THE CARS Boston new-wavers in prime, mega-star and reunion models
The Cars Heartbeat City Move Like This
The Cars may have seemed shiny when Elektra launched its newwave flagship act, but years of toiling on the East Coast club circuit made the members ready to capitalise with a perfect set of honed powerpop that added synth-laden modernism to songs that might’ve been staples of sock hops 20 years before. MTV peers like Duran Duran might’ve been prettier, but the Cars still made out well during the music video’s golden age thanks to the gimmicky clip for Ocasek’s bubblegum-y “You Might Think” and a more haunting one for Orr’s exquisite “Drive”. Their ubiquity ensured multi-platinum sales for Heartbeat City. Though Orr’s death in 2000 sadly deprived the band of its most mellifluous voice, The Cars’ first studio LP since their 1988 split is a strong emulation of the late-‘70s model so beloved by The Strokes. Tight, terse, tuneful, “Keep On Knocking”, “Sad Song” and “Free” all might have made the cut for the first album.