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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Holmes Online <bholmes_fm@msn.com> |
| Subject | Cheap Trick |
| Date | Sun, 5 Jun 2016 13:47:40 -0400 |
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Saw them last night in Syracuse and they were on fire. Zander, at 62,
still a vocal powerhouse and hitting the notes; Nielsen re-energized on
guitar; Petersson solid as always. Miss the flair and fills of Bun on
the kit but Daxx is solid. Set list was pretty routine - a couple from
the new album, an choice Lou Reed cover and the hits you would expect to
hear.
After the Red Ant collapse killed their true "comeback" record in 1997,
they did have a solid album in ROCKFORD and some nice moments on SPECIAL
ONE and THE LATEST. But BANG ZOOM, the new album, is a stunner. There's
a weak run of 3 songs in the middle but damned if there aren't seven
songs that easily warrant airplay. I think their choice for first single
("When I Wake Up Tomorrow") was okay but "Sing My Blues Away" and "No
Direction Home" would have been much better. Something for everyone - a
glammy Sweet-like track, a guitar jam, a hybrid Strangles/Iggy tune, an
ELO-like song...great vocals throughout. Lyrically they never were and
will never be Dylan, but if you can get past that (and mostly, I can)
this is one of the best records I've heard all year.
With the R&RHOF induction and milking every tour, TV show and interview
opportunity, this is probably the best shot they've had in 20+ years.
But if this winds up being the last record they ever made, they will
have gone out on a high note.
If you're skeptical after all the previous "return to form" publicity
campaigns this band has had, I certainly understand; the abundance of
"their best album EVER" posts make me cringe. But this album needs no
apologists - if this was the work of a new artist we'd be tripping over
ourselves talking about them. Trust me and at least give it a spin.
b
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