The band is tight, Ocasek's voice has not aged at all, and his writing, on the whole, is still quite sharp.
It is definitely stronger in the first half, starting with the instant Cars classic "Blue Tip," which should send any Cars fan into a frenzy of nostalgia and joy. The ballad "Soon" is quite beautiful, and while Ocasek does an admirable job singing it, you can just imagine Ben Orr's smoother voice all over this modern "Drive." "Too Late" is full of strong hooks and the rocker "Keep On Knocking" is strong as well, while single "Sad Song" (not sad or slow at all, by the way), is a direct link to their debut (think "My Best Friend's Girl," musically speaking, complete with crisp guitar lines and hand claps). "Free" also has killer hooks. From that midpoint the record sort of loses its steam and freshness, but nothing is bad. It does finish on a high note with the catchy rocker "Hits Me." (Also, if you buy it at Best Buy, their exclusive deluxe edition features some bonus Ocasek demo tracks of some very strong tunes that did not make the album proper, I would recommend them).
Move Like This is a fine addition to The Cars impressive legacy, and I certainly hope that this is a new beginning for them instead of a one-off reunion. With the exception of Ben Orr's absence, it sounds like they never left.
***1/2 out of *****
ABOVE: I know I posted this once before, but here is the video for "Blue Tip" once again
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