CD Review

Isn't this how the business is supposed to work? You go see a band and then go to your favorite neighborhood record store and buy their stuff? This is the best Cheap Trick release since "Dream Police". I have always admired this band but at one point they got bogged down in their own cuteness so to speak. This CD has been in my car for two weeks and I absolutely love it.
"Welcome to the World" starts off the CD with about 2 minutes of a preview of what's coming. Tight playing great harmonies and catchy, pop songs. "If It Takes a Lifetime" is their newest single..."it's being played all over the world" Rick Neilsen said in jest in concert. Absolutely a great power pop song, full of Robin Zander's excellent voice and Rick's still sanctimonious guitar. "This Time You Got It" is my favorite track, it sounds like CT did 25 years ago. "Every Night and Every Day" rock my world with of the greatest rhythm sections ever. (Nice to see Bun E. Carlos has made a recovery from his dance with the cancer demon). "O Claire" (a lullabye to Robin's daughter)sounds just like The Beatles. These guys have always had The Beatles in their back pocket but now this CD seems to be the piece of music that says .."we're back and we're bad." Cheap Trick has always been the Rodney Dangerfield of rock, getting no respect and all but damn, this 50 year old lifetime music fan says thanks for still being around and thanks for giving us your best effort in years. The CD is called "Rockford", named after their hometown and it's a return to their roots. It's good to have fun again. Cheap Trick's Tom Petersson says, "This new record has the best elements of our entire catalogue. It's by far our best work yet." Amen to that.

4 1/2 starts out of 5.