Album review: CHEAP TRICK – We’re All Alright!

Big Machine Records [Release date 16.06.17]

Cheap Trick really are in a purple patch in their career at the moment, with 2016′s ‘Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello’ a real return to form and even their Christmas album wasn’t too shabby. ’We’re All Alright!’ is the band’s 18th studio album and it sees them mine their classic 70′s sound – a bit more garage rock and rough ‘n’ ready than their late 80′s and 90′s period.

Songs like you ‘Got It Going On’ and ‘Brand New Name On A Old Tattoo’ rock out and then some, with dirty riffs and Robin Zander in fine vocal form. They still do those Beatle inspired moments of pop rock bliss like ‘Floating Down’ and ‘She’s Alright’ – lovely guitar solo on that one from Rick Nielsen. Heck they even throw in a little Quo boogie on ‘Radio Lover’ – Cheap Trick seem to pen catchy hook filled tunes in their sleep!

A song like ‘The Rest Of My Life’ keeps on the right side of soppy without getting too sentimental and again Mr Zander puts in sterling vocal performance, plus another tasty guitar solo from Mr Nielsen (his son Daxx on the drums packs a powerful punch on this and the rest of the album).

Make sure you get the digipak version for the bonus songs of which the band’s cover of the Move classic ‘Blackberry Way’. The band have never hidden their love of the songs of Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne and this song is worth the extra cost on its own. Cheap Trick are on a roll in the studio and live – long may this continue. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

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