The Cars

Ric Ocasek's wonderfully deadpan, almost zombified delivery is the unifying factor on tunes that mingle heavy, often dark, synth sounds with effortlessly upbeat New Wavey guitar rockers on The Cars' third outing. Listen to the "it-shoulda-been-a-bigger hit" "Touch and Go" and then follow it up with Tom Petty's even greater "You Got Lucky" from two years later.

Though they've always tended to be testy traveling companions, the Cars have
cantankerously outdone themselves this time: Panorama isn't merely a joyless joyride, it's
an out-and-out drag. There's probably never been another young superstar band that's
toyed with success more languidly than the Cars. Their debut album contained some
wonderfully jittery, apprehensive music. Indeed, what made The Cars such a sm... More >

The problem's not immersion in formula. The problem's not exhaustion of formula. The problem's boredom with formula. This is longer, slower, and denser as well as older, with lyrics that skirt social commentary and music that essays textural pretension. Its peaks are "Touch and Go" and "Up and Down." Savor the rhythm of those phrases, Ric, and grow no more. (Grade - B-)