Customer Reviews

Normal As the Next Guy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

...and the Knack rocks. I'm not sure about that editorial review, either. This is a solid album. Knock 1991's "Serious fun" or many of the songs on 1981's "Round Trip" and I won't complain, but this album is full of well crafted pop songs. Songs like "Seven days of heaven", "it's not me", and "a world of my own" are standouts, but the whole album is solid. As for "Les Girls", Joe Walsh could take some singing lessons from Doug Fieger, and the Knack is a much more accomplished group of musicians than Nirvana's three-chord wonders. I prefer their previous album "Zoom" which is now out of print, but this is no slouch. Perhaps they'e not mauldlin enough or anti-social enough for modern music reviewers. They're just fun to listen to.

Maybe the most underrated band in rock history, The Knack is back with a great new CD. "Les Girls" and "A World of my Own" are hands down the cream of this crop but the whole album displays the band's penchant for writing catchy hooks backed by awesome musicianship. This is definitely a worthwhile purchase.

I've been a Knack fan since day one. Love all their stuff. I think this album contains some of their best moments, and is certainly worth purchasing, especially if you're interested in seeing what else these guys do well besides power pop. There's something here for everyone - pop, hard-driving rock, a bit of country (yes, you read that right!), laid-back jazzy pop, and a heartfelt love song. I think that "World of My Own," "Seven Days of Heaven," "Dance of Romance," and "Girl I Never Lied to You," are among the finest work the band has done. And I totally disagree with the previous review regarding "Man on the Beach" - it is a BEAUTIFUL song, kudos to Berton! This album proves without a doubt that the Knack are incredible musicians/songwriters with amazing versatility. Those who won't accept them outside the "My Sharona" power pop sound will no doubt be disappointed, but those willing to come along for the ride as the guys explore other types of music (and prove their talents over and over again) should not be disappointed.

I wrote a review of this CD in 2001. Here is a copy of that review:
What Happened To This Band?, October 11, 2001
I was excited to get this record as The Knack have always been a true force in power pop and one of my favorite bands. This is why I feel so bad about this review. Something went terribly wrong with this recording. The songs are third rate, the production is way off, The drums or lack there of are totally amateurish. There's even a horrible Beach Boys tribute song included. Doug is no Brian Wilson!! Don't get this Knack..
(2005)
Being a true Knack fan I was so excited to hear it. I couldn't believe my ears. What a miserable boring album. Just the other day I decided to give it another listen thinking I would be open minded. Guess what? It still stinks.

I don't understand the first review. I love this cd. The Knack has and always will be an important part of my musical life. However, this is not nostalgia. "Normal as the Next Guy" has the knack in a full retro-updated, power pop, punk infused, polished yet ballsy mood. Fieger and co. have never sounded better. "Les Girls" is, after all this time, the catchiest Knack song I've heard to date. The remainder of the cd is one surprise after another. Yes, I'm a big Knack fan but I can be biased. "Normal as the Next Guy" will be spinning on my cd player until I've mastered every fill, groan, lick and Averre solo there is. Wake up people, and get normal!

I don't understand the first review. I love this cd. The Knack has and always will be an important part of my musical life. However, this is not nostalgia. "Normal as the Next Guy" has the knack in a full retro-updated, power pop, punk infused, polished yet ballsy mood. Fieger and co. have never sounded better. "Les Girls" is, after all this time, the catchiest Knack song I've heard to date. The remainder of the cd is one surprise after another. Yes, I'm a big Knack fan but I can be biased. "Normal as the Next Guy" will be spinning on my cd player until I've mastered every fill, groan, lick and Averre solo there is. Wake up people, and get normal!

...I didn't know what to expect. But, take yourself back to a time when music was fun and an album wasn't one song and filler. Rock and Pop was supposed to be fun. I mean roll down the windows and smile. The first track Les Girls is pure pop and the best track on the cd. The surprises are the traditional Knack power pop with some twists. Disallusion Town and Girl I never lied to you are familiar but with a new interesting sound, the second being a ballad worthy of top 40 airplay. Normal as the next guy is a real trip with a funky beat and hysterical lyrics. It's not Me and A World of My Own make me wonder why the hell it's so hard for 4 guys with guitars and a set of drums to make music like this anymore! If you still have your Knuke the Knack shirt just buy this CD and hide it under your bed, we won't tell anyone. Who knows you might just finally get it, the simplicity and beauty of artists who actually write and play music they love. What an Idea. Get the Knack.

