The Cars

After a 24-year hiatus, the grandfathers of geek rock have returned to show how cool a bunch of gangly dorks can be. The band’s been through some tough times in its off-years, including the death of co-lead singer Benjamin Orr and a partial-band reunion under the name The New Cars. The gang’s back together now, though, and even made a new record, called Move Like This. Even with Ric Ocasek manning the helm alone, here’s hoping the band can reclaim its throne as an originator, along with Devo, of that bleepy, electronic ’80s-pop sound. There’s more to this foursome than simply “Just What I Needed,” after all. 

Updated 05/03/2011