430 - Cheap Trick - At Budokan

[csberry]

Just listening to the album and not considering the important part At Budokan played in promoting Cheap Trick in the US, I must say that I do find it a good listen. The recording does a nice job of capturing an energetic concert with good quality audio of the performance. It IS a good live album. From the intro and the band launching into "Hello There" thru to the farewell of "Goodnight" and "Clock Strikes Ten" as the encore, the band and the audience feed off of each other. The album is a setlist of what are still considered among the best Cheap Trick songs they recorded.

However, I can only assume that nostalgia for the album as to why I read so many reviews of folks that prefer the live album to the studio releases. I just don't get it. The vocals frequently are limited to borderline yell-singing and lose a lot of tonal dynamics that you get on the original albums.

And the constant throughout the entire album is the high pitched squeal of an arena filled with Japanese girls. This isn't a crowd that roars. It is Beatles-eque schoolgirl shrill. And the noise is so loud that this isn't one of those cases where you only know it is a live performance when the crowd roars between songs. There are songs like "Ain't That a Shame" where the audience can easily be heard during the course of the song.

Songs I knew I liked: I was familiar with the studio version of several tracks ("Hello There," "Come On, Come On," "Big Eyes," "I Want You to Want Me," and "Surrender"). "I Want You To Want Me" is the only track from this album I know I've heard before...and I hate it.

Songs I didn't know but now like: I like their cover of "Ain't That a Shame."

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: Have I made clear how much I dislike this version of "I Want You to Want Me?"...especially that intro he gives to the audience.