The Cars - Move Like This

The Cars

Move Like This

(Universal Music Canada)

Website: www.thecars.org

If you don’t count the Ric Ocasek-less Cars 2006 “reunion” album “It’s Alive!” this is the former new wave champions’ first album since they hit the proverbial junkyard in 1987. You may have your own personal opinion on the need for bands like this reforming for any logical reason but with “Move Like This” the music does the talking and it’s saying some pretty pleasing things. Ocasek is back with a full slate of ten new songs and the album builds on what the Cars were at their best in the late 70’s rather than trying to stake any new musical territory. Of course “Soon” channels the moody vocal charms of the late Ben Orr and “Sad Song” sounds like it was ripped from their first album yet the band neatly avoids leaning on their platinum-selling past too heavily. “Hits Me” pays homage to Devo with its robotic pop sheen yet it’s debatable which band influenced the other back in those heady days. Whether they stick together past this set is anyone’s guess, but for now let’s call this a move in the right direction.

Jeff Monk