“Blue Tip, which previewed The Cars‘ forthcoming album, Move Like This, was a passable pump-primer, but proper first single “Sad Song” goes the distance. It definitely sounds like the reunited New Wave pioneers have recaptured the magic, even if it took some 24 years for The Cars to get behind the wheel again. (Unfortunately, original bassist/singer Benjamin Orr isn’t along for the ride, having passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2000.)

“Sad Song” starts off with echoes of 1979’s “Let’s Go,” before breaking into a chrome-polished chorus that hearkens back to The Cars’ mid-80s model, guitars and synths tweaked to deliver a little more horsepower. The music video for “Sad Song” premiered a few days ago, and the single just became available today.

The Cars’ Move Like This is out May 10 on Hear Music.

Purchase The Cars – “Sad Song” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.