Disco de Cheap Trick: “Special One”

Cheap Trick came out with a good album in 1997. This album continues where the last one left off, except this one is better.

The band has taken a step beyond the power rock in the 1997 album. They've added a techno feel and some different rythms. More importantly, they have added this feel while still applying their signature. This is classic Cheap Trick with some new dimensions. This is exactly what you want from a band - Continuous evolution.

Lyrically speaking the album is their best. This is truly one of their best albums, and one of the best albums I've heard this year. If anyone has any suggestions of albums that are as good as this one, let me know.

I like this album for what it is: creative, different and classic Cheap Trick. I like it for what it isn't - 10 power pop love songs. Cheap trick is better than that and they've proved it on their last two albums.

Keep going guys, keep evloving and trying new things. You saved us from Disco once, now save us from 'nsync hell and John Mayer banality.

Well, what can you say about Cheap Trick? Here is a band 30 years into their career, and they put out an album that rivals bands half their age. In an age where bands wallow in self pity and all try to sing in that annoying Eddie Veder barotone, along comes Cheap Trick with a full blast of technicolor, swagger and hooks a mile wide. "Scent of a Woman" with its line "A man is just a day in the life of a woman, a few minutes a night to a woman," is wit and power, and fun all mixed together for a great Rolling Stones meets the Who slice of heaven. "Too Much," has a kind of cool Gasoline Alley feel with a modern edge. I can picture Bono singing this one or Mick Jagger. "Special One," the title track, is not a ballad. Unless, of course you consider a song about assisted suicide a ballad. Pop Drone, is just this big monster of a song that is chock full of Beatle style riffs, harmonies, and and a cool atmospheric vibe as well. "My Obsession,"which could have easily been on the Beatles album Revolver, is stunning. If radio played Obssession the song would raise the bar for other bands, and radio can't have that. "Words," is a mixture of John Lennon and the Kinks, with of course Cheap Trick's unique touch. The middle part of "Words," will take your breath away, in the same way that "If You Want My Love," did. "Sorry Boy," is just a fierce groove that pounds and pounds and does not let up. It has an arabesque string arrangement ontop of a huge wall of sound. Tom's bass is thick not just on this song, but the entire album. Be forewarned the bass, as in bass guitar, can barely be contained on Special One. Now as for "Best Friend,"lookout. The song will blow you away. It builds and builds and builds and at its height Robin's voice is pure rage as is Rick guitar. This is one of the hardest things they have ever done, and brother that says alot right there. Then there is "If I Could," which starts out with a dance groove then morphs into a cool Beatlesque power pop ditty. "Low Life in High Heels," and "Hummer," believe it or not are both kind of trippy instrumentals. Chris Shaw, the producer here, did a good job of giving the songs on here layers and textures that many Cheap Trick studio albums in the past missed. I would give it five stars, but I think they should have added one more song. Call me greedy all you want, but this is so good I did not want it to end. The American Beatles are back and they go by the name Cheap Trick.

This is a long overdue studio album from one of America's great bands, A solid effort that fits in nicely with their classic catalog. I particularly like the Steve Albini produced "Sorry Boy" (wherein the bands brings the heaviosity, ala "Auf Wiedersehen") and Blur / Gorillaz fans should definitely check out Dan "the Automator" Nakamura's groovin' mix for "Hummer".

As a really cool bonus, the band includes a DVD full of videos of classic songs spanning their entire career. My personal favorite is "Say Goodbye" a fantastic should-have-been-a-massive-hit from the Cheap Trick '97 album.

Cheap Trick graces its fanatical following with another stellar follow up to their great Cheap Trick (97) album. "Scent of a woman" is one of the best Cheap Trick singles released in years. "Too much", "Pop Drone" and "My Obsession" update Cheap Trick's classic sound. The first half of the disc is lighter and more pop oriented than the second half. Starting with "Sorry Boy" (supposedly about soldiers dying in Iraq according to bassist Tom Petersson) the album takes a dramatic turn and really gets darker. "My Best Friend" is a monster of a song. "If I could" starts off with a dance rhythm before returning to the Cheap trick we all know and love. "Low Life in High Heels" and "Hummer" are basically two different songs in one. Overall this disc is terrific for a band whose has been consistently amazing throughout all the rough years.

OK, first, you need to know that is not an "instant" cd. It does't leap of the speakers and posess you immediately. It takes a few listens before it all begins to hook you. Some have said that this CT album doesn't rock. It is definitely more subdued that most of their releases, though it is not "laid back" or mellow. The songs are slow and midtempo in the majority but in the same vein that songs like "Heaven Tonight" and "Gonna Raise Hell" are, not poppy like "The Flame". This album has some legs. I too regret that radio, being what it is currently, won't be helping this album find the audience it deserves.

Second, this is not just for fans, but for anyone that likes great rock 'n roll.

Third, thank god they still put out albums and aren't a nostalgia act!

Auf Weidersehen!