Basking in the glow of '
Rockford's critical acclaim, SPV have decided to give
Cheap Trick's previous CD and DVD releases another outing. Good Decision.
As one of the world's most enduring rock bands, it was only fitting that
Cheap Trick should celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1979
'Live At Budokan' release in Japan, and it was maybe appropriate that the event should have been recorded. '
From Tokyo To You' is the result.
Zander still performs with such vigorous intensity that to watch him can be agonising and inspiring in turns. In parallel, Neilsen still acts as if it's all just for fun (though he still plays guitar some mean guitar), and both Petersen and Carlos are so laid back that they should employ someone to catch their fall.
But '
From Tokyo To You' isn't really about playing live in Tokyo. It's about the entertainment that is
Cheap Trick. The self deprecating humour, the bizarre stories, the plausibility of the pen profiles drawn by each of the band of their colleagues, the mix of truth and fiction and the perpetuation of the mystique. And it works. A bit like
Spinal Tap with better songs.
Probably the most poignant moment was Neilsen and Zander visiting Budokan, surrounded by crowds of tourists but receiving no more attention than strangers passing through. They (Neilsen and Zander) seemed to find the moment overwhelming but held their nerve and kept their emotions in check. Just.
The most amusing comment belonged to Neilsen. Apparently he somehow got three wishes when he was young. He first wished not to be the most handsome guy in the world. He second wished not to be the richest. He's still working on the third in case he blows a winning streak.
For the record, the DVD includes the Summersonic Experience footage and the Tokyo Dome NFL Halftime Show from 2003. Songs caught live include '
Pop Drone', '
Words' and '
My Obsession' from last years 'Special One', plus all the songs you would expect (and one or two you wouldn't).
Wonderful entertainment.
Rewind to 2003. Not regarded as a particularly strong release at the time, '
Special One' has begun to take on a belated lustre with the passing of time. It may well remain in '
Rockford's shadow, but nevertheless, it attracts more light with each year that goes by.
The band's last studio album had been '
Cheap Trick' in 1997, and after a six year hiatus, expectations were high. But what arrived was a more studied, thoughtful recording than was anticipated. Very laid back and philosophical in places, and arguably experimental too, with Chris Shaw, who produced the bulk of the tracks, employing tape loops, samples and feedback as well as the tried and tested formula.
In fact, as the album progresses, it seems to push further and further out into previously uncharted territory.
'If I Could' freaks out toward the end of the song, surfing on an elongated fade in a well of sound fx and white noise.
'Low Life In High Heels', produced by Steve Albini, picks up the baton with all the grace and athleticism of an Olympic relay runner, stretching the thinnest of melodies into a catchy slice of minimalist pop art.
However, the album opens with the perceptive, adult oriented 'Trick sound of '
The Scent Of A Woman' and the beautifully measured pop rock of '
Too Much'. The dreamily textured title track,
'Special One' and the edgy '
Pop Drone' are equally strong, if understated.
The album sags a little in the middle before taking that leap in the dark on the last three or four tracks.
All in all a classy affair. Maybe not the band at their absolute best, but one to listen to and savour.
Ratings:
DVD : 7/10
CD : 6.5/10
Written by
Brian Wednesday, October 11, 2006
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