Ric Ocasek Nexterday. Release Date : September 27, 2005. Label: Sanctuary. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. Generally, while there's a bit of a tendency to think, why don't they stop already, the icons of the 80's who continue to make solo albums seem to churn out some pretty cool stuff. A modern twist on the things that made them famous, it's a true take on the new-new-wave that all the hip kiddies enjoy. Only most of them don't pay attention to the old men who spawned all the ridiculous throwback fashions and mad synths that permeate the airwaves lately. They listen to the classics and the imitation classic, but here's Ric Ocasek, the frontman of The Cars, and what do you know, this album is just plain cool. The opening track, "Crackpot," features some sizzling guitars over a traditional, can't-go-wrong punk-light background guitar melody. I wouldn't particularly call this a danceable record - it's a bit too slow for that - but the twisted noises and general curiousness that the Cars were so good at remains. It's slow and crunchy. And by the time we come around to "Come On" Ocasek starts throwing distinctly 80's-sounding synths and chimey bloops at us. You know that sound, that child's-piano type tinkling that was in everything from Tiffany to A-Ha to Belinda Carlisle and back again. "I'm Thinking" sounds more like a Tom Petty tune. His voice translates well over the years - maintaining the barely-singing quality of yesterday, only a tad more... distinguished, let's say. "Experienced." Super 80's club rave on Song of choice : "It Gets Crazy" - I kind of like this song best for it's frenetic swapping between thumping beats and gentle acoustics. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Ric Ocasek website Published : March, 2006.