1x****
Opening "Sleep Forever" makes it clear that this is album is going the direction of the big production rock opera; the track itself is a boring interlude. "When The Lights Are Out" is inanely poppy and self-consciously radio-friendly. The chorus of "Miss Tomorrow" is the amazing chiming melodicism that Cheap Trick is made to make, but the verses get lost, and the spacey sound effect bridge is unnecessary. "Everyday You Make Me Crazy" also seems disjointed in the name of being interesting. The simplicity of "Sick Man Of Europe" should work, but like many Cheap Trick songs the sound is just too shrill. The sound does work on "California Girl", though another blues progression does nothing for me. At least these songs rock, as the power ballads "These Days" ,"Everyone Knows", and "Times Of Our Lives" are schlocky, though their intersting melodic turns would make Jeff Lynn proud. "Miracle" is an intersting amalgum of George Harrison and Jeff Lynn on a tune partially lifted from John Lennon's "Mind Games". Maybe Rick Neilson missed his calling as a Willbury; too bad only the shitty ones are left. "Alive"**** makes a good run as a rocker, though the chorus is kind of ho-hum. Also Beatlesque, "Closer..." is so interesting that it would probably work better performed by someone with more subtlety. "Smile" makes the case for the Diane Warrens Cheap Trick, and in a different era would be up there with "The Flame". Strangely enough this solid 80's radio single does a good job of bringing the record and a meandering career full circle.
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