Line-up / Musicians
Robin Zander – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Rick Nielsen – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Tom Petersson – bass, backing vocals
Daxx Nielsen – drums
Well it looks like 2017 is going to be a great year for classic rock. Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson and Daxx Nielsen are back with their 18th studio album called, We’re All Alright! The album is available as a standard or deluxe edition.
With We’re All Alright!, the boys from Rockford have fused together another set of tunes that continue to expand their love of British pop, power chords, punk and of course, their absurd sense of humour. The only difference is that it seems that the band is not only invigorated by their recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there seems to be an urgency to prove that they deserve to be there.
After listening to this album, I can tell that Cheap Trick’s latest won’t let anybody down. In fact, they may have just unleashed one of the hardest rocking albums of their career. The album kicks off with a one- two punch with high octane rockers, You Got It Going On and Long Time Coming then just doesn’t let up. Other highlights include the infectious Lolita, the cheeky Radio Lover, the reflective The Rest of My life & if You Still Want My Love, and a cover of the Move’s Blackberry Way.
Producer and long-time collaborator Julian Raymond once again brings out the best with the band. Julian put them in the studio and simply hit the “record’ button. The album captures the band in their element, that “live” feeling comes out through in the songs. Most of the songs could easily slip into one their live recordings and no one would be the wiser. There is a raw spontaneous urgency that hasn’t been heard on a Cheap Trick record in years. The band sounds fresh, vibrant, and hungry. They should change the album to Whiplash! for all the head banging and air guitar movements you are going to be doing while listening to it.
The band is firing on all cylinders with this latest release. Lead singer Robin Zander’s voice is still as powerful and commanding as ever. Rick Nielsen can play guitar like nobody’s business and still has the knack to write some the best power pop/rock hooks in the business and it wouldn’t be a proper Cheap Trick song without the thundering bass of Tom Petersson. Daxx Nielsen may be the “new” guy in the band, even if he’s been with them for seven years, but he is rock-hard drummer and solidifies the bands rhythm section.
We’re All Alright! is one of those albums that plays to the bands strength and gives the listener a new favourite song after every listen. Even the bonus tracks are top notch. All in all, this album an absolute blast.
WE’RE ALL ALRIGHT! Track List: 1. You Got It Going On 2. Long Time Coming 3. Nowhere 4. Radio Lover 5. Lolita 6. Brand New Name On An Old Tattoo 7. Floating Down 8. She’s Alright 9. Listen To Me 10. The Rest Of My Life
Deluxe Tracks 11. Blackberry Way 12. Like A Fly 13. If You Still Want My Love
