The Latest

THE LATEST IS THEIR GREATESTCheap Trick has outdone themselves on their latest recording "The Latest." At times criticized for being a "fun" band without substance, Cheap Trick proves to the critics and naysayers that they are capable of producing exceptional pieces of deep, meaningful music- while still rocking out as much if not better than the numerous younger bands they've influenced along the way. "The Latest" is certain to become a classic in the Cheap Trick canon, without a doubt one of the best things they've ever done.Starting off like "Sleep Forever," a beautiful, almost too-short elegy, Robin Zander demonstrates that he is hands-down one of the greatest vocalists in rock and roll history. It's nothing like you've ever heard before from the Rockford gang, and just when you're captivated by this song, Bun E. Carlos kicks up a blast-from-the-past, ELO Kiddies-based drum march into..."When The Lights Go Out," a cover version of the 70's song from Slade. Rick Nielsen's guitar work, as it is through much of the recording, is fluid and uplifting. The glam-rock feel, the soaring vocals, and the foot-tapping charm of this song hearken back to an era when music was about "the beauty of the melody," as Chuck Berry aptly described it."Miss Tomorrow" is power pop music as its best, the type of song that CT is best known for throughout their underappreciated career."Sick Man of Europe" is the type of song that makes you scratch your head and go, "How can these guys be rocking this hard at this stage in their career?" THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE BEST SINGLES RELEASED SO FAR THIS YEAR. It is worth buying this CD for this song alone. Tom Petersson's bass work rivals John Entwistle on this one.I could go on and on, but you get the point. Look out particularly for the songs "Everybody Knows" (a tour-de-force), "Alive," "Times Of Our Lives," and "Closer." The recording demonstrates a distinct Beatles/Lennon influence, particularly on songs like "Miracle" with its explicit reference to Lennon's "Mind Games" and "Everybody Knows" that recalls bits of "I Am The Walrus." Cheap Trick even faintly recalls their classic "Dream Police" in the song "Alive." But rather than exploit these influences and songs from the past, the band uses them sparingly and tastefully as if to acknowledge the past without being trapped by it. Additionally, the production is excellent- Julian Raymond truly understands how to bring out the best from this multi-faceted band, and the orchestral elements are crisp throughout several songs.It's high time that Cheap Trick is recognized for being one of the most influential, talented, and creative bands in rock and roll history. Unfortunately, they are sometimes saddled with the "lightweight" moniker based on a few songs like "I Want You to Want Me" and "The Flame." Last time I checked, suicide, domestic violence, war, drug abuse, psychosis, and mental illness are hardly safe topics, and Cheap Trick has tackled all of them and more throughout their career, in addition to their takes on love and relationships ("Way of the World" and "Standing on the Edge" may be about love on the surface, but there's something else, there, as well). Their songs don't just satisfy, they captivate and move listeners like very few bands have been able to do, through uplifting anthems like "Surrender" and heartfelt ballads like "Shelter." Now, 35 years from its inception, Cheap Trick continues to produce music that turns fans into fanatics and casual listeners into converts. Robin, Bun E., Tom, and Rick- you've done it again. On behalf of your countless fans worldwide, I extend a heartfelt "thank you" for making music that matters.Two and a half months later after this was first posted, after many listenings and flip-flops on favorite songs, whether it is really a classic CD, whether I was just caught up in the "brand-new recording" thing, my opinion hasn't changed one bit. To me, like Achtung Baby, Born to Run, and Kick, you can listen to the entire thing straight through and enjoy every single song. Fantastic.AFFECTED MY LIFE IN A POSITIVE WAY** How did it make my life better? It's a weird phenomenon. Since I've been listening to this CD, I have experienced a great deal of success with my business in the midst of a struggling, downturn economy. Can music actually do this? Can a single CD facilitate this type of change in one's life? It makes no sense whatsoever, but perhaps it can, even though it sounds somewhat preposterous. I feel that inspiration for improving one's life can spring from a variety of different sources. Religion, career, nature, family, and- yes- art. Before I open up shop in the morning, I play a song or songs from The Latest. For the rest of the day, I enjoy my work, I feel confident in my job, I maintain excellent customer relationships, and I achieve my goals for the day without fail. And this has carried over into my personal life, as well. For some odd, inexplicable reason, The Latest works as a motivational tool. Maybe it's the power of the music, maybe it's the themes of the lyrics. All I know is that our business has reached its highest peak in its 10-year history, and it started the same time that The Latest came out and I began listening to it. I can only draw the conclusion that The Latest makes a difference. The magic of music.(Yes, this is a Three Moon Wolf T-Shirt reference, but it really is a very good CD)

