Cheap Trick – The Latest
Cheap Trick Unlimited
www.cheaptrick.com

Rating: C 

Cheap Trick is one of only a handful of bands from the ‘classic’ era of the 70’s and 80’s to continue to regularly release collections of new music that remain valid and true to their identity.  In 2003, the band released Special One, which was a true CT sounding album and featured the songs “Scent of a Woman” and “Best Friend.” In 2006 came Rockford, which was even better than Special One.  “Welcome to the World” and “Perfect Stranger” were even more in the wheelhouse of classic Trick.  Now, in 2009 comes The Latest.   

Band producer Tom Werman once said that he wanted Cheap Trick to be The Who but that they wanted to be the Beatles.  Trick’s mouthpiece Rick Neilsen once told me, “Tom wanted us to be The Who but we wanted to be the Sex Pistols.”  The Latest is a mixed bag of ballads and rockers.  The songs are well written and the band sound amazing, yet this time out Cheap Trick does not have the ‘it’ factor they had with their last two releases.  “Everybody Knows” and “Sleep Forever” are both heart wrenching songs but they are not necessarily what the fans are looking for.  “Closer, The Ballad of Burt and Linda” is quirky and folkie but not Tricky. 

There are several bright moments.  “Sick Man of Europe” is pure Cheap Trick magic.  This reminds me of Rick’s quote “Cheap Trick was Punk before Punk was Punk.”  This one proves that this band knows what they are doing and the today’s young pop and Punk bands should sit up and take notice.  “When the Lights Are Out” is another standout track.  “Times of Our Lives” is a ballad but more in the style of the past.  “California Girl” is a return to early Cheap Trick in that it mixes Robin Zander’s awesome vocals amongst a boogie background.  

While this is not the best the band has done, it is far from the worst.  Certainly this album is much more in the Werman described Cheap Trick wanting to be the Beatles than it is Cheap Trick being the Who or the Sex Pistols.  There are moments of brilliance but there are moments that are monotonous and will be in danger of putting the listener to sleep.  This one is worth picking up put don’t expect a Cheap Trick masterpiece because it simply is not one.   

By Jeb Wright