THE CARS

Move Like This

[Concord]

From Weezer in the ’90s to the Strokes and OK Go today, countless bands have realized what classic-rock radio never forgets: The Cars were pretty great. The Boston quintet built one of the era’s finest discographies during the ’70s and ’80s, making New Wave palatable for people without spiky hair. A quarter-century after stalling out, the Cars return with Move Like This—more a restoration project than the unveiling of a new model. Eighth-note basslines and geek-chic synths come standard, making “Too Late” and “Sad Song” zip like vintage hits “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Let’s Go,” respectively. The absence of late bass player Benjamin Orr is unfortunate, but the man driving the Cars has always been Ric Ocasek, a singer-songwriter still comfortable behind the wheel. Some of his lyrics reveal a man perplexed by modern times, but Ocasek should know as well as anyone that the more things change, the more they stay the same. –Kenneth Partridge