The Cars

1	Good Times Roll 3:44
2	My Best Friend's Girl 3:44
3	Just What I Needed 3:44
4	I'm in Touch with Your World 3:31
5	Don't Cha Stop 3:01
6	You're All I've Got Tonight 4:13
7	Bye Bye Love 4:14
8	Moving in Stereo 5:15
9	All Mixed Up 4:14

Barnes & Noble

In the fall of 1978, punk stood confused by its lack of commercial acceptance. Enter the new wave, a challenging but potentially more radio-friendly sub-category. The Cars, a Boston fivesome, became the genre's defining success story. Their debut went platinum on the strength of their blend of traditional rock approaches (notably the dark romanticism and jagged textures of Roxy Music), the reinvigorated energy of punk, and leader Ric Ocasek's gift with the wrenching rock hook. The Cars' first song, a contrarily unboogiefied number called "Good Times Roll," captured the band's ambivalence nicely. But Ocasek's searing songs rolled over such subtexts, combining paeans to quirky sexuality ("My Best Friend's Girl") and unrequited lust ("All Mixed Up") with good old-fashioned explosive rock-radio candy ("You're All I've Got Tonight," "Just What I Needed"). Bill Wyman

All Music Guide

The Cars' 1978 self-titled debut, issued on the Elektra label, is a genuine rock masterpiece. The band jokingly referred to the album as their "true greatest-hits album," but it's no exaggeration -- all nine tracks are new wave/rock classics, still in rotation on rock radio. Whereas most bands of the late '70s embraced either punk/new wave or hard rock, the Cars were one of the first bands to do the unthinkable -- merge the two styles together. Add to it bandleader/songwriter Ric Ocasek's supreme pop sensibilities, and you had an album that appealed to new wavers, rockers, and Top 40 fans. One of the most popular new wave songs ever, "Just What I Needed," is an obvious highlight, as are such familiar hits as "Good Times Roll," "My Best Friend's Girl," and "You're All I've Got Tonight." But like most consummate rock albums, the lesser-known compositions are just as exhilarating: "Don't Cha Stop," "Bye Bye Love," "All Mixed Up," and "Moving in Stereo," the latter featured as an instrumental during a steamy scene in the popular movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. With flawless performances, songwriting, and production (courtesy of Queen alumni Roy Thomas Baker), the Cars' debut remains one of rock's all-time classics. Greg Prato