Today’s Song of the Day is “Shattered (Turn the Car Around)” by O.A.R.
I’ll admit it: I was a die-hard O.A.R. fan back in the day — “Crazy Game of Poker” and “Black Rock” were practically on repeat at parties. Those songs have a rowdy, jam-band feel that made you want to grab a drink, shout all the lyrics (or at least those you could understand), and forget what time it was.
But here’s the thing — Song of the Day isn’t just about the nostalgic hits, or even hits for that matter. It’s about those unexpected moments when a song pops up and makes you listen closer, even if it’s from a band you thought you knew inside out.
“Shattered (Turn the Car Around)” landed in my world thanks to one of Spotify’s suggestions for a playlist. I had no clue O.A.R. had a radio-friendly anthem tucked away in their catalog. Yesterday, cruising around with my newly repaired car speakers, this one came on — and I was just in a mood to give it a chance.
It’s got a completely different vibe from their early, jam-heavy stuff. “Shattered” leans toward the more polished and mainstream, but in a good way. The production is tight, the melody soars, and the whole track feels like it was built to be sung on a lonely little night drive. The chorus is huge — a little repetitive, sure — but in that comforting, driving-with-the-windows-down kind of way.
Lyrically, it’s more direct than their older songs. You’re meant to catch every word, and it works. Sometimes you don’t want poetic puzzles or scat lyrics— you want something that hits you right in the chest, plain and simple.
Whether this one’s your vibe or not, I’d say give it a spin — then go back and dive into O.A.R.’s earlier albums if you want that raw, live energy they do best. That mix of old and new is what keeps them interesting.
Check these guys out if you haven’t heard ’em!
