Cheap Trick - The Latest
Cheap Trick is unique in many ways. Cheap Trick is one of the few bands still going strong in its original line-up and continues to offer the fans treats.
 
Their latest effort Rockford (2006) was an up-beat record while this new record is a perfect blend of 3 minute power pop tunes and ballads. "The Latest" digs deeper than "Rockford" because of the emotional ballads, which make "The Latest" one of the best Cheap Trick albums ever. The band has penned some great touching tunes; The haunting Everybody Knows and Miracle are up there with Heaven Tonight. The album closer Smile is grandiose and has a chilling middle play, which brings associations back to Alice Cooper's masterpiece Steven. Instead of a pure fun power-pop record "The Latest" has a lot more substance because of the ballads. The mid-tempo These Days is a smash hit - fantastic songwriting and vocals from Zander.
 
The Beatles influence is always in the background - most obvious on Closer, The Ballad of Burt and Linda, which has big harmonies.
 
Miss Tomorrow is straight forward and catchy. Robin Zander's voice ages well, meaning that he sounds exactly the same as on Cheap Tricks debut from 1977.  California Girl and Sick man of Europe puts a smile on your face with a positive up-tempo beat.
 
This is the best production I ever heard on a Cheap Trick record - read: This is the production that suits them best. The record is tied nicely together by producer Julian Raymond and several songs overlap. Cheap Trick is musical craftsman and they do their thing to A+.
 
Several songs are reworked tunes from earlier unreleased songs, but overall the quality is high. The album flows perfectly with its mixture of up-tempo songs and ballads. Robin Zander is never heard better. His pipes are strong and crystal clear - they define Cheap Trick.
 
The album is self released. The record just messes with you, the power pop songs makes you happy and the ballads thoughtful. This is THE summer record of 2009!

Written by Michael
Sunday, August 02, 2009
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Review by Michael

Released by
Cheap Trick - 2009

Tracklisting
1. Sleep Forever
2. When The Lights Are Out
3. Miss Tomorrow
4. Sick Man of Europe
5. These Days
6. Miracle
7. Everyday You Make Me Crazy
8. California Girl
9. Everybody Knows
10. Alive
11. Times of Our Lives
12. Closer, The Ballad of Burt and Linda
13. Smile


Style
Cheap Trick

Related links
Visit the band page

Cheap Trick - Official Website

Other articles
Special One - (Michael)

Rockford - (Brian)

From Tokyo To You (DVD) & Special One (CD) reissues - (Brian)

Silver - (Brian)



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