Album number 12 sees the US power pop kings in fine form, and let’s be honest they nearly always deliver great tunes. This was the first album for Warners, having been dropped by Epic after previous album Busted. Warners brought in the big guns with Ted Templeman producing.
This album came out in ’94; the supposed lean years for rock bands after the great grunge unpleasantness, but for Cheap Trick they put out one of their best ever albums. My Gang kicks things off with a great power pop groover and trademark sing along chorus. The title track is next, a slow brooding groover with a killer riff and hook very reminiscent in feel to Gonna Raise Hell from the Dream Police album. That jingle jangle Beatles vibe which Cheap Trick do a lot is up next with Your All I Wanna Do. Never Run Out Of Love was the big single from the album, and we have entered ballad city. Didn’t Know I Had It is Cheap Trick 101, they write tunes like this in their sleep and I’m sure the Wilburys stole this one. Great riff and groove to Ride The Pony, which closes out Side 1 – a great little stomper. Girlfriends’ riff is the exact same as Bad Boy Boogie by AC/DC. Let Her Go is as close as the band get to the Stones, especially at the intro. Tell Me Everything sees Robin Zander channeling his inner Roy Orbison, and it’s back to power ballad. Cry Baby is a dirty sleazy blues which I really like. Love Me For A Minute closes out the album and it’s my favourite track. Love the swing and groove to the main riff a killer ending to the album.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
