Cheap Trick still has, well, a few ‘tricks’ left up their band sleeve to sweep the Rock-n-Roll world off its feet. This is transparent with In Another World, the band’s twentieth studio album unveiled by sleight of hand on April 9, 2021 via BMG.
Cheap Trick – Rick Nielson (lead guitar, backing vocals), Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) Tom Petersson (bass, backing vocals), and Daxx Nielson (drums) – is unique combination of talent that gives rise to high voltage Rock guitar strumming, percussion and powerful vocals that characterizes the band’s signature sound.
This style continues to be showcase with the 13 tracks recorded for In Another World. Interestingly the album was slated for release at the end of 2018, but it unfortunately never happened, and even though the album was finalized by 2020, the release was postponed yet again due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
The first dose of new music came in the form of “The Summer Looks Good on You,” a single released back in May of 2108. Well-received, it kicks off in theatrical fashion before weaving its way into an upbeat medley of guitar and vocals that captures the carefree essence of summer. The album’s second single came in November of 2019 with a cover of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth.” A tribute to the Beatle, it great rendition that also showcases the strumming skills of former Sex Pistols Guitarist Steve Jones.
Which lead to the third single “Light up the Fire,” a roiling fireball of kickass guitar playing which will certainly raises the heartbeat a few notches. There are also songs like the album’s fourth single, “Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll,” which is a playful and foot stomping number which leaves one doing a Beavis and Butthead hair flying and fist as the guitar rails on with gutsy vocals.
However, the meat of the album is also very strong with a relentless mix of hard rocking tunes from like “The Party” and “Here’s Looking At You,” but also balance with beautiful mellow moments heard with “So It Goes” and “I’ll See You Again.”
Cheap Trick dramatically returns to the spotlight by executing a series of deft musical somersaults and nails a sure-footed landing In Another world. This enduring Rock band has certainly not lost its star quality, and that is exactly what earned them a coveted spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2016. The songwriting is strong and the co-production by the band with Julian Raymond is top notch for this new collection. Adding it all, the cover art of In Another world is visually brilliant. Snagging the eye like a web to a fly, the distorted image of the signature black and white checkerboard as it meanders into a psychedelic swirl gives you an altered sense of time and space. It clearly mirrors the disconnect and the illusory nature of the world in crisis.
No stone was left unturned in the quest for greatness when the band members joined forces to create Cheap Trick in 1977…and that standard still remains! Whenever you want to chill out from the pressures and insanity of everyday life In Another World is surely hands down the go to album. That is why Cryptic Rock give it 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment