Reunited, and it feels so good...

Reunions are something that have been part of the entertainment industry for as long as I can remember. Musical acts hit the road again and in some cases, write new material. Television characters from popular shows converge for a special, usually during a sweeps period. And let's face it, isn't a sequel some form of a reunion? Unfortunately, I think the word reunion gets thrown around too easily in an effect to generate interest. Because what really constitutes a reunion?
Two recent reunions got me thinking about it: The New York Dolls and The Cars. The New York Dolls latest release hits stores on July 25 while the "New" Cars is already available. And both bands have only two original members as part of the gathering. Granted, for the Dolls, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain are the only surviving members. So, a full-fledged reunion is out of the question. The death toll is not as great for the Cars, with Benjamin Orr as the only casualty. But is 40% of a band enough to be considered a reunion?
I've heard music from both, and the answer seems to depend on which band you examine. Johansen was the main songwriter for the Dolls and he still has plenty of power and swagger. Johnny Thunders' guitar is a missing element, but the spirit of the band still seems to exist. In a recent interview with "Blender" magazine, Johansen expressed the importance of having a brand. The name recognition is an important factor even if it isn't really the full New York Dolls.
On the other hand, the New Cars just doesn't seem right. Ric Ocasek was the chief songwriter and architect of the band's sound. In his place; Todd Rundgren, who happens to be an accomplished songwriter but with a different style. They've also produced new material although what I heard was merely adequate. The rest of the material was classic Cars songs, which had an odd sound with another voice. I don't want to take away anything from what Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton contributed to the band's sound, but it's missing a lot without Ocasek.
But frankly, is this really any different than a band that continues to use the same name even if it only has one or two constant members? The Pretenders have used the same moniker for years even though it's basically Chrissie Hynde. So I guess approach each reunion with some caution and be glad that the Dolls didn't go the Cars path by slapping the word "New" into their name.