Old Cars, New Cars
Did you hear that The Cars have a new album? Well, actually, it’s not the original line up, it’s The “New” Cars, with a new lineup and it’s a live album with a few new studio tracks and a new summer tour lined up with Blondie. So what’s all the fuss about huh? It’s who’s involved that’s causing the interest.It isn’t The Cars co-founder and lead vocalist Ric Ocasek. He’s sticking with his solo career. Sadly, vocalist/bassist Ben Orr passed away back in 2000.
Ocasek & Orr hooked up with lead guitarist Elliot Easton in the mid-70s to form Cap’n Swing. This band was short lived, becoming The Cars in 1976, pulling into the lineup, Greg Hawkes on keyboards and Dave Robinson (Modern Lovers) on drums. Six studio albums followed, the most successful of which was Heartbeat City in 1984. In 1988 the band said they were calling it a day, probably due to so much side solo project work from most members which continues on to present day.
What's New?
Enter the New Cars in 2006. So what does this bring now? Well, an interesting lineup for sure, featuring original members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes. Added new (Well, he’s been around forever but ….) lead vocalist/guitarist Todd Rundgren (Nazz, Utopia, etc, also the guy that produced “that” album Bat Out Of Hell,) his Utopia bud Kasim Sulton (bass / vocals) and all around session man and Tubes drummer, Prairie Prince.It’s certainly a powerful group in rock terms, with some edge to it, but how does it sound as The “New” Cars? Truth be told, I love it! Fifteen great live cuts, including the album’s first single, “Not Tonight” and three new studio tracks. It also contains cuts from Mr. Rundgren’s background: “Open My Eyes” (from Nazz days) and “I Saw The Light.” I guess he was bound to want something of his own in the set before he agreed to sing The Cars back catalogue.
First Listen
Seriously though, from opener “Just What I Needed,” through well known Cars numbers, “Let’s Go,” and “Candy-O” (on which, incidentally, Mr. Rundgren sounds very David Byrne-like) the guitars are seriously riffing away.In my opinion, the band’s live tracks have a stronger rock edge than their studio releases. I never saw them with Ric, though would’ve liked to, but I always more than admired Mr. Ocasek’s writing ability both with The Cars and solo. This is certainly a good way of presenting a new lineup, mixing classic songs from back catalog with a few newies on your “comeback (?)” album.
The new songs? Well, you’ve probably heard “Not Tonight” by now, and it sounds like it could have been something Ric Ocasek had written for sure. “Warm” impressed me as something that wouldn’t go amiss on something by Jeff Lynne / ELO. Pure pop and actually great. “More” is the last cut. Funnily enough, it starts not too differently from “Best Friends Girl,” with hints of the sound Modern English had with “Melt With You.”
All said and done, I think they’ve more than done themselves justice and the tour should be great. Pick this up when it comes out, pop it in the car CD player and -- dare I say it? -- just Drive!
