Cheap Trick - Rockford (Big3 Records, 2006)

As someone who's really into music, it's surprising that I've gone several years without owning any headphones. A recent trip to Goodwill surrendered nothing in the way of compact discs, but sitting on the shelf next to several Commodore 64-era joysticks was a sealed-in-the-box pair of Philips that I'd seen for $12.99 elsewhere. Never one to pass up a great deal, I handed the lady $3.14 and immediately sought the connection of my stereo. Tearing into the box like a lion on a steak, waifs of cigarette smoke filled the air quicker than 50-year-old women puffing in a dive bar. How come the Target factory worker was allowed to suck on cancer sticks while packing materials? Let's blame it on Milli Vanilli and the rain.

Throughout the 70s, Cheap Trick released strings of excellent albums that were met with the satisfaction of an after-dinner pipe. However, the 80s and 90s' works were largely piss 'n' nicotine affairs for the band. For every cool track like "She's Tight" or "If You Want My Love" (Joe Dirt's favorite!), there were at least ten strains of "Don't Be Cruel" and "The Flame" pollutants. In 1997, Trick broke free from the addiction of substandard songs with their second eponymous disc. The Nicoderm patch contained at least five cuts worthy of placement in a greatest-hits pack.

Nine years later, the boys from Illinois are still breathing freshly. "Welcome To The World" is a clear-lunged, spirited rewrite of In Color's "Hello There" opening invitation. Titular rings from the past are blown on "Come On Come On Come On" (Zander at his most maniacal) and "Oh Claire" (J. Winston Lennon-like tear-jerker comparable to CT97's "Shelter"). "This Time You Got It" pulls like Macca sharing a drag with the Raspberries and Big Star. "If It Takes A Lifetime" and "Dreaming The Night Away" find the ELO Kiddies stealing cigars from Jeff Lynne's humidor. Menthol-flavored funk a la Jagger/Richards and the Toxic Twins is served via "One More Day."

No longer hazardous to your health, Cheap Trick are once again doing numbers you'd like to do with them.