Shane’s Rock Challenge: CHEAP TRICK – 1990 – Busted

Shane’s Music Challenge: CHEAP TRICK – 1990 – Busted
5.5/10

Epic Records pushed Cheap Trick back into the studio after the success of The Flame from their 1988 album Lap Of Luxury in an effort to hear the sound of cash registers going KERCHING! All over again, and what resulted was a typically over-commercial album from the time.

It’s a damn shame, as this must surely be the most criminally under-appreciated rock band of all time. Just one look through their catalogue reveals not only fantastic hits but also deeper cuts which woulda, coulda, shoulda made it big. It’s a fickle old world, out there on the mean streets of Rockford, Illinois and further afield.

Even the worst of The Trick’s albums (they made a couple of worse shockers than this one, you better believe it) always have at least one really good to great song on them, and Busted isn’t dire at all – the standout track has to be the big single, Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love, which is a glossy take on just about everything the band does so well, all thrown together in a sticky, sugary treat.

Walk Away, featuring Chrissie Hynde’s vocals is pretty good too, as is the left of centre You Drive, I’ll Steer, which also features Sparks vocalist Russell Mael, and the rest of the record is enjoyable enough filler, without ever being embarrassing.

By Shane Pinnegar

 

Category: Shane's Rock Challenge