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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

The New Cars - It's Alive

Label - Eleven Seven Music
Reviewed by: Jason Carzon
Genre: Prog Rock
Country: America
Language: English
Length: NA
Release Date: June 6, 2006
Label:
Eleven Seven Music
Band Members: Todd Rundgren: vocals Greg Hawkes: keyboards
  Elliot Easton: lead guitar Kasim Sulton: bass
  Prairie Prince: drums
 
Track Listing: 1.)- Just What I Needed 11.)-Shake It Up
  2.)- Let's Go 12.)- Dangerous Type
  3.)- Candy-O 13.)- Bye Bye Love
  4.)-You Might Think 14.)-Open My Eyes
  5.)- Best Friend's Girl 15.)-Good Time Roll
  6.)-I Saw The Light 16.)-Not Tonight
  7.)-You're All I've Got Tonight 17.)-Warm
  8.)-Not Tonight 18.) More
  9.)-Drive  
  10.)-Moving In Stereo
The Review

What's this? Todd Rundgren is the new lead singer of The Cars? How does this work? Actually, pretty good in fact. It goes like this: Boston's The Cars were one of the most influential bands of the new wave era and had a ten year run of classic singles and albums characterized by the fusing of 60's pop elements, jagged-edged electronics, killer harmonies, a cool and detatched image and deceptively simple yet ironic lyrics bordering on Beat poetry. The Cars were artier than some give them credit for- they delivered 3 minute songs of the catchiest rock alive, like some of New Wave Buddy Holly. But there also was a darker element which more than leans towards the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and Kraftwerk.***

The original Cars were lead by Ric Ocasek, who handled all the writing, along with rhythm guitar and half of the vocals. Ric was the modern beatnik side of the band, a driven conceptualist and decent producer. Riding with him were bassist Benjamin Orr, a rocker with pin-up good looks who brought to the table a smooth melodic rock voice which acted as a perfect counterpart to Ocasek's more neurotic and detatched vocal style. Orr was the poop star side of the band. Keyboardist Greg hawkes was the glue the music could hang on, his use of electronics and occasional songwriting collaborations with Ocasek were essential to the 'sound' of the Cars. His playing was quirky and interesting, even using toy Casio keyboards to create a cheezy, yet spot-on element which gave the band its soul. Ever the hardware geek, Hawkes was omnipresent on any Cars album, later adopting a more lush and symphonic sound. Hawkes was the nerdy Kraftwerk side of the band. Elliot Easton was the secret weapon of the Cars- a left-handed guitarist who deliverd tasty in your face solos which were flashy and emotional, yet economic and compact. He never wasted a note, and stretching the solo on 'YOUR ALL I'VE GOT TONIGHT' an extra minute live is as close as he ever got to endless noodling. Each solo is hand-crafted and to the point, which made them all so more effective. Easton was the Guitar God side of the band. And drummer David Robinson, who acted as human metronome in a band full of simple and rhythm-generated rock. Yet he was also the most happening member who also had a heavy hand in the artwork and visual direction of the Cars, especially during the earlier years. Robinson actually was the new wave side of the band.***

The Cars eventually fizzled out in 1988, after a tour for their least selling and underrated DOOR TO DOOR album. Ric went on to a sporadic solo career as well as productions, and the others for the most part on to lower key existences. In 2000, Benjamin Orr died from cancer. Ocasek had always dismissed the idea of ever reforming, even before Orr's death. 2006 found Hawkes and Easton willing to tour again, but without Ocasek, Orr or Robinson(who had aslo moved on and owns a restaurant, I believe), the Cars were destined to remain in the driveway.***