You've got to admire Cheap Trick for continuing to release brilliant studio albums, never standing still, always writing different styles, while remaining true to all their original influences. This album, like all the last 3 albums since Cheap Trick: 1997 has wonderful songs, great production and simply superb musicianship. Like all their albums since 1997 this album contains about 4 or 5 brilliant songs and a fair amount of "filler" material. But the stand-out songs more than make it a great album.On 1997 the standouts were "Anytime", "Hard To Tell", "Carnival Game" and "Shelter".On Special One the standouts were "Scent of a Woman", "Too Much", "Special One", "My Obsession" and "Low Life in High Heels"On Rockford the standouts were "Welcome To the World", "Perfect Stranger", "If It Takes a Lifetime" and "O Claire"On The Latest the standouts are "Sleep Forever", "When The Lights are Out", "Miss Tomorrow", "Sick Man of Europe" and "Smile".If you selected 12 of the above songs you would probably have one of the greatest albums of all time. The fact that guys of their age can still produce such stellar material is really to be appreciated and admired.It's difficult to tell if "The Latest" is any better or worse than the last 3 albums. It has some fantastic songs but also plenty of filler stuff like "Every day you make me crazy" - which seems rather pointless as well as "California Girl" and probably "Miracle". Only time will tell if the rest of the songs will grow on me.I've only had the album 3 days and I've probably played "When The Lights Are Out" literally about 50 times! It reminds me of when I was a kid, playing a seven inch single over and over again. This is possibly the most infectious song they have ever recorded. It is a brilliant version of the Slade song and undoubtably much better than the original version. What a great choice of cover - it really gives the album the simple "hit single" standout track that it needs."Sleep Forever" perhaps more than any other Cheap Trick song showcases what an incredible vocalist Robin Zander is, giving an almost Operatic performance. But a shame it is so short and the same can be said for "Sick Man of Europe" - great slightly punk heavy rocker that really would have been much better with a second verse....two minutes isn't long enough.Love the production on "Miss Tomorrow" very hip and groovy. Love it when they go in for the modern production like on songs like "Low Life in High Heels". Excellent, slightly wacky song.These Days is probably a grower. Miracle seems week. Every day you Make me Crazy is a waste of space. California Girl is bog-standard rock'n'roll - completely disposable.Everybody knows is not a song that I immediately warm to, but you can recognize the quality of the song writing - perhaps it will grow on me.Alive reminds me of "One on One" or "Standing on the Edge" era hard pop-rock Cheap Trick. Again, not sure if it is good or ultimately just another filler.Times of Our Lives is a pretty good ballad, but not brilliant.Love the Beatlesy influences throughout the album, especially on "Closer, The Ballad of Burt and Linda" - which has a touch of Lucy in the Sky and Penny Lane. Slightly dreamy song.Smile is a lush ballad rich in piano and strings and a gorgeous vocal performance. Great, slightly unusual end to the album.All in all, I am yet again highly satisfied with this album, and very proud to be a fan of this band.Thanks Cheap Trick. Please keep it up!

Have been a long time fan of Cheap Trick. Loved the early albums in the late 70s and early 80s. Seemed like they tried to go too commercial in the 90s and lost the magic. I greatly enjoyed this album, every song has been added to my favorites play list. If you like In Color, Heaven Tonight, Dream Police and the earlier ones you will like this one. I have really loved the last few albums they have release and put these up there with any of the best!

