Personnel: Ric Ocasek (vocals, various instruments); Roger Greenawalt (guitar); Greg Hawkes (keyboards); Darryl Jenifer (bass guitar); Stephen George (drum programming).

Recording information: Recorded at One Take Studios, New York, New York (2005); Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York.

After an eight-year hiatus from releasing solo albums, Ric Ocasek returned in 2005 with NEXTERDAY. While 1997's TROUBLIZING indulged in glossy production and hot-shot collaborators, this collection of well-crafted, unpretentious songs is understated while still rocking out, and stripped down while remaining detailed and layered.

As he proved time and time again, Ocasek has a knack for infectious melodies, and that knack is all over NEXTERDAY, as well as the same edgy, paranoid feel that made the Cars pop so enjoyable. But there's also a cool minimalism that recalls Lou Reed's best solo work, and makes Ocasek's latest outing a welcome and assured return to form.

What the critics say...

Entertainment Weekly (No. 842, p.94) - "...[A] tasty box of aural candy-O." - Grade: B+
Uncut (p.998) - 3 stars out of 5 - "NEXTERDAY is a fine reminder of the Cars leader's way with a coolly dispassionate pop hook."