Filed under “Unlikely” in the drawer full of possible ’80s band reunions were the Cars. The Boston New Wave / pop act last released a studio album in 1987, and that effort, Door to Door, was poorly received. Singer Ric Ocasek never seemed too up on the idea, and made a name for himself producing acolytes like Weezer. Singer/bassist Benjamin Orr, who fronted hits like “Just What I Needed” and “Drive”, died of cancer in 2000. And then guitarist Elliot Easton and keyboardist Greg Hawkes hooked up with Todd Rundgren for the dubious-at-best New Cars a few years ago.
But it seems somehow inevitable that here the Cars are, reunited and releasing new material. Ocasek, Easton, Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson are all on board. Move Like This is released May 10. Here’s the lead single, “Blue Tip”. It’s an instantly-recognizable take on the band’s classic sound (before they went a bit soft with Heartbeat City). Robinson’s booming fills are conspicuously absent, but all the other key elements are there. You can be sure Stacy’s Mom is diggin’ it.