Album review: Cheap Trick's The Latest

The Latest 

Cheap Trick

Grade: A 

Cheap Trick’s new album The Latest finally hit shelves July 21 after a one-month tenure as an Amazon exclusive. After 1997’s return-to-form outing with their second self-titled album, 2003’s solid and semi-experimental Special One, and the 2006 full blown rock and roll blast of Rockford, The Latest is the most diverse Cheap Trick album ever recorded. Over their thirty-five year career, the band has recruited many different types of fans, and every one of them will find something to relish on their new album.

For the hard rocking 1970’s fans, the Bun E. Carlos drum stomp of the “ELO Kiddies” infused Slade cover “When the Lights are Out,” the switchblade slashing guitar work of Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson on “Sick Man of Europe,” and the twelve bar blues romp “California Girl” will do more than satisfy. They’ll easily stand up to anything on In Color or Heaven Tonight. The 1980’s fans will not be able to wipe the smile from their faces after hearing the soaring synth-pop rocker “Miss Tomorrow” or the pairing of “These Days” and “Miracle,” two fantastic ballads that take the band back to their late-eighties resurgence. Yet songs like “Times of Our Lives” and “Closer, the Ballad of Burt and Linda” bring the band to a new level of interest. They are pop gems that stand out among the rest, which is a difficult feat on an album as great as The Latest.

Lead singer Robin Zander stretches his vocals to pure pop perfection on the crowing masterpiece of the album, “Everybody Knows.” It is a slow burning jam that hits like a tidal wave. It’s also hard evidence that Zander is the greatest singer in rock and roll. Somehow, he wraps up both John Lennon and Paul McCartney into one sound, and then stamps it with his signature towering voice. There’s nothing like it. “Everybody Knows” is worth the price of admission by itself.

The great thing about Cheap Trick is that they are still making albums that sound this good. The album title and cover art prove that the band’s eclectic humor remains in tact. Despite all of the disrespect they receive in the music industry, they’re still cranking out fantastic records like their name depends on it. As if this weren’t enough, they play it even harder night after night on stage, usually opening for bands that can’t come close to following them. But sooner or later, they will get the notice that they deserve. The Latest is already a strong contender for album of the year.