Did anybody know The Cars were back together?

[FORD]

No, it's not another Elliot Easton ripoff tribute band featuring Todd Rundgren this time around, but Ric Ocasek and the rest of the surviving members. Had no idea this was even going on, but apparently the album is out today.

And here's two of the new songs........

[Terry]

Read about it maybe 2 or 3 months ago, and that everyone in the band outside of (obviously) Benjamin Orr was turning up this time.

I really liked a lot of what the Cars did...outside of Heartbeat City, which I wasn't too crazy about. The new stuff is okay...I dunno. The Cars were never really all that great of a live band even back in the day, and it gets tiresome when these older bands get together and end up tuning a 1/4 to a 1/2 step down from the original recorded tunings to accomodate the vocals...it just doesn't sound right to my ears, and while I don't know if The Cars are gonna do this on whatever upcoming live dates they have scheduled, it wouldn't be a shock.

It's neat that they got back together for whomever wants to go see them, but I'll pass.

[Mr. Vengeance]

I like The Cars. Certainly better than most of the shit we get presented with these days. You have to give 'em this- they are among a handful of 80s bands who you can recognize immediately, before the singer sings, Boston being the leader in this regard. (Ramones are the all-time leader, but they are above classification in their greatness). Oh and not counting shitty-ass U2, who suck ass, and you know them because every fucking song had that same ding-a-ling-a-ling guitar sound.....

[Diamondjimi]

I dig their first 3 albums. Good to see Ocasek back with them. As brilliant as Rundgren is, its not the same.

Elliot is a great guitarist. Don't hear much of him on these tracks.........

[sadaist]

Holy crap. Must be the quietest reunion announcement ever. WTF! I would have liked to catch a show. Dang. Candy-O was my first 8 track I ever owned. Glad Ocasek is back. never thought he would. Gives me some hope that Steve Perry might do a Journey reunion.

From tonight in Seattle.

[fryingdutchman]

Just heard a promo for the new music on the radio the other day.

I was also shocked to hear about it, and my initial reaction was that it was some bastardized pseudo-reunion that wouldn't be worth my time.

But it's interesting with Ocasek back in the mix.

However, Ben Orr was such an unsung hero in that band, I think he'll really be missed.

[WACF]

I prefer Sad Song...The Cars are one band I really miss.

Them and VH blasting back in the early '80's...great times.

I agree that with the loss of Orr...it leaves a huge hole...a huge part of that band.

[Nitro Express]

I prefer Sad Song...The Cars are one band I really miss.

Them and VH blasting back in the early '80's...great times.

I agree that with the loss of Orr...it leaves a huge hole...a huge part of that band.

They were unique. I listened to The Cars often on my Astrotune while skiing. Man an iPod would have been nice in those days.

[twonabomber]

i saw the Cars on their last tour. it was probably the worst show i've ever seen. i know they were just phoning it in and really hating each other then, but i won't go see them again.

my uncle was friends with Orr back in his Cleveland club days, used to go to Sunday dinner at his parent's place.

[kwame k]

Without Benjamin Orr, there is no Cars........

[FORD]

Yeah, people think of Ocasek as the "frontman", but Orr sang a lot of their songs. Including some of the better ones. Definitely a huge part of the band, and probably a big part of why Ocasek and David Robinson didn't want anything to do with that fiasco of a "reunion" with Rundgren a few years ago.

As for the 2 new songs I posted above, the first one is a little "Devo-ish" in the keyboards, while the second is more of a vintage Cars sound. If the rest of the album was more like that, I'll probably buy it. Guess I already missed their concert though.......

[Hardrock69]

1. I think Elliot Easton is a masterful solo player. Meaning, his guitar solos were always inventive and unique.

2. The Cars may have had some hits, sold a buncha records, etc. but in my mind there is one accomplishment that stands out far above all that, in fact, one accomplishment that stands far above all other rock bands on the planet:

Speaking of which, I found this 2 year old bit of info on the above scene:

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/80s/content/fast-times-and-phoebe-cates-named-top-nude-scene-all-time-mr-skin

AUGUST 11, 2009
'Fast Times' and Phoebe Cates named top nude scene of all time by Mr. Skin

Phoebe_cates_fast_times Phoebe Cates' bikini-busting topless scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High has been named the No. 1 celebrity nude scene of all time by the website Mr. Skin.

This confirms two things. 1) Co-star Judge Reinhold should now officially be acquitted of his actions in the bathroom afterward. 2) There's only one job better than writing Stuck in the '80s and that's obviously working at Mr. Skin, the very adult website that basically is in the business of pointing out exactly where to find celebrity nudity in mainstream Hollywood movies. (Call me!)

"This is the celebrity nude scene to which all other celebrity nude scenes must answer," Mr. Skin said in justifying its pick of Phoebe. "The power of this moment comes from a young star at her most beautiful, a sexy slow-motion build-up, and the relatable circumstance of a teenage crush on your sister’s hot friend. After Fast Times, Phoebe Cates never did a topless scene again. Her work was done!"

Only one other '80s scene landing in the Top 10 -- and no, it's not Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places (the obvious and correct pick). Instead, Mr. Skin chose to tap Kelly Preston -- no pun intended -- for the No. 6 spot for 1985's Mischief.

Here's where other '80s scenes landed in their ranking. Also worth noting that Molly Ringwald's nude shot in Malicious made the list at No. 96, but I don't include it below since it was released in 1995. And if you want to see the full Mr. Skin list, click here. It's pretty risque so you might want to wait until you get home. Also worth noting: No male nudity!

1. Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
6. Kelly Preston in Mischief (1985)
12. Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places (1983)
14. Kaki Hunter in Porky’s (1982)
25. Kim Basinger in 9 1/2 Weeks (1986)
28. Sherilyn Fenn in Two Moon Junction (1988)
41. Lisa Bonet in Angel Heart (1987)
47. Julie Andrews in S.O.B. (1981)
55. Mariel Hemingway in Personal Best (1982)
58. Linda Blair and Sybil Danning in Chained Heat (1983)
65. Goldie Hawn in Wildcats (1986)
69. Joyce Hyser in Just One of the Guys (1985)
74. Michelle Johnson in Blame It on Rio (1984)
79. Daryl Hannah in Splash (1984)
84. Mathilda May in Lifeforce (1985)
95. Betsy Russell in Private School (1983)

[Terry]

Elliot Easton IS brilliant; his solos are short, punchy. memorable and totally service the songs. So many of them sound like they were off-the-cuff, but I recall reading an interview with him where he said he was pretty meticulous when working those solos out.

Side 2 of the Cars first album is fan-fucking-tastic.

[SunisinuS]

No, it's not another Elliot Easton ripoff tribute band featuring Todd Rundgren this time around, but Ric Ocasek and the rest of the surviving members. Had no idea this was even going on, but apparently the album is out today.

And here's two of the new songs........

Well at least the Auto Bailout did some good. And I agree, Easton had the ability to make some very tasty solos in the pop world; always on the edge of being understated and then.....you go....what they hell did he just do?

For some reason one time we were travelling about an hour to surf in so cal on the freeway....and KLOS put on a 6 pack of cars and and Van Halen....Beautiful Girls and Just What I Needed (or whatever the title) went down like a cold beer together....while driving to spend the afternoon surfing.

[twonabomber]

Easton's solo on Tonight She Comes is just fucking perfect.