Which brings us to now: maverik producer and innovative artist in his own right Todd Rundgren comes in to replace Ocasek, and does an admirable job. On IT'S ALIVE, the Cars' first live album(strange how they never had one back in the day), Todd sounds eerily like Ric, though with more of an edge. He's least effective on the songs Ben Orr originally sang, but aquits himself well. His former comrade from UTOPIA, bassist Kasim Sulton, coming in as Orr's replacement, also fits like a glove, if a little underused. He only gets to sing the classic Orr ballad DRIVE, but I think he should have handled all of ORR's song in general. And on drums is Prairie Prince from THE TUBES, who kicks the drums into high gear. Prince is a musician I respect, he's played with a lot of the best, as well as his time with The Tubes. This is now the NEW CARS, and are a beefy new model in thier own right. These classics take on a slightly edgier yet identifiable sound. ***

Though billed as The NEW Cars(they couldn't call it the Cars, as it really isn't), and performing mostly Cars classics, this is really a new supergroup comprising members of the Cars, Utopia and The Tubes. Judging from the new album's three new studio tracks tacked at the end, the potential is there beyond the nostalgia summer tour circuit to produce some quirky, catchy and rocking new New Wave music to provide some much needed relief from a lot of the one-dimensional music out there today. This could be a new band. I just hope they can deliver. In the meantime, IT'S ALIVE provides decent renditions, if a little biased towards the first album. Of the classic Cars debut, 7 out of 9 tracks get the live treatment, including classics like JUST WHAT I NEEDED, GOOD TIMES ROLL and MOVING IN STEREO(what's up with Rundgren's manic laugh at the end of that track?). Selected hits from the other albums also represent themselves(SHAKE IT UP, LET'S GO, CANDY-O), though not suprisingly nothing from the darker and moodier PANORAMA or the aforementioned DOOR TO DOOR(which the band has largely disowned) are anywhere to be found here(no TOUCH & GO, say it ain't so). In true supergroup fashion, Rundgren also gets in a couple of his, including the early NAZZ track OPEN MY EYES, as well as the hit I SAW THE LIGHT, which features a tasteful dual lead from Easton and Rundgren. Todd fits the Cars vocals well, though it's on his own tracks and the New Cars material that he's more his old self. He adds a different element to the material, and doesn't actually mimic Ric, he just fits. Same goes for Kasim Sulton, who's lone vocal spot is the Orr spotlight DRIVE from the million-selling HEARTBEAT CITY album. Though nobody can touch Orr's vocal or the lush 80's soundscape on this dreamy ballad, Kasim's sweet and almost boyish vocal delivery against a changed backdrop of Rundgren's acoustic guitar and Hawkes' more understated and more minimal keys retain that certain sadness of the original. This DRIVE is more stripped down and wispy. Eleven stars for trying. Ric's solo tour in 1997 saw DRIVE being sung by HOLE's Melissa Auf Der Maur, so it's clear that Ocasek meant for DRIVE to be sung by Ben or at least anyone other than himself. On this, Kasim does well.***

As for the 3 new songs, they are suprisingly good and true to the original Cars sound. They really set up expectation for a new full-length New Cars disc. These tracks are short and well done.

They are: NOT TONIGHT: this is also the new single, and has that instant Cars sound with a new twist. This probably would have been a smash for the original Cars, had it been released between 1981 and 1985, I'm sure of it, with Ric singing. Think of TONIGHT SHE COMES. Elliot delivers a trademark compact solo which is pure Cars. This is the studio version, of course, as a live version appears earlier in the disc as well.***

WARM: this one is a lush ballad which recalls the dreamier textures from similar material from DOOR TO DOOR or even Ric's THIS SIDE OF PARADISE(1986). WARM sounds like more of a true Cars/Rundgren collaboration than anything else on the disc, as Todd drops the Cars/Ocasek vocal persona and sings this as himself- with a soulful solo Rundgren sound.***

MORE: this one sounds more like an outtake from the PANORAMA or SHAKE IT UP era, with some quirky-jerky rhythms and abrasive synths and guitars, providing some of that punk spark from their Roy Thomas Baker-produced years. Todd sings the word 'ex-cellent' with a snarl of vitality, something he probably hasn't done for a while. This one without a doubt has a Benjamin Orr stamp all over it, this is truely one Ben would have sung. As the song says, I want MORE.***

