Classic Rock Bottom

Artist: Cheap Trick

Genre: Rock

Country Of Origin: United States

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: No

Album: Special One

Released: July 22, 2003

Producer: Cheap Trick/Chris Shaw

Best Single: My Obsession

Best Album Cut: Sorry Boy

Additional Hidden Gems: Too Much/Special One/Pop Drone/Words/If I Could

Filler: Possibly Low Life In High Heels and Hummer (but I still like 'em)

Lyric Of The Week: "Just like the dreams you grow old and die/No one pretends to know just why/I feel the calm before the storm/I'm here" - Special One



If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm on a serious Cheap Trick trek.  I've practically been listening to nothing else.  Special One, from 2003, is one I pulled out a couple of weeks ago and listened to it for the first time.  I've never, ever heard it mentioned among anyone's top 5 or really in any conversations at all.  That's a shame.  It's quite a good album.  Maybe a little shy of the perfectness that was last week's album (Cheap Trick 1997), but still a really good album.

The only possible filler would be the last two songs.  They are pretty much the same song.  Still, I like those two.  Special One is a really strong, underrated ballad if you ask me.  I included the Japanese bonus version that contains some vocals in Japanese.  Here are a few nuggets of info on the album:

  • Released on July 22, 2003, Special One tanked.  It only reached #128 on the Billboard chart.
  • It has yet to attain any certification by the RIAA.
  • Scent Of A Woman, My Obsession and Too Much were released as singles. None of these charted.
  • A limited edition of the album was released with a bonus DVD.  The DVD contained videos for Say Goodbye, Hot Love, Hard To Tell (live), Woke Up With A Monster and He's A Whore.  
  • The CD is out of print.  However, you can pick it up from Amazon Marketplace, used, for a cool buck 97 plus shipping and handling.

1. Scent Of A Woman *

2. Too Much *

3. Special One

4. Pop Drone

5. My Obsession *

6. Words

7. Sorry Boy

8. Best Friend

9. If I Could

10. Low Life In High Heels

11. Hummer

Bonus Track:

12. Special One (Japanese Version)

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Replies to This Discussion

I posted early this week.  I'll be a bit busy for the next few days, but I will check in.

I still can't get into this album until "Sorry Boy"onwards, (yes, even "Hummer"). After the 97 album, this one was a bit of a letdown to me, it didn't start off well at all and it kinda went on and on until track #7. There is plenty of nice geetaring throughout, but it seemed like they went back to their late 80's crappola by going very, very mellow. Thankfully they roared back with their next album, "Rockford".

My version has a CD, I have no idea what's on it though. Never watched it maybe?

Actually saw this tour, they opened for Pat Benatar at a casino on the UT/NV border.

Nice listening to this again, but my original thoughts on this really haven't changed since I first heard it.  

I liked the opening tune a lot.  Thought it was a great mood setter, nice melodic rocking tune and although the second tune slows the feel of the album down a bit I liked that tune also.  Me being the "AOR" guy on this site kinda like this style a little more than some of you cookie monster fans.

That said, Special One and Pop Drone lost me.  I didn't get those songs at all, but I did like some of the geetar work on Pop Drone but that only accounts for 45 seconds of the tune...

My Obsession helped me regain interest, but only a little.

I liked the tune Words, thought it was a pretty snappy little pop tune.

Sorry Boy and Best Friend have dark feel to them, I think that's why Jon liked them, to me they were passable.  Not sure if they are lyrically dark, but the music felt that way.  I usually don't pay close attention to lyrics on the first few listens, prefer to let the music speak to me.

I liked the opening to If I Could, but I kinda felt like I got lost in the middle part because I caught myself losing focus, not a good sign as I tend to not want to finish once that happens.

Best tune on what would have been side 2 is Low Life In High Heels (which lead into Hummer so lets consider them one long track).  Like that one even if Zander does an impression of Jagger in spots it worked.

I would have been fine not hearing the Japanese bonus track.  Overall, I'm 50/50 on this one, probably not worth the price to own, but I may come back someday and try again...

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