Music review: Cheap Trick – ‘We’re All Alright!’
My fascination with music began at the age of 6 when I first heard “Meet the Beatles!” after discovering my older brother’s record collection.
The Beatles may have got it all started for me, but there was one band that truly inspired me to want to become a rock star. And that band was Cheap Trick. After picking up a copy of “Heaven Tonight” back in 1978, it didn’t take me long to decide that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Obviously, my dream of performing night after night to thousands of screaming fans didn’t materialize. Although, once I did get to play at my high school talent show with a few of my closest friends. On that magical evening, we were rock gods for five glorious minutes.
For my favorite band’s latest album, this isn’t going to be my typical music review. I’m not going to use up valuable space analyzing each track of Cheap Trick’s new material. As a fan who has seen the band play too many performances to count in a variety of cities across the country, you can take me at my word when I declare that “We’re All Alright!” rivals the quality and intensity of any of the band’s previous releases, including “In Color” and “Dream Police.”
“I’m in the middle of something/And it sure feels good,” declares Robin Zander on the rousing “Long Time Coming.” With “We’re All Alright!,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are definitely in the middle of something special and it’s way better than good.
At times, the boys rock harder than ever on tracks like “You Got It Going On,” “Radio Lover” and “Brand New Name on an Old Tattoo.” Then the band shifts gears to deliver the familiar traces of Fab Four influence with “The Rest of My Life,” “Blackberry Way” and “If You Still Want My Love,” while “Nowhere” is a gritty number that’s reminiscent of the Ramones.
What more do you need to know? I highly recommend picking up the deluxe edition for the extra tracks.
I’ll be attending my second Cheap Trick concert of this year when the band rolls into town with fellow rockers Foreigner on August 12. It’s been 40 years since both bands released debut albums. It’s also been 39 years since Zander inspired me to start a band. Where does the time go? At some point during the concert, it won’t be surprising if I’m seen gazing out into the distance wondering what could have been as I listen to the sweet sounds of “Surrender” one more wonderful time.
Everyone is all alright indeed.