Album Number 14 from the world’s best power-pop band, the first on their newly formed label Cheap Trick Unlimited, and their first studio album in six years.
Hand on heart here – it is not one of their best. Sure it has its moments, opening track Scent of a Woman is classic CT, but the next song Too Much seems like something they threw away years ago. The title track Special One is a straight Beatles lift. Pop Drone is ok, but it lacks that energy. Side 1 closer My Obsession feels like it was a reject from a Tom Petty album. See what I’m saying here??? It’s very disjointed to say the least.
Things don’t start much better over on Side 2. Words, is a really weak song until the chorus kicks in. Sorry Boy is slightly better as it does actually rock.Then we have, Best Friend, and that’s a weak song. If I Could, is quite interesting as it sees them exploring a funk groove to start before it goes down that Beatles rabbit hole. Low Life In High Heels is ok in a weird way – the vocals are very sparse to start and a very stripped down sound. Close out track Hummer is just so repetitive!!!
I expect way better from a band as good as this. Very disappointing.
4/10 the Grooveman.
