I always liked The Cars, but sometimes I'm struck by just how epic, original and perfect they sound. Also: very American; actually a combo of American driving beat with British-based deadpan cool. We were once a colony of Great Britain, right? So without further ado, I present greatness. Ben Orr, how I miss you...
Filtered through the brain cells of Lisa McElroy
Yes, they really were great. For about two albums.
ReplyDeleteBut Rick Ocasic is just flat out cool. The fact that he has been coasting for three decades makes him all that much more cool. Jeez - I would LOVE to just coast for the next three decades!!!
Thanks for this post and all these great vids - it was just what I needed!
Ha--Ocasek may appear to be coasting but according to Wiki, he's been producing many great bands throughout the years and he has six sons by three wives, so he's a pretty busy guy, I'd say. I know what you mean though. I crossed paths with him once in SOHO and he was wraithlike cool, dressed all in black. No one bothered him as he walked by, which I think is partly an NYC thing, and definitely an Ocasek thing.
ReplyDeleteThis is how dumb I am. I thought all the early Cars songs that I like the most were Ocasek-sung, but they're actually Orr's vocals. Every single one of them. He was tragically underrated and flabbergastingly beautiful, no?
YEAH BOO. The Cars and Roxi Music kind of lead a personal revival of the eighties for me a couple of years ago. I was also shocked to find out that I liked some Duran Duran! I love those big romantic synth pieces.
ReplyDeleteI really like a lot of Echo and the Bunnymen too. Pretty forgettable lyrics but those big, dramatic riffs are so impressive. Very "Wuthering Heights" if it were a modern-day musical.
ReplyDeleteI have to take a Cars break now because it's all stuck in my head. They were the catchiest by far. I can't believe how young and accomplished they were in these videos. I was such a dummy at that age.
I can't stand Echo because Jay used to listen to them obsessively when we were in India. Do you know they were just on tour recently?
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