The New Cars ain't the original Cars, as those colorful 80's days are gone, but there's more than enough gas in the tank with this new incarnation with Rundgren. The real test is whether they can follow up on the promise with an all-new studio album and not treat this project as a one-off summer tour money-maker. The current tour with Blondie is a great start, but let's see if they can let the good times roll a little longer.***

 

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John Wetton-UnderworlWhat's this? Todd Rundgren is the new lead singer of The Cars? How does this work? Actually, pretty good in fact. It goes like this: Boston's The Cars were one of the most influential bands of the new wave era and had a ten year run of classic singles and albums characterized by the fusing of 60's pop elements, jagged-edged electronics, killer harmonies, a cool and detatched image and deceptively simple yet ironic lyrics bordering on Beat poetry. The Cars were artier than some give them credit for- they delivered 3 minute songs of the catchiest rock alive, like some of New Wave Buddy Holly. But there also was a darker element which more than leans towards the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and Kraftwerk.*** The original Cars were lead by Ric Ocasek, who handled all the writing, along with rhythm guitar and half of the vocals. Ric was the modern beatnik side of the band, a driven conceptualist and decent producer. Riding with him were bassist Benjamin Orr, a rocker with pin-up good looks who brought to the table a smooth melodic rock voice which acted as a perfect counterpart to Ocasek's more neurotic and detatched vocal style. Orr was the poop star side of the band. Keyboardist Greg hawkes was the glue the music could hang on, his use of electronics and occasional songwriting collaborations with Ocasek were essential to the 'sound' of the Cars. His playing was quirky and interesting, even using toy Casio keyboards to create a cheezy, yet spot-on element which gave the band its soul. Ever the hardware geek, Hawkes was omnipresent on any Cars album, later adopting a more lush and symphonic sound. Hawkes was the nerdy Kraftwerk side of the band. Elliot Easton was the secret weapon of the Cars- a left-handed guitarist who deliverd tasty in your face solos which were flashy and emotional, yet economic and compact. He never wasted a note, and stretching the solo on 'YOUR ALL I'VE GOT TONIGHT' an extra minute live is as close as he ever got to endless noodling. Each solo is hand-crafted and to the point, which made them all so more effective. Easton was the Guitar God side of the band. And drummer David Robinson, who acted as human metronome in a band full of simple and rhythm-generated rock. Yet he was also the most happening member who also had a heavy hand in the artwork and visual direction of the Cars, especially during the earlier years. Robinson actually was the new wave side of the band.*** The Cars eventually fizzled out in 1988, after a tour for their least selling and underrated DOOR TO DOOR album. Ric went on to a sporadic solo career as well as productions, and the others for the most part on to lower key existences. In 2000, Benjamin Orr died from cancer. Ocasek had always dismissed the idea of ever reforming, even before Orr's death. 2006 found Hawkes and Easton willing to tour again, but without Ocasek, Orr or Robinson(who had aslo moved on and owns a restaurant, I believe), the Cars were destined to remain in the driveway.*** Which brings us to now: maverik producer and innovative artist in his own right Todd Rundgren comes in to replace Ocasek, and does an admirable job. On IT'S ALIVE, the Cars' first live album(strange how they never had one back in the day), Todd sounds eerily like Ric, though with more of an edge. He's least effective on the songs Ben Orr originally sang, but aquits himself well. His former comrade from UTOPIA, bassist Kasim Sulton, coming in as Orr's replacement, also fits like a glove, if a little underused. He only gets to sing the classic Orr ballad DRIVE, but I think he should have handled all of ORR's song in general. And on drums is Prairie Prince from THE TUBES, who kicks the drums into high gear. Prince is a musician I respect, he's played with a lot of the best, as well as his time with The