Some 40+ years ago an album grabbed me and millions of others, and it seemed like every metal and rock fiend I knew had a copy of ‘At Budokan’. Of course, it has been reissued multiple times over the years, and while I enjoy the extended complete concert version, it is to the original to which I most often return. I was 16 when it was released and it had a huge impact on me, so it was something of a shock realisation when I was listening to this album that I not only do not own any other Cheap Trick albums, but I don’t think I have even heard one. This is the 20th studio album, but it means I don’t have any direct knowledge of being able to compare it to, say, ‘Dream Police’. Formed back in 1973, the only change since their heyday is the departure of drummer Bun E. Carlos, since when his position has been filled onstage by Daxx Nielsen, son of Rick.
This is fun bubble gum pop rock in a manner which makes one think the last 40 years have not taken place, and they can certainly not ever be argued to be fickle followers of fashion. Nielsen may often be thought of as the weird guy with a penchant for strange outfits and even stranger looking guitars, but he still knows how to drive a riff and solo while even though Zander will be 70 next year, his voice shows no sign at all of failing. Any band who can say they have played more than 5000 shows in their career, mostly with the same stable line-up, are bound to be tight and that is the case here. I have no idea how long it took to record, but one can imagine them coming in, plugging in, and playing, then going and having a beer.
Are any of the songs incredibly memorable? No, not really. Am I likely to often return to this and play it for pleasure? Nope, not when I have multiple copies of ‘At Budokan’ to hand, but at the end of the day this is an album which made me smile while it was on, and sometimes that is all we need.
Rating: 7/10
