Christopher Bailey | New York, New York | 03/17/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I admit to having a bias in favor of the boys from Rockford but this is really a tremendous effort. Better accolades were deserved."
It made me a fan!
Alex Nennig | New London, WI | 06/09/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I bought Rockford on somewhat of a whim after seeing them perform "Perfect Stranger" on Conan O'Brien's show and then noticing that I could pick up this new album for a mere $9 at the local Wal-Mart.
I really really liked it and soon bought their first four albums, a Greatest Hits and At Budokan.
I don't know how their music fared in the 80's and 90's (though I'm told its not so hot), but this album sounds just as good to these ears as those great albums from the 70's. Plenty of loud guitars, good melodies, and a ton of energy (these guys sound way more vibrant than most bands 30 years into their career). Plus, unlike some of those overly-glossy 70's albums, Rockfords production really lets the band kick it loud and proud.
Fans should be happy with these catchy loud rock songs, and folks new to Cheap Trick will probably find this album to be so good that they just might want more (I know I did!)."
Cheap Trick`s newest CD - " Rockford "
J. Blackmore | Ohio | 11/19/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Pleasantly surprised by the cd. Don`t always know what to expect from Cheap Trick.I personally would not have led the cd off with "welcome to my world". Didn`t really care for that song. The song "One more" would have been a good start to kick off the cd. Overall the cd has some good up beat songs like "Give it away " - "If it takes a lifetime" - "Perfect stranger" - "Every night and every day" and the song " Come on come come" which I really liked. Overall - the cd was pretty good and worth a listen. Cheap Trick fans will like this cd and probably others who haven`t heard Cheap Trick."
No Cheap Trick Here!
Barry | 01/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Cheap Trick has been an interesting band. Mid to late 70's heroes of music that fused rock and roll, pop, and punk. Mid to late 80s MTV stars that went more commercial with hits like "The Flame". Ever since then, they have been releasing albums that range from more MTV-type commercial stuff to trying to regain the roots sound of their early work. In the last few years, Cheap Trick have come back better than ever, releasing two albums, starting with this one, that have been among some of their best recorded work, and their best since their 70s heyday. Their newest CD, "The Latest", I got first, as this one was nowhere to be found. I had to order it. Released in 2006, "Rockford", named after their Illinois home town, was hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the top 10 best rock albums of the year. It was great seeing the band get the attention they deserve critically. And what a fine piece of work it is!.
The album starts off with "Welcome To The World". This is a short and rousing 2 minute opener that starts things off on the right note. It's a simple, straight forward song, one that wouldn't be out of place opening one of their shows, if they feel like retiring "Hello There" for some concerts. It's a classic sounding song that, when I first heard a snippet, I thought it wasn't new. It must of been an older song re-recorded because I could of sworn I had heard it before. I love it. We then immediatley rock into "Perfect Stranger", a song Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander co-wrote with Linda Perry, rock singer and songwriter, who also penned Pink's "Get This Party Started". It's a catchy pop/rock ditty that shows the band in fine form. "If It Takes A Lifetime" is a power pop/rock type of love song that sounds like it belongs on the radio. This immediatley flows into "Come On Come On Come On", not to be confused with their late 70s song "Come On Come On". This one is a raging guitar burner with Zander singing 'Come on, come on, little baby!!". It's a great rock song. Things slow down a bit for "O Claire", not to be confused by another CT song, "Oh Claire", which was featured at the end of the "Heaven Tonight" CD. It's a gorgrous Beatles-esque/Lennon-ish song with classic sounding choruses that would of done Lennon proud. A gorgeous song. "This Time You Got It", while not as classic as the opening five songs, is a fun song nonetheless. It has a catchy guitar driven beat to it. "Give It Away" is a straight forward rock song that Nielsen could do in his sleep. This sounds like a classic song that could of come out of the 70s. One of my favorite songs on the disc is "One More". Not quite sure how to describe it. A funky, poppy, rock/disco hybrid that is as catchy as heck. Another nod to Roy Wood, perhaps?. Track 9 is "Every Day And Every Night", a pleasant enough pop ditty, but mostly filler to me. Then comes "Dream The Night Away", a 70s/80s pop/rock song with a nice, sing along chorus. "All Those Years" is a nicely crafted piece of pop with a wonderful Zander vocal. The CD ends with "Decaf", a rousing, but less than memorable closer.
In a recent interview, Rick Nielsen has said that every CD is a band effort nowadays, what with Nielsen being the primary songwriter back in the day, with the others chipping in here and there. It seems to work because these last two CDs have had a nice helping of different sounds and harmonies with everyone bringing something to the table. "Rockford" is a tightly produced package that lets the guys rip when need be, and lets them be slightly more mellow. It's a great mix that flows perfectly together and never seems to be out of focus with whatever else is going on on the CD. The band members are all playing and singing as brilliantly as ever, maybe even more so. There has been a feeling of rejuvenation on these last two CDs and it comes thru loud and clear on the songs. Rick Nielsen is a songwriting/guitar god to me and his playing is still top notch. Tom Petersson on bass is just sick. Bun E. Carlos still pounds those drums like a force to be reckoned with. And then there is Robin Zander. Often cited as one of rock's finest voices ever, and is still so criminally underrated, he has been doing some of his finest work ever here lately. To be able to go from hollering, sneering, touch rock star on some tracks, and do an immediate turn around on the next singing a lovely harmony, it's almost like two different people. It's amazing. Nielsen also stated that someone who can do what Zander does is rare. I would have to agree.
"Rockford" is a wonderfully catchy, rocking, jaunty, and overall satisfying CD that should not only put a smile on the faces of Cheap Trick fans everywhere, but on the faces of any rock fan looking for good, quality stuff. I have only been really getting into and discovering Cheap Trick since October, so I am hardly a long time trickster, but they have become, in this short of time, one of my top 2 favorite bands of all time."
