Cheap Trick All Washed Up

Critic's Take

Cheap Trick sound as urgent and gleeful as ever on All Washed Up, driven by the turbocharged punch of “Twelve Gates” and the relentless crunch of “The Riff That Won't Quit”. Chris Roberts writes with affectionate relish, noting the band’s knack for classic-rock electricity and pop harmonies while refusing reinvention, which is precisely the album’s charm. He frames “Twelve Gates” as a home run single and treats “The Riff That Won't Quit” as emblematic of the record’s fizz, so fans searching for the best songs on All Washed Up will find those two repeatedly rewarded. The review keeps a brisk, approving voice throughout, celebrating evergreen thrills rather than novelty.

Key Points

• The best song is “Twelve Gates” because the reviewer calls it a "home run single" and praises its Beatles-like harmonies and explosive payoff.
• The album’s core strength is its evergreen, turbocharged power pop that prizes classic-rock electricity over reinvention.

Themes

Critic's Take

Cheap Trick’s All Washed Up is a sprightly, diverse celebration of why the band still matters, with the title track and The Riff That Won't Quit emerging as clear highlights. The reviewer calls the opener a "pugilistic rock'n'roller" and one of the most exciting songs the band have written, and praises The Riff That Won't Quit as a funky foot-tapper guaranteed to blow away the blues. Also singled out are the dreamy, sunny ballad The Best Thing and the Bowie-esque Love Gone, which together showcase Randy Zander’s voice and Nielsen’s inventive guitar work. Overall the tone is admiring and upbeat, framing the album as balanced, well-crafted, and far from washed up.

Key Points

• The title track is best for its pugilistic energy and status as a showstopping opener.
• The album’s core strengths are its sprightliness, strong hooks, and the band’s playful, well-crafted songwriting.

Themes

Critic's Take

Cheap Trick deliver with All Washed Up, leaning into bruising power pop and big-hearted balladry while sounding defiantly undiminished. The reviewer highlights the title track “All Washed Up” as a driving power-pop example and singles out “The Best Thing” for its breathless, heartfelt charm. He praises jangling, harmony-stacked numbers like “Twelve Gates” and the heartbreak of “Love Gone” as evidence the band still master mainstream Cheap Trick songwriting. Even the surprising closer “Wham Boom Bang” is noted as a jaunty, unexpected coda that underlines the album's playful confidence.

Key Points

• The Best Thing stands out as the album's most charming, heartfelt ballad with huge hooks and a sincere vocal.
• All Washed Up's core strengths are diverse power-pop songwriting, layered harmonies, and sustained rock energy across styles.

Themes

Critic's Take

Cheap Trick sound revitalised on All Washed Up, with the title cut and All Wrong Long Gone standing out as best tracks on the record. The reviewer’s tone is affectionate and wry, noting the energised power-pop of All Washed Up and Robin Zander’s “supernaturally intact” vocals on All Wrong Long Gone. There is room for the odd bit of filler - the record trims its sails neatly and even reserves the Beatlesque charm of A Long Way to Worcester for the end. Overall, the album reiterates Cheap Trick’s brash, noisy brilliance without overstaying its welcome, making these the best songs on All Washed Up for fans of their prime-era sound.

Key Points

• The title track is best for its energised power-pop riffing and self-referential charm.
• The album’s core strength is its ability to recapture Cheap Trick’s classic noisy, brash power-pop with assured vocals and concise songwriting.

Themes