Cheap Trick returns to top form

Review Score: (10/10)
I also lucked on getting this cutout into my hands - based on the comments made by rabid fans on the Cheap Trick web site message board I had read, I gave it a try. This is a terrific CD - maybe not quite up to early Trick classics like their debut CD Cheap Trick (1977) and the also-overlooked All Shook up (1981), but reasonably close (I almost rated it 5 stars). I like the sound of the recording, which is not quite like any other Trick recording - not really stripped down, but rather slightly rough with a 'big room' sound that is awesome turned up loud.

As for the songs - the title cut makes me think of Aerosmith's 'Dude Looks Like a Lady' but I like it better. This is hardly the highlight of the lp, which starts strong and finishes better - 'Tell Me Everything' and 'Cry Baby' cut right to the emotional core while rocking hard, and the album concludes with a great straight-ahead rocker 'Love Me for a Minute' (turn it up loud!). The low point, 'All I Wanna Do' is rather formulaic mediocrity, but even that is not a bad song. 'Never Run Out of Love' is kind of a sappy ballad, but I actually like it. Finally, 'Ride the Pony' is a must for all you sex fiends out there...

More Reviews:

• BEST TRICK ALBUM EVER
• ...this Monster ROCKS*
• Loud, noisy and poorly produced
• Wake Up To This Monster!
• A great rock CD
• Hit or Miss with Cheap Trick
• Solid Album That Somehow Missed The People!
• Some of their best work...
• What's wrong with you people anyways?