So these are my ramblings on the records in my collection. It won’t be in alphabetical order as I will be using a Discogs randomizer to determine what gets reviewed.
Here we go:
So first up is this monster of a record. It’s what is now called a power pop masterpiece. Not sure who coined that phrase, but as Billy Joel will say “ It’s Still Rock n Roll to me”. There is really not a bad song on the album . From the opening of Surrender, to the close out of a How Are You, each one is a dose of Cheap Trick in their prime. Their love of all things Beatles is very evident on most tracks but that is not a bad thing. I was never sure how to take them when I first heard them as visually they come across as sort of having a split personality. As you have Team Weird (Rick and Bun E) and Team Normal (Robin and Tom). I was never sure if it was a gimmick or for real, but as long as the music’s good who cares?! The one thing that does stand out about Cheap Trick is they do come across as a band instead of group of individuals. Released in 1978, a hell of a year for great rock records. Produced by the excellent Tom Werman and recorded at the legendary Sound City, this has to be up there with the best of Cheap Trick’s very extensive catalogue. My personal stand out track is Auf Wiedersein.
8/10 from The Grooveman.