Tubes. This is now the NEW CARS, and are a beefy new model in thier own right. These classics take on a slightly edgier yet identifiable sound. *** Though billed as The NEW Cars(they couldn't call it the Cars, as it really isn't), and performing mostly Cars classics, this is really a new supergroup comprising members of the Cars, Utopia and The Tubes. Judging from the new album's three new studio tracks tacked at the end, the potential is there beyond the nostalgia summer tour circuit to produce some quirky, catchy and rocking new New Wave music to provide some much needed relief from a lot of the one-dimensional music out there today. This could be a new band. I just hope they can deliver. In the meantime, IT'S ALIVE provides decent renditions, if a little biased towards the first album. Of the classic Cars debut, 7 out of 9 tracks get the live treatment, including classics like JUST WHAT I NEEDED, GOOD TIMES ROLL and MOVING IN STEREO(what's up with Rundgren's manic laugh at the end of that track?). Selected hits from the other albums also represent themselves(SHAKE IT UP, LET'S GO, CANDY-O), though not suprisingly nothing from the darker and moodier PANORAMA or the aforementioned DOOR TO DOOR(which the band has largely disowned) are anywhere to be found here(no TOUCH & GO, say it ain't so). In true supergroup fashion, Rundgren also gets in a couple of his, including the early NAZZ track OPEN MY EYES, as well as the hit I SAW THE LIGHT, which features a tasteful dual lead from Easton and Rundgren. Todd fits the Cars vocals well, though it's on his own tracks and the New Cars material that he's more his old self. He adds a different element to the material, and doesn't actually mimic Ric, he just fits. Same goes for Kasim Sulton, who's lone vocal spot is the Orr spotlight DRIVE from the million-selling HEARTBEAT CITY album. Though nobody can touch Orr's vocal or the lush 80's soundscape on this dreamy ballad, Kasim's sweet and almost boyish vocal delivery against a changed backdrop of Rundgren's acoustic guitar and Hawkes' more understated and more minimal keys retain that certain sadness of the original. This DRIVE is more stripped down and wispy. Eleven stars for trying. Ric's solo tour in 1997 saw DRIVE being sung by HOLE's Melissa Auf Der Maur, so it's clear that Ocasek meant for DRIVE to be sung by Ben or at least anyone other than himself. On this, Kasim does well.*** As for the 3 new songs, they are suprisingly good and true to the original Cars sound. They really set up expectation for a new full-length New Cars disc. These tracks are short and well done. They are: NOT TONIGHT: this is also the new single, and has that instant Cars sound with a new twist. This probably would have been a smash for the original Cars, had it been released between 1981 and 1985, I'm sure of it, with Ric singing. Think of TONIGHT SHE COMES. Elliot delivers a trademark compact solo which is pure Cars. This is the studio version, of course, as a live version appears earlier in the disc as well.*** WARM: this one is a lush ballad which recalls the dreamier textures from similar material from DOOR TO DOOR or even Ric's THIS SIDE OF PARADISE(1986). WARM sounds like more of a true Cars/Rundgren collaboration than anything else on the disc, as Todd drops the Cars/Ocasek vocal persona and sings this as himself- with a soulful solo Rundgren sound.*** MORE: this one sounds more like an outtake from the PANORAMA or SHAKE IT UP era, with some quirky-jerky rhythms and abrasive synths and guitars, providing some of that punk spark from their Roy Thomas Baker-produced years. Todd sings the word 'ex-cellent' with a snarl of vitality, something he probably hasn't done for a while. This one without a doubt has a Benjamin Orr stamp all over it, this is truely one Ben would have sung. As the song says, I want MORE.*** The New Cars ain't the original Cars, as those colorful 80's days are gone, but there's more than enough gas in the tank with this new incarnation with Rundgren. The real test is whether they can follow up on the promise with an all-new studio album and not treat this project as a one-off summer tour money-maker. The current tour with Blondie is a great start, but let's see if they can let the good times roll a little longer.*** d
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