The Cars have returned with iconic frontman Rik Ocasek to release their first album in a quarter of a century. Sadly, during that time the world of music lost Cars guitarist and co-leader Ben Orr making the reunion bittersweet. Ocasek, however, led the rest of the original members through the process of making Cars music, a music that defies real description until you hear it. Once you hear it, however, you know what you’re listening too.

The album begins with a classic Cars sounding tune titled “Blue Tip.” From here it just keeps going as “Too Late,” “Sad Song,” “Free” and “Hits Me” all will bring instant smiles to those of us who have worn out the classic Cars albums of yesterday.

It is refreshing to hear a band so easily stay to their roots and resist the temptation to spin a modern flavor in attempt to be musically valid in today’s market. Truth be told, a band like the Cars are already musically valid, and will always be so long as they remember their innovation and talents actually changed music in the first place.

The only complaint about this album is that there is a lack of Elliot Easton on it. His snappy, distorted yet tasteful solos are fewer and farther between on this one compared to other albums. The songwriting, lyrics, groove and vocal sounds are all 100% Cars, making up for the lack of solos.

This one is a classic example of an album that is good upon first listen but has a magical ability to keep bringing you back, slowly revealing to the listener all of its greatness along the way.