Cheap Trick: Robin Zander (vocals, acoustic, 6-string electric, 12-string electric, baritone & slide guitars, tiple, piano); Rick Nielsen (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, E-bow, piano, electric saw); Tom Petersson (vocals, acoustic, electric & baritone guitars, E-bow, tamboura, acoustic bass, 4 & 12-string electric basses, viola bass); Bun E. Carlos (drums, tambourine).

Additional personnel: Mike Beert (cello); Richie Cannata (piano).

Recorded at Pie Studios, Glen Cove, New York.

Released in 2004, this self-titled album gathers 13 songs from influential rock group Cheap Trick.

The first self-titled Cheap Trick album was released in 1977, when the quartet was young, hungry and full of attitude, ready to set the world on fire. Twenty years later, the second album to carry an eponymous moniker finds Robin, Rick, Tom and Bun E. not so young or hungry anymore; but they've still got attitude to spare and a willingness to raise a sonic ruckus.

Somehow, this pioneering band of rocking popsters has avoided many of the pitfalls that bring down other bands with half the longevity. There has been only one, temporary personnel change (bassist Tom Petersson took most of the '80s off), no breakups and reunions, and no embarrassing side projects. Like the Ramones, Cheap Trick has spent the last two decades building up an oeuvre of stylistically consistent albums of hard-hitting, accessible-but-quirky pop. The 1997 edition of CHEAP TRICK is no exception to that rule.

Rolling Stone (12/25/97, p.166) - "...the dark heart and barbed-guitar snag of this CHEAP TRICK sneak up on you....After all this time, these guys have still got it. You should get it."

Musician (7/97, p.84) - "...not only ranks among the group's best efforts of 20 years ago but handily outclasses much of the current crop of 'modern rock' drones....Rockin' and forward-minded..."