The Cars - The Cars
Track List:
Good Times Roll
My Best Friend's Girl
Just What I Needed
I’m in Touch with Your World
Don't Cha Stop
You're All I've Got Tonight
Bye Bye Love
Moving in Stereo
All Mixed Up
Gentleman start your engine!
I know some of these songs and I think I have some idea of what to expect here. I don’t have a story about any of these songs or their meaning to me or anything. Pressing play now.
Good Times Roll
I don’t think I’ve ever really listened to the intro and start of this song. That’s a really good catchy sound to start the album. If you had no clue what to expect it would help draw you closer and wanting to explore more. The lyrics are almost mocking the music industry. Let the good times roll but there are many qualifiers and specifics that you need to keep in mind.
My Best Friend's Girl
So another song that I am familiar with. The lyrics tell about a woman who is the narrator’s ex and he still has feelings for, however now she is dating his friend.
Just What I Needed
I am noticing that the songs all start with a similar tone. The lyrics seem to be describing a person who is a friend but seems to overstay their welcome.
I'm in Touch with Your World
Alright, a song I haven’t heard before. This seems to exist in a space somewhere between Zappa and Bowie. That was wild and deserves more listens. I have no clue what the meaning of the song could be. I see some lyrics that may speak out against religion. “It’s a thing you call creation, everything is science fiction.” But that isn’t a theme I see running in the rest of the prose.
Don't Cha Stop
This one is verging upon a punk style song. The lyrics seem to be about a romantic encounter with another person.
You're All I've Got Tonight
I’ve heard this one before too. This one reminds me of the song Tainted Love for some reason. It’s a song about loving someone with reckless disregard. I really like the interplay between the vocals and the guitar at the end of the song.
Bye Bye Love
I have enjoyed listening to this one. I could interpret the lyrics to be seeing a woman in a venue or club and trying to pursue her but realizing that she is with someone else.
Moving in Stereo
Again I am hearing Zappa. I am glad I decided to listen with cans and not over monitors. As I listen more I think I’ve heard this before. The synth line is really familiar. I like the LFO effect on a filtered drone over the entirety of the song, adds a texture that is interesting. I think the lyrics are talking about how your life is your life regardless if you compartmentalize parts of it or choose to ignore problems. By ignoring problems now you will ultimately have to deal with them later.
All Mixed Up
This one seems like a departure from the rest of the album. Adding a low wind sound that might be a synth. The song seems to be about a relationship where the woman is confident yet distant and it causes the narrator to be confused and not feel on the same page as his partner.
Parking time
Well that was different. I really liked I’m in Touch With Your World and Moving in Stereo. I felt that the solos on You’re All I’ve Got Tonight and Bye Bye Love were fantastic. I think that this is firmly new wave. There is a lot of punk influence as well but this is not what I would consider punk at all. Overall I enjoyed the experience. I don’t think I will revisit the album frequently.
