Новый альбом американской рок-группы.
I am a huge Cheap Trick fan. Sure, there are those out there with larger anoraks than me that will know each and every B side under the sun but unlike some I'm a fan of all the albums and disagree with the mainstream views that much derided efforts such as 'Special One', 'The Doctor' & 'Lap Of Luxury' were poor - they all hold merit for me, even 1990's aptly named 'Busted' has it's moments.
The fan in me wants to sit here and say this is a 5 star album, although not a masterpiece it is in parts a very satisfying listen. Let's start with the opener, an old demo from 1997 that the guys have resurrected 'Heart On The Line' - I have always rated this track and it's nice to have it finally committed to plastic. It's a shame the band rarely play in the UK, I'd certainly love to hear this performed live. The same can be said for the infectious 'Long Time No See Ya' - another song with a pulsating groove just made for the live arena.
When I Wake Up Tomorrow is very impressive and with any justice would be a massive hit, it marries their uncanny nack of producing an inticing melody without sounding desperately commercial and formulaic. Blood Red Lips on the other hand is a pure throwback to the glam rock era, it's never embarrasing albeit directly lifted from the same stable as the Slade ditty 'When The Lights Are Out' that they covered on the last album.
As we get around the halfway point an undoubted highlight here is 'Sing My Blues Away' very few singers can serve up this quality, Zander remains a hugely gifted vocalist. They call him 'the man of a thousand voices' for good reason, see rockers 'Roll Me' & 'Do You Believe Me' for the rougher side of his talents.
The album does start to plateau out by Track 10 ' The Sun Never Sets', despite some pleasing trademark Petersson bass runs and a defiant drum solo it doesn't quite take off leading into closer 'All Strung Out', amongst the weakest cuts of their career, there is a song buried in there somewhere and it's not totally worthless but nevertheless robs Bang Zoom Crazy Hello from a distinguished ending.
My overriding view is after 7 years (the longest ever gap between new product) it's still a big thrill to get new music from the guys. They are of course a different beast sonically without Bun E's creativity. Daxx is doing an admirable job and plays with plenty of gusto, now he has his debut out of the way it will be interesting to see how the next album turns out with this line up.
So whilst I can't give BZCH full marks when it's good it's very good indeed and with the right push there are several hit singles here.
Buy it and see for yourself...
