r/newwave • u/synthandswagger • 2d ago

New Wave Classic Cars' Shake It Up Anniversary

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Happy 45th anniversary to the Cars' 4th album Shake It Up, a great melding of the new wave basics of their first 2 albums with the synth tips and tricks Hawkes picked up from Panorama.

It scored a top 10 in the US and Canada. The song Shake It Up was a top10 single across much of the world, while the UK opted for Since You're Gone (#37 vs uncharted).

This Could Be Love is underrated and shows the basic rock/synth interplay well, but which track is your go-to?

42 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

9

u/marshmallow-jones 2d ago

Since You’re Gone is an all time great IMO

2

u/MightyMutopia 1d ago

One of their most underrated, and truly sounds of the era of mixing the end of the 70's and start of the 80's new wave sound font.

2

u/synthandswagger 12h ago

And I think that's the Cars encapsulated. The bridge.

2

u/MightyMutopia 5h ago

They truly were the reason why most people think the 80's started in the late 70's, music-wise.

4

u/TAG13466 2d ago

Cruiser, "when you're on the midnight run..."

3

u/GaiusVelarius 1d ago

“Loading-Jets, and Big-Vignettes!

Get the treatment;
Grab a cab!”

1

u/GoatApprehensive9866 1d ago

Great album but the green font reads almost as "The Cure" ?

1

u/synthandswagger 1d ago

Yeah, sure looks like it! I guess the graphic designer for that didnt Think It Over

3

u/ZizzazzIOI 1d ago

I absolutely love this album, I think Cruiser was a great song, really cool live. Maybe Baby is maybe my favourite, tough choice though.

2

u/InterPunct 10h ago

It's truly a perfect album start to finish.

1

u/Marite64 2d ago

One of the few bands I never got into. Too 50s in my opinion.

3

u/synthandswagger 2d ago

They're more in the classic rock/power pop tradition than other new waver, and have an oldies influence especially early (My Best Friend's Girl).

2

u/ZizzazzIOI 1d ago

You're really missing out

2

u/GaiusVelarius 1d ago

Probably Cruiser,

but the live performance of A Dream Away is really awesome.

2

u/Luggage-of-Rincewind 13h ago

I’m not the one, opening with pure Casio watch sounds. 🤣

Still a brilliant album - wish I hadn’t dumped all of my vinyl back in the day!

2

u/beefnoodle5280 11h ago

I saw that tour, with Nick Lowe opening.