Search - Cheap Trick :: Music For Hangovers

Exceeds the legendary

Brent A. Anthonisen | Alpharetta, GA, USA | 03/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cheap Trick may very well be the best pop/rock band America has ever produced, and it's no mistake that the first big splash they made in terms of record sales was the phenomenal "Cheap Trick At Budokan" live album that was initially only available in the US market as a Japanese import. The high regard in which the Budokan recording is held becomes all that more impressive when considering that it was released in THE decade known for great live albums (and it holds its own with Frampton, Kiss, McCartney, et al from the same era).
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Having said that, it's sometimes easy to forget that the "Budokan" album is not necessarily remembered for being a great collection of songs performed live inasmuch as it was a great live performance of a collection of songs. To this end I much prefer "Music For Hangovers" as being a far better representation of the band's songwriting abilities coupled equally with their musical prowess. Twenty years beyond the "Budokan" show it's obvious that Cheap Trick hasn't lost their desire to put on a terrific live show, but the track listing from the "Hangovers" set so thoroughly exceeds the songs from the "Budokan" performance that this CD could more reasonably be considered a "best of" compilation from the first half of the band's career (1983's excellent "I Can't Take It" is the most recent song included in the set, and the live version of "Mandocello" alone makes this CD a necessity for any Cheap Trick fan).
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In terms of the sound of the recording, the main issue I had with the "Budokan" recording was the poor (i.e., BURIED) mix of Tom Petersson's bass. The 12-string bass is one of the most amazing sounding musical instruments there is; it can enable a competent player (like Petersson) to sound like a one-man symphony (listen to the intro to "Gonna Raise Hell" for the full effect). On this recording the bass is mixed absolutely correctly to give it a proper voice in an outstanding electric chorus. In addition to a good sound mix, the band's decision for a more "stripped down" approach (in contrast to the self-indulgent extravangance of the "Silver" concert recorded a year later) to the songs they play means that you hear the band sounding essentially the same as they do on their (doomed) "Cheap Trick" Red Ant release from 1997; there is one semi-acoustic re-interpretation of "Oh Caroline", but the listener is not subjected to an entire "acoustic set" and generally gets to kick back and crank it up with some basic, four-on-the-floor American-played, British-influenced rock and roll. It's a tremendous accomplishment by a great band that I can't recommend enough."

Rockin' the night away !

Brent A. Anthonisen | 11/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally I've got the album and it is the best Live-album I've ever heard ! (At second best of course "At Budokan"). The greatest one on this album is with no doubt: Oh Caroline. But the whole album is very "HOT". Aint that a shame MFH is not available in Holland!Greetings and keep on Rockin' with CHEAP TRICK"

It's Aces!

Brent A. Anthonisen | 07/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nothing can compare to being in the same room with Cheap Trick and a hall full of fans...but this comes pretty close. The song selection works so very well, and the energy is great. I attended the shows these songs were culled from, and I have to say that the disc captures the spirit of the shows (which was absolutely incredible!). The band is still in top form. In some ways, better with a few years under their belt. Listen to Rick's guitar magic. Ride Bun E.'s rolling drums. Let Tom's bass engulf you. And soar with Robin's angel/devil voice.It may be fashionable, in some circles, to mock Cheap Trick and their fans, but attend just one of their concerts (or at least start with this album), and let the conversion begin!"