Rarely can you trace a band's change in fortunes to something as precise as a certain moment on a certain album.  But that unfortunate turn for Cheap Trick is quite clear on "All Shook Up."  After four sterling studio albums and a smash live set, CT had it made.  The streak continues on "All Shook Up"'s first three songs -- "Can't Stop the Music" packs the pop gloss of "Dream Police" while "Just Got Back" and "Baby Loves to Rock" confirm the band's status as the tuneful Mad Hatters of metal.
But after those killer opening tunes, the quality suddenly, inexplicably dips.  It's not that the remaining songs on "All Shook Up" are terrible.  "Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try" unleashes a dark, slinky hook while "Love Comes A-Tumblin' Down" and "Go for the Throat" rage with real anger.  But the joyous, multi-layered pop smarts that made the band's rock so special just isn't there anymore.
Actually, maybe it's not so inexplicable.  By 1980, Cheap Trick had been working tirelessly for more than five years.  Even Mad Hatters can get burned out.  The band would up the quality on its next record, "One on One," but the complete recovery would take all the way to "Cheap Trick '97."  Still, even with the pilot light down, "All Shook Up" kicks harder and in more intersting directions than most rock records, making it worth the price of admission.
Rarely can you trace a band's change in fortunes to something as precise as a certain moment on a certain album. But that unfortunate turn for Cheap Trick is quite clear on "All Shook Up. "  After four sterling studio albums and a smash live set, CT had it made. The streak continues on "All Shook Up"'s first three songs -- "Can't Stop the Music" packs the pop gloss of "Dream Police" while "Just Got Back" and "Baby Loves to Rock" confirm the band's status as the tuneful Mad Hatters of metal. But after those killer opening tunes, the quality suddenly, inexplicably dips. It's not that the remaining songs on "All Shook Up" are terrible. "Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try" unleashes a dark, slinky hook while "Love Comes A-Tumblin' Down" and "Go for the Throat" rage with real anger. But the joyous, multi-layered pop smarts that made the band's rock so special just isn't there anymore. Actually, maybe it's not so inexplicable. By 1980, Cheap Trick had been working tirelessly for more than five years. Even Mad Hatters can get burned out. The band would up the quality on its next record, "One on One," but the complete recovery would take all the way to "Cheap Trick '97. "  Still, even with the pilot light down, "All Shook Up" kicks harder and in more intersting directions than most rock records, making it worth the price of admission.