Cheap Trick has released their 21st studio album, *All Washed Up*, on November 14. The band from Rockford, Illinois, has been making music for five decades. Critics have noted that few bands deliver live shows and new albums with the same energy and enthusiasm as Cheap Trick.
The album title is a nod to their 1980 release, *All Shook Up*, while also poking fun at 1970s artists trying to adapt to the streaming era. The cover features four washing machines, showcasing the band’s signature dark humor.
Lead singer Robin Zander still sounds as strong as he did on their 1977 debut. Guitarist Rick Nielsen’s son, Daxx, took over drumming duties from Bun E. Carlos in 2016. Cheap Trick has released over 20 albums, with their live album *Cheap Trick at Budokan* reaching the Top 5. In 1988, they collaborated with outside songwriters, leading to their only No. 1 hit, the power ballad “The Flame.”
At 76, Nielsen continues to deliver powerful performances on this new record. The opening track, “All Washed Up,” feels like it could have come from an album released 45 years ago. Other standout tracks include “All Wrong Long Gone,” the catchy lead single “Twelve Gates,” and “Dancing with the Band,” which features memorable choruses. “A Long Way to Worcester” has a swampy groove, with Tom Petersson’s bass lines adding harmonies reminiscent of Todd Rundgren.
Produced by Julian Raymond, who has worked with the band for the past ten years, the album features 11 songs and runs for about 40 minutes. This is their first release since 2021, following a resurgence that began with *Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello* in 2016.