What a joy it is for me to be able to unhesitatingly give 'The Latest' Cheap Trick album 5 stars! When they returned to recording after a long hiatus and released 'Special One'- the worst album of their entire career, I feared it was all over. The songs on that album were poor and the bands timing even worse, in short they sounded like a bunch of guys that had finally fallen out of love with the game. Thankfully, the next album 'Rockford' proved me wrong in spectacular style - the Cheap Trick I loved so much were back but could they sustain it?I need worry no more for 'The Latest' has everything all Cheap Trick fans could ever have hoped for. Robin Zander has never sounded so good, the band are right on the button and the songs all have sparkle and freshness about them. I know that some of these songs have been hanging around in the CT archives for a while but as someone with recording experience myself, I can tell you that it is never easy to 'pick up the baton' once you have dropped it for so long. Indeed there is usually every chance that you will end up doing an Axl Rose and spend 12 years remixing, re-recording and re-thinking to end up with a collage of ideas that don't sit well together at all.Not a chance of that here, 'When The Lights Are Out' is a great, commercial 'pick me up' to follow the achingly raw 'Sleep Forever' while 'Miss Tomorrow' could easily be a hit single with it's chorus that jumps out of the speakers at you and just MAKES you sing along to it. 'Sick Man Of Europe' rocks as hard as the band have since the days of 'Auf Weidersehen' and even the ballads (or softer songs) like 'Miracle' and 'These Days' are right up there with tracks like 'This Time Around' and 'Mandocello'.Gauranteed HIT from the album though is the 'dirty rock and roll' of 'California Girl'. It may not be the lyrically most profound but boy does it have a rock/rock n roll edge that sounds great in your head phones!Right, that's enough from me, stop reading this and get ordering (ooohh don't you love it when I get all 'masterful' HA HA)BUY THIS!

Well this was a nice surprise!I have to say although I was looking forward to hearing Cheap Tricks new CD I wasn't expecting an album as good as what we have here...Both 2003's SPECIAL ONE and 2006's ROCKFORD contained some great moments but to be frank I thought Rockford was overrated by the critics, a bit "Cheap Trick by numbers" at times - not much depth.Anyway fast forward to 2009 and I am thrilled to report that 'The Latest' is a triumph from start to finish.It's easily the bands finest hour since CT'97.As we have come to expect Mr. Zander, the vocals are breathtaking - he is well into his fifties now and the voice has lost nothing, he's just as good as he ever was - ditto Tom, Bun E & Rick!!!The songs here are so well crafted, intelligent, punchy, dynamic, catchy & dripping in melody. Unlike the last two albums 'The Latest' does not blow hot and cold.My favourites would have to be : SMILE - EVERYBODY KNOWS - THESE DAYS & CLOSER.I've read a few reviews branding 'Smile' a bit too schmaltzy - I disagree. I think it's one of the best ballads Cheap Trick have ever done. I could play this song over and over again.'Everybody Knows', again is top drawer stuff. I have to give Bun E in particular a mention here along with Robin's incredible vocals. The weight is perfect. Excellent track.'These Days' is a welcome power ballad and 'Closer' is just lush! More strong emphasis on melody and killer hooks.There are so many more treats to savour - the blistering 'Sick Man Of Europe', the gorgeous 'Sleep Forever' and the radio friendly 'Miss Tomorrow' again the band come up trumps with a signature chorus, tasteful backing vocals (ie. no high pitched nonsense from Rick!).I also like the short track 'Everyday You Make Me Crazy' that leads into the dirty rock 'n' roll groove of 'California Girl'.Bottom line : Stunning album - Robin, Rick, Tom & Bun E - gentleman take a bow!

This is a brilliant CD, hard to get at a good price

This is outstanding and better than most of the meanderings of the last few years. U.S. "Stadium Rock" (sorry) with guts and no spandex. Brilliant harmonies. Blistering guitar solos. Rejuvenating. (Keeps me happy anyway).

one of their best