I do this every time I get "interested" in new music or just some one/band I am rediscovering. So last weekend I made my way to visit my mom. While I was there I was looking at the rack of mixed Cds and DVDs on the wall. I noticed there was a Cd still wrapped in the cellophane packaging. Nice mom, how long have you had that cd? 2 years?
So the Cd sitting there peaked my curiosity and I pulled it out. What do you know it's "The Cars - Complete Greatest Hits". I am looking at the Cd and thinking 'So What?' It's just The Cars. I started to think 'Do I like any of their songs?" Yes and I can count them on one hand, "Drive" and "Let's Go". I felt since the cd hasn't been listened to and I really would like to hear some classic rock music, I asked my mom if she wouldn't mind me listening to it since I didn't think she ever would, being in plastic wrap and all. She didn't. So when I left on my way home, I popped the Cd in since I knew it would take me a while to get home and some new/old music to hear.
Here is what I can tell you, I felt cheated. I felt cheated because of 2 separate reasons. One, there were songs on the disc that I have heard before but had a better appreciation for like "Just What I Needed" and "Dangerous Type". Ric Ocasek's writing is pretty amazing. He could turn some cynical, self loathing rock song into a singable tune like "My Best Friends Girl" to "You're All I Got Tonight". I felt cheated of this because I have heard the songs before but just passed them off as mediocre songs. No they really aren't. They are staples of an era of songs that have made music all for the better with great guitar licks and tight drumming on behalf of Elliot Easton and David Robinson respectively. Reason two, Ben Orr. He is the voice/bassist of The Cars I like or love. He is the voice of "Drive" and Let's Go". Ben's voice is smoother than Ric's and more in control of putting emotion behind the song. Apparently Rick Ocasek had stated that whenever he felt like the song was more of a ballad or just needed that emotion to be heard he gave it to Ben to sing. Ben's voice was suited to those. Why do I feel cheated of Ben? Because I didn't have the appreciation for him when I saw him performing here in Alaska at the State Fair. I knew the songs but didn't know much about the music of The Cars or the other songs him and Big People were performing. I got to see Ben Orr in his very last performance before he passed away from us of pancreatic cancer. I think, had I been listening to the Cars way before the performance, I would have been ecstatic and had a better reason to be there overall. For some odd reason I feel like someone else should have been there besides me to take in the last performance.
After that trip down memory lane, how do you listen to a group you thought were just another rock n' roll band with such a heavy heart? You just do and with wide eyes and ears at full operating capacity to hear the sweet sounds of Easton's guitar solos, Robinson's power drumming and Greg Hawkes's erie keys and synths.
I think I got an overall sound of what the Cars brought to the music world. The memorable "Moving In Stereo" is creepy and most notable for being played in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High, any guy would know what I am talking about. ;P
"I'm Not The One" is slow and has a guitar lick that is reminiscent of Clapton. Gotta love the Easton's pain staking playing, playing left handed by the way. Go Lefties! "Touch and Go" is interesting for the drum beat, a kind of samba number before launching into the chorus's go get'm attitude that the Cars have. I have to mention "Bye Bye Love" because it is now my favorite tune of theirs. Just goes to prove what kind of lyrics Ocasek writes. How can you not like a lyric like "With your eyes of porcelain and of blue, they shock me into sense. You think you're so illustrious you call yourself intense" and with Orr's voice descending on those lyrics, what's not to love. I wasn't going to mention "Drive" because it is their signature song and everyone knows it. What can I say? RIP Ben Orr, you were amazing, you gave the song 'just what it needed'.
The shocker on the album for me was the song "Hello Again". I had to pull off the side of the road because I didn't believe for a minute I was hearing The Cars still blasting through my speakers. Having heard the song on the radio when I was younger, Never thought for a moment that song was them. Then again it did sound like them, the familiar synth work and drumming. Was shocked and proceeded to start driving again.
So I am going to close off on this note: You might think you've heard it all and then all it takes to Shake it p is a little Magic by one of rock's greatest bands.
