Artist: Cheap Trick Album: Woke Up With a Monster

Year: 1994
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of the Album Woke Up With a Monster by Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick is a legendary rock band known for their unique sound and electrifying live shows. The band has influenced countless musicians and has a loyal following around the world. Their 1994 album Woke Up With a Monster is often considered overlooked and underrated. In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into the album, its genre, the best songs, the most innovative parts, and provide our critical review.

The Genre:

Woke Up With a Monster is a hard rock album that showcases the band's skills in heavy riffs and catchy hooks. It's a departure from their iconic sound of the late '70s and early '80s, which is more power-pop and new wave. However, the album still maintains the classic Cheap Trick sound with Robin Zander's soaring vocals and Rick Nielsen's guitar wizardry. The album also has a touch of glam rock and punk in some of its tracks.

The Best Songs:

The album has several standout tracks that are worth mentioning. Woke Up With a Monster is a great opener and sets the tone for the rest of the album. You're All I Wanna Do is a catchy tune with a memorable guitar riff and a sing-along chorus. Ride the Pony is a hard-hitting rocker that showcases the band's energy and skills. Girlfriends is a slower ballad that highlights the band's softer side and Robin Zander's emotional vocals.

The Most Innovative Parts:

Woke Up With a Monster has several innovative and experimental parts that make the album stand out. The band incorporates electronic elements in some of its tracks, such as the use of samples and loops in Let Her Go. The album also features a cover of The Move's California Man, which the band puts their own spin on. The use of harmonicas and acoustic guitars in some of the tracks showcases the band's versatility and willingness to try new things.

The Critique:

While Woke Up With a Monster is a solid album, it suffers from some flaws. The tracklisting feels uneven, with some songs lacking the energy and excitement of others. The production also feels a bit dated, with some of the sounds and effects sounding like they belong to the '80s rather than the '90s. Overall, the album is a good listen, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the band's earlier works.

In conclusion, Woke Up With a Monster is a decent album that showcases Cheap Trick's skills and experimentation. While it may not be their best work, it's still worth a listen for fans of the band and fans of hard rock in general. The album proves that Cheap Trick is a band that's willing to take risks and try new things, even if they don't always pan out. Nonetheless, their place in rock music history is undeniable.

In conclusion, Woke Up With a Monster is a decent album that showcases Cheap Trick's skills and experimentation. While it may not be their best work, it's still worth a listen for fans of the band and fans of hard rock in general. The album proves that Cheap Trick is a band that's willing to take risks and try new things, even if they don't always pan out. Nonetheless, their place in rock music history is undeniable.