1. Les Girls
Terrible. What a bad way to get this CD off to a start!

2. Disillusion Town
Quality Knack!

3. Girl I Never Lied To You
Decent Pop track.

4. Normal As The Next Guy
Total Junk!

5. Spiritual Pursuit
What a load of CRAP! What were they thinking? A joke? Who cares!

6. It's Not Me
Decent Pop.

7. One Day At A Time
This is a classic Knack tune but they already released this way back on "Serious Fun" and THAT version was better! I guess they were at a loss for material for this release?

8. Seven Days Of Romance
Actually the title is "Seven Days Of Heaven" and it's a great Knack pop song!

9. Dance Of Romance
Horrible, Horrible CRAP!

10. Reason To Live
Doug should have not gone for the high notes in this tune (his range is not what it once was) but this is a very moving and powerful song!

11. A World Of My Own
Decent Knack tune... but you can take it or leave it.

12. The Man On The Beach
Great "beach boys" style tune but could have been produced to offer a more "expanded" sound. The limited production leaves it far short of beach boys territory.

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This was a great chance for the Knack to make some waves (they had a deal with Image to release this CD and a DVD at the same time). They totally dropped the ball and delivered this MESS. There's some good Knack tunes on this disk but only a Knack fan will want to wade through the junk to find them.

-JM

The Knack's last studio album "Normal As The Next Guy" (2001), was a fine pop-rock affair, with some touches of country and jazz. The albums opens up with the French pop of "Les Girls", with some fine accordion by Art Fein.
"Disillusion Town", a mature sounding popper. Doug's old band mate in Sky, John Corey got a writing credit on "Girl I Never Lied To You", as pretty a Knack tune you can find, Doug's vocals are smooth here. "Normal As The Next Guy", brings back memories of "Art War', from 1981's "Round Trip". The country-twang of the fun "Spiritual Pursuit", "It's Not Me", brings back the happy fun pop-rock of early Knack. They re-make their own "One Day At A Time", this time they put a slower pace with Berton's hammond organ in the background. The bouncy "Seven Days Of Heaven", the smooth jazz feel of "Dance Of Romance", the mellotron driven "Reason To Live", avery sensitive tune. The upbeat "A World Of My Own", just can't beat this sound, great guitar solo by John Jorgenson. "The Man On The Beach", brings to mind the Beach Boys, what a song to end their recording career, great harmonies!

The Knack toured for years after this album, I just wish they could of done more albums, they deserved to do so, but the record companies didn't they were visable anymore, what a shame. Doug(R.I.P.) Berton and Prescott we miss you!

First off, did you like the album `Zoom'? If you did, you will absolutely like `Normal As The Next Guy'. This is a great companion to that Knack "comeback" effort from 1998. The standout power pop songs here are `Les Girls', and even more so `Normal As The Next Guy'. Lead singer Doug Fieger is having fun with the vocals on both of these while Berton Averre matches up with great guitar licks. `Les Girls' has a Jimmy Buffet feel to it. `Girl I Never Lied To You' and `It's Not Me' are gems that show you pop is not dead. `Seven Days Of Heaven' and `A World Of Our Own' are two other songs right out of the `Zoom' playbook and rank up there with any of the songs on that very good album. A few of the tracks harken back to their early 80's LP `Round Trip'. `Disillusion Town' reminds me of `Just Wait And See' and `Dance Of Romance' is jazzy like `Little Cal's Big Mistake'. `A Reason To Live' is a beautiful heartfelt ballad while `One Day At A Time' is a slightly stripped down redo of a song from `Serious Fun'. `Spiritual Pursuit' and `The Man On The Beach' go off the board a bit. `Pursuit' takes a corny stab at religion while `Beach' is a tribute to the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. These two are my least favorite tracks but add body to the work and are still very enjoyable.
Personally, I rediscovered The Knack in the mid-2000's. I was originally on board a long time ago having bought `Get The Knack' right out of the gate and loving it back in '79. But it was fits and starts and missteps for the band thereafter. They released their third album, then broke up two months later. Must be a lousy album I thought...(fooled - it's good). They roared back to life in '89 with a song called `Rocket Of Love' but quickly disappeared when the record company shelved that album. Then I saw The Knack live in the mid-2000s. My expectations were tepid. I was fooled again, they were great! I purchased `Re-Zoom' (a rereleased version of `Zoom') and loved it. Little by little I filled in my collection of past Knack items. Albums I had written off long ago and DVDs I had never even heard about. Each time I was pleased, though the production value on a DVD called `Live At The Rock `N Roll Funhouse' was not perfect. So why did I wait until now to buy `Normal As The Next Guy'? Seeing The Knack live twice, they never played any songs from `Normal As The Next Guy'. Must be a lousy album I thought. So I dogged it, and now with Doug Fieger's passing I bought the album just to round out my collection. Fooled again! This is a great effort. Viva Les Knack!