Panorama [Expanded Edition]

by The Cars

Overview

After releasing two albums, one a perfect pop/rock-meets-new wave classic, the other a very good follow-up, the Cars were game to try things a little differently on their third album Panorama. With longtime collaborator Roy Thomas Baker behind the boards, the band decamped to the Power Station in New York City and began working on a set of songs that was a little less poppy, both structurally and sonically. While the studio wasn't to their liking and they went back to the scene of Candy-O in California, they didn't forsake the more experimental aspects they had begun adding. Lead-off track "Panorama" features vocoder providing backing vocals, burbling synth sounds, and a song that's more about creating a mood of unease than it is knocking the listener over the head with a big, shiny hook, which had been their M.O. up to that point. That they follow that with the lead single and catchiest song "Touch and Go" shows that the band wasn't quite ready to forsake the pop side of the fence. The pumping synths, stuttering rhythms, and a painfully needy vocal from Ric Ocasek give way to some wonderfully corny cowboy-style guitar picking and a swooning chorus that's the equal of anything they'd done up to that point. The rest of the album mostly sticks to catchy new wave pop with the occasional weird synth here and odd texture there. Tracks like the moody "Don't' Tell Me No," the jumpy Ben Orr-sung "Down Boys," or "Running to You" could have easily fit in on either of their first two albums, the slightly less immediate songs ("Misfit Kid," "Getting Through") are still fine modern rockers that any second string band on a major-label would have been glad to call their best effort, and the nocturnal ballad "You Wear Those Eyes" is a lovely precursor to "Drive." While it's true that Panorama may be the work of a band in transition, taking baby steps in new directions, it's also the work of a band that couldn't help but make great music regardless. "Touch and Go" may be the song that people remember, but another spin or two will reveal a wealth of songs that are just as strong. The production, too, is just as striking as it is on previous efforts, as are the performances. Put it all together and it's difficult to understand why some people consider Panorama a weak link in the band's otherwise stellar early career. It may pale a little in comparison to The Cars and Candy-O, but it's still first-rate modern pop. [The remastered and expanded reissue of Panorama includes the B-side to the "Touch and Go" single and three previously unreleased songs of varying quality. It's easy to see why the slightly generic "Shooting for You" and "The Edge" didn't make the album, but the propulsive "Be My Baby" (which has a horn section) would have been a fun addition. "Don't Go to Pieces" definitely should have been featured on the album instead of being hidden on a flipside; probably not Panorama, though, since its frothy mood would have been jarring. The package also includes a remembrance from keyboardist Greg Hawkes and lots of photos.] ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	07/28/2017
Label:	Elektra / Rhino
UPC:	0081227938314

Tracks

1. Panorama
2. Touch and Go
3. Gimme Some Slack
4. Don't Tell Me No
5. Getting Through
6. Misfit Kid
7. Down Boys
8. You Wear Those Eyes
9. Running to You
10. Up and Down
11. Shooting for You [Previously Unreleased]
12. Be My Baby [Previously Unreleased]
13. The Edge [Previously Unreleased]
14. Don't Go to Pieces (B-side of "Don't Tell Me No" & "Gimme Some Slack")

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Cars   Primary Artist
Benjamin Orr   Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Bass
Greg Hawkes   Vocals,Keyboards
Elliot Easton   Guitar,Vocals
Ric Ocasek   Guitar,Vocals
David Robinson   Drums,Vocals

Technical Credits

Greg Hawkes   Composer
Roy Thomas Baker   Producer
Ric Ocasek   Composer
Paul McAlpine   Photography