Customer Reviews

Re-Zoom

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

 

 

Made in USA in 2002, Serial# ID1290DG, Playing Time 67:22

I was really looking forward to this release... but what a let down!!! (though I really like the music).

Simply put, what we have here is their 1998 release "Zoom", plus 3 bonus tracks (the Peter Ham-penned "No Matter What", "Girls Talk" composed by Elvis Costello, and an instrumental version of the album track "Mister Magazine").

"Zoom" was, in my opinion, one of the best "Knack" albums: great tempos, good enthusiasm, and a lot of radio-friendly (but ignored) tracks.

This "expanded edition" includes great renditions as bonus tracks, given the "Knack" treatment if you don't own "Zoom", this edition is well worth getting: in my opinion, this CD deserves a much better fate that what it will most probably (and unfortunately) get. A true classic pop-rock effort.

I enjoyed this CD, but not quite as much as I expected after reading its good reviews. On this disc The Knack are in a more pop-py mood and although the music is catchy the lyrics are sometimes sappy. (I agree that the drums sound bad, too.) I think I still prefer "Serious Fun" -- I'd rank it #2 after their debut album -- which is closer to straight-up rock. As usual, their musicianship is excellent.

This CD is unusual in that it is the best CD release of an already proven band, many years after their first release. Actually, I can't think of any band who's best recordings are better in their later years. This is it! Sadly, because we are all predisposed to wanting to hear something different, this CD won't do well, but I REALLY appriciate the record company for giving us fans some new material, even though they know it's not likely they will make millions doing so. Unfortunately, their follow up CD, Normal as the next guy, wasn't nearly as good, but it just makes "Zoom" all that more of a gem.

I read some positive reviews on Amazon about this Knack release and after listening to the CD in full, it's lackluster at best. Doug Fieger's song writing has seen better days. All of the tunes are similar in style and sound. Gone are the edgy songs The Knack had become famous for. In fact, there were times when I thought I was listening to the The Rutles. Also, the entire CD sounds as if far too much compressions was applied to the tracks (the drum sound is terrible). The best track is the old Badfinger song "No Matter What". This CD is no where near the energy and creativity of their first release or their 1991 release Serious Fun. BnB Beatles Depot

*Re-Zoom* ranks second only to the first *Get the Knack* album in terms of sheer brilliance. Doug Fieger's songs are well-crafted, the band is in top form, and the recording is of the highest quality. Berton Averre offers so many good guitar chops and lead fills I cannot mention them all. *Ambition*, a song that sounds a little like a Tom Petty tune, is one of my favorite hard rockers on the album. Some of these songs were retro and would have fit well on the Austin Powers soundtracks. Doug must have been channelling a lot of post-Beatle John Lennon at the time, as I swear I am listening to songs John could have written.

The Knack deliver a set of songs here that would make any AM power pop junkie get their fix. "Can I Borrow a Kiss", "pop is dead" and "Harder on You" with it's classic Beatles song structure and harmonies are enough to put the smile on the face of the hardest critic. The Knack aren't going to set the world afire with "Re-Zoom" but this style of power pop they do SO well will always have an audience. The band really has, a "knack" if you will, of crafting quick three-minute pop songs that almost sound familiar but never really tell of the inspiration (or inspirado)which, in itself, is remarkable, the t extremely tight playing and sparse clean production harkens back to their early days before the years later Don Was produced sickening-slick Serious Fun (sorry Don). If you liked "Get The Knack" you'll like "Re-Zoom". Heck, if you like 1970s pop you'll like it.

Since I bought this CD I've been playing it over and over. The Knack's sound here is clean, simple, and honest. Their covers of Badfinger and Elvis Costello are truly gems.

Re-Zoom preserves the oh so familiar raw power pop sound that the Knack has been know for, and that many bands after have emulated and called their very own. The Beatlesque harmonies are present as well as the jangly guitars and infectious backbeat. Re-Zoom provides a mix bag of original Knack tunes from the ballad, "Everything I Do," the rever upper and opening track,"Pop Is Dead," to the concluding bonus tracks of the redone version of the Badfinger hit, "No Matter What," and Elvis Costello's "Girl's Talk."

This is one record that won't disappoint if you're looking for something to hum or sing along with. Re-Zoom is a "turn the volume a little notch" type of record. So get the Knack and get re-zoomed.

I have all of the Knack CDs and this CD is one of the best. If you loved the Get The Knack CD, you'll love this CD too.

New Wavers this group and this cd are a Classic. Please Critics and new pseudo rockers... get out!