Disco de Cheap Trick: “Cheap Trick [1997]”

Might be a bit confusing for some,because the band's very first album was self-titled,wasn't it?To those of you who've wondered about the where abouts of Cheap Trick,they've never gone anywhere.Often,maybe there are certain cities they just skip playing for awhile.'Cheap Trick' is sure to truely satisfy any and all long time fans.Plus,I've usually seen this disc priced rather low.I've always considered the guys to be 'heavy pop' and that's just what they are.Best tracks are the single "Say Goodbye","It All Comes Back To You","Wrong All Along","Anytime" and "Hard To Tell".As for the line-up,yes I've had others ask me about that.It's all original,Robin-vocals,Rick-guitar,Tom-bass and Bun E.-drums.If you don't know their last names,YOU seriously need to relocate to another planet.

ere, sorry let me state why the title is the way it is:

----being bored (like i usually am) i decided to look through my CD collection (some 350 odd cds WITH a printed list) and looked at this here CD. I almost threw up...because i remembered how i got it. Just so happened one day i went into a Dollar General for...something i forget and saw this CD...FOR 5 FREAKING DOLLARS!!!! Brand new never opened...i almost had a brain anursym (SP?) and on the spot payed for it and not for what i initally went in for. I strolled home and pulled in to the stereo and i listened to it...and i wanted to slap these Red Ant fools but i had never heard of such a company.

Now with the tracks:

1. Anytime: 4.5/5 I don't like the singing at the begining, but the chourus and the simple guitar work sticks!

2. Hard to Tell: 5/5 IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO TELL...this song has a great chorous and great drumming.

3. Carnival Game: 4.5/5 Don't ask me why but the piano bit at the begining followed by some power work from Rick really nails this song down.

4. Shelter: 3.5/5 I like it, but i'm personally not a huge slow song man.

5. You let a lot of people down: 5.5/5 This is all around greatness and is a reason this CD puts there 80's work to shame.

6. Baby No More: 4.5/5 By CT standards, quick and brutal with some funny but repetative vocals.

7. Yeah yeah: 5/5 I always dug this song don't ask me why but it's great...i would of liked it longer but hey.

8. Say Goodbye: 4/5 Not bad but is normal CT stuff.

9. Wrong all along: 4.5/5 quick (2:10) song and the ending is funny (Seems to me, oh my life is reallying goin' to hell)

10. Eight miles low: 5/5 the lyrics are weird as hell but the instrumental part is great.

11. All comes back to you: 3/5 Okay song.

Overall: 4.9/5 This marked something of a comeback for the guys known as Cheap Trick, proving that they are not dead but rather taking sometime off to find there true sound: god forbid we got another CD like The Doctor or Standing on the Edge again!

Nice to see the CT boys back to writing more on their own. I know it was their downfall in the mid 80's but they do it better by themselves. Only a few tracks here have outside influence.

That said, Cheap Trick (97) is a solid entry into their discography. Most say it's a return to rock form from their late 70's albums, but in my opinion, Woke Up With A Monster was that.

The Tracks:

1. Anytime is a muddled heavy opener. Harsher than usual. Robin screams like he's never screamed before. All in all it's a good song, not a great one and not the kick off the album needs.

2. Hard To Tell follows with the whiny lead in guitar. CT are showing their class here and it's one of the highlights from the album.

3. Carnival Game is a nice change from the heavier first two tracks. It too is a hightlight from the album, if not the highest of them.

4. Shelter is lovely. Perhaps one of the softer songs they've done. Another hightlight. that's 1, 2, 3 so far!!

5. You Let A Lot Of People Down is one of the lesser tracks but still rocks nicely. Nothing new from this song.

6. Baby No More is a fast paced winner. Rick's guitar is wonderful. The overdubbed vocal (featured on most tracks) really works here.

7. Yeah Yeah is a lesser track. A bit lazy perhaps. They could have done more with this one by changing the lyrics to something more interesting. Closest thing to a 'filler track' on the album.

8. Say Goodbye is one of the best singles they've released. Lyrically there's not much on offer but the song blends many elements, each flowing seemlessly together. Should have been a hit.

9. Wrong All Along is another highlight. Fast and heavy. Great guitar.

10. Eight Miles Low is a good song. Not one of those highlights but another good rocker. Interesting harmonies - if you can call them that.

11. It All Comes Back To You is a nice ballard. Interesting vocal.

12. Baby Talk (for those who have it) is a great song. Nice and heavy. Should have featured on the 'normal' version of the album.

13. Brontosaurus (for those that have it) is a good cover of the original. I'm a Move/ELO fan so was happy for it to take its place here as a bonus.

All in all, CT (97) is a return to form after their return to form of Woke Up With A Monster...... Not quite as good as the former, perhaps lacks the variety or songs, but nestles nicely below Cheap Trick(77) and above Busted (90) in CT album rankings.

Listening to CHEAP TRICK 97, I can say that the band once again found the mark and made this awesome CD. The sound that fans fell in love with back in the late 70's is back. Rick is playing some mean guitar, Tom and Bun E. are proving that they are still a great rhythm section, and Robin proves once again why he is the man of 1000 voices. This sounds so much like their first 3 classic albums, that I find it a shame that this album didnt push back to the top like it should have. I like every song that is on this album, and that is quite a feat, but if I had to pick my favorites they would be: ANYTIME, HARD TO TELL, SHELTER, IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU, and CARNIVAL GAME. Recently alot of up and coming bands have gave CT its due, and its about time this great American rock band gets what they deserve

Having lost track of this band as early as their 1979 "Dream Police" album, I've recently embarked on a Cheap Trick' rediscovering attempt considering their career proceeds well into the 1980's, 1990's and into the XXIst. Century.

This I was unaware of until, accidentally, while searching for late 70's iconic albums, - among them, Cheap Trick's "At Budokan" and "Dream Police" albums -, I came across their post seventies career.

Cheap Trick 1997 album, titled "Cheap Trick", is instrumental in that rediscovering attempt. As a follow-up acquisition of their 2006 "Rockford "album, I've listened to it twice thus far and I like it. They remain true to their sound; both rock and ballad-like tracks exhibit that distinct instrumental and vocal "Cheap Trick touch" which tells them apart within the genre. Cheap Trick remains as such, thank God!

Rediscovering them too? Well, in that case "Cheap Trick" 1997 album is a good start!