THE NEW CARS
"It's
Alive!" (Eleven/Seven; 2006)
Reviewed by Snidermann
When I heard that The Cars were reuniting, I was jazzed. Then I heard that Rik Ocasek was not going to be involved and I couldn't believe they would even try a reunion without him! Then, on the next beat, I heard that Todd Rundgren was going to be joining theb and. Now that had possibilities!
So when I finally got my hands on the CD, I discovered that Rundgren fit right in with the band. I was also reminded that The Cars had a lot of big hits and I found myself singing right along, just like in the 80s.
What's disappointing about this release, however, is that most of the tracks here are live recordings of Cars classics. Only a few are original and they pretty much fit the classic Cars sound. Overall, however, I found myself yearning for the droning vocals of Rik Ocasek throughout the CD. Todd Rundgren does a very good job fronting this band but, without Ocasek at the helm, The New Cars is missing a vital component.
For more information, check out www.thenewcars.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 15 Apr 2024 16:12:40 -0400.
