Customer Reviews: Read 57 more reviews...
 Stellar July 16, 2008
Louis E. Negrette
Since the Cars had created a perfect album with their 1978 self-titled debut, it would be nearly impossible to top it. Instead of laboring long and hard over a follow-up like many '70s bands did after a huge commercial success, the band cranked out their sophomore effort, Candy-O, almost exactly one year later from the first LP. And while the album was not as stellar as its predecessor was, it did contain several classics, resulting in another smash album that solidified the band's standing as one of the most promising new bands of the late '70s. The first single, the Top 20 anthem "Let's Go," proves to be the best track, but plenty of other standouts can be found as well. The title track remains one of the band's best rockers, while the gentle "It's All I Can Do" also deserved to be a hit. The band pays tribute to T. Rex on "Dangerous Type" (the main guitar riff resembles "Bang a Gong"), rocks out on "Got a Lot on My Head" and "Night Spots," shows their softer side on "Since I Held You," and embraces modern pop on "Double Life" and "Lust for Kicks." Their second strong release in a row, Candy-O proved that the Cars were not one-hit wonders, like so many other bands from the same era.
The Cars Avoid The Sophmore Jinx With Another Great CD July 12, 2008
The Footpath Cowboy (Kingston, NY United States)
On CANDY-O, the Cars not only avoided the sophmore jinx, but came through with an album that's just as good as their debut. Granted, the cover art is somewhat overly suggestive, and could inspire inappropriate sexual behavior, but the songs are uniformly strong and there are very few clunkers here. This CD and the debut are really what you need by the Cars. After this album, the band tried too hard and too many things in an attempt to remain relevant as musical tastes changed.
 New Wave Lite May 28, 2008
Michael A. Beyer (Chicago, IL United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Cars grow more interesting with time. They are forever lumped in with acts like the Pretenders, Blondie, Elvis Costello, XTC, etc. Their sound belongs to a certain era. Even though "Candy-O" came out in the late 70s, the music itself definitely has an 80s feel. In fact, one could argue this album was a bit ahead of its time as far as synth-heavy, high-production, new wave with serious pop hooks (to say nothing of Candy-O's predecessor, the brilliant "The Cars").
That said, the hits have aged well but the albums are a bit hit-and-miss. Candy-O itself, while not as good as "The Cars", remains a true New Wave staple and a hit. The lyrics throughout are excellent, even on the radio hits (She's got wonderful eyes/And a risky mouth/And when I asked her before/She says she's holding out). What a vixen! And she's seventeen.
Ocasek's ear for power pop is evident with Let's Go, It's All I Can Do, and Dangerous Type, but the album's ventures into darkness lack the requisite snarl or danger of other New Wave efforts. If Ocasek and company had focused on making 11 singles (not an easy task), they might have carved out a more lasting niche for this album. Rightly or wrongly, Candy-O is a bit of a footnote in any discussion of the Cars' body of work.
Overall, the Cars just don't have the bite of the Pretenders, or Cheap Trick, or Elvis Costello, or even Blondie. Their sound is too glossed-over and shiny, and though a hint of darkness rescues the Cars from being
pure bubble-gum, it still feels a bit toothless, like New Wave Light.
This sound culminated in the form of 1984's "Heartbeat City", probably as pure an 80s album as it gets, from the synths to the lyrics to the MTV videos with Ocasek standing on water, or flying around attached to a bug's head.
The Cars will go down in history as a singles band -- and there's not one thing wrong with that.
Overall, I give Candy-O itself four stars, as opposed to "The Cars", which I would rate five stars (and one of the best debut albums of all time).
Many more hits than added to Greatest Hits March 3, 2008
Kerry Zielinski (Northville, MI)
This CD brought back memories. I have several Greatest Hits CDs from the CARS and while they have the "hits" there are so many songs that are under the radar and deserve attention. This CD is chock full of such songs. Worth the listen.
Probably my favorite Cars album February 19, 2008
William Bentley (Blaine, WA USA)
I finally got around to purchasing this CD. I had the LP when it first came out but sold all my vinyl years ago. I bought the Greatest Hits and Debut CD a while back but was still missing hearing some of my old favorites (Double Life, Nightspots) from this album. What a treat to listen to them again and have them loaded on my MP3 player now. Next up....Panorama, I love the title track as well as Gimme Some Slack and The Down Boys.
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