Customer Reviews

Round Trip

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've never seen a group more committed to putting consistently good power pop out there- or an even more commited 'select few', who constantly try to squash them. It's refreshing to see the support in the reviews by 'the people', and I personally want to take aim at the 'historian wannabe's'.

First- not opinion but 'fact'. The Knack attack was never corporate induced. The songs on Get the Knack were rejected by virtually every major label when Fieger and Averre circulated demos. What the band did then is the stuff of legends. They went to the streets- did a blitz of the LA clubs, played 'their songs', drew crowds that were huge and surprise guest jam sessions on stage by notables like Springsteen, Tom Petty, Eddie Money and Stephen Stills. To boot, one of their family members put up their own house so that Get The Knack could be recorded (at a mere $18,000). The same record companies came back crawling and the first lp with Sharona and Good Girls Don't exploded.

The backlash was really based on 3 things.

First, they loved the Beatles. The rock press and Beatles fandom, I personally think, massively misjudged their presentation and immediate success as ' we'll recreate and be them '. I love the Beatles. I don't think the Beatles and what they have left, has ever or will ever be threatened. I think, being fans of others work teaches, if you're listening. The Beatles studied Presley, the Everleys, Holly, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. If the 'historical wannabe's' had been around in their day, we would never have gotten Sgt Pepper, the White lp, Let it Be or Abbey Road from them. They would have been shot down and shovelled into a grave the way the Knack (and several notable others have been). I'm personally offened by it as both a lover of music and artistry, and as someone who has good ears and is sick to death of 'over analysis and distorting the facts'.

The second reason for the backlash was poor advice from their management about not speaking to the press. They were number one worldwide and they didn't talk, and the press will kill for this. Fieger, at the time, said something massively profound to me and it still rings true. He personally called the Rolling Stone to say, " we really just want the music to speak for itself right now. We're new- what the hell do we or should we have to say. We will as we acquire more life experience but, for now, the thing I loved when I was a fan was the music. Let it speak. "

True. Period.

The final point was even more telling. The debut lp was made for $18,000. This was a time in history where groups and solos were spending anywhere from $250,000 to a million + ( Fleetwood Mac's Tusk comes to mind on that one). When the major labels watched this record sky rocket into the 5 million sales mark, they started to put pressure on other artists about fiscal responsibility. The Knack had nothing to do with that. Still... they payed the price.

Round Trip, for me, was an introduction to the real growth of this band. The first two lps were power pop punch (and great rocking work, to boot. Both of them, by the way. The second one is massively overlooked and almost as much a pleaser as the first.)Round trip was expanding their songwriting, their lyrical content and their musicianship. Listen to the growth with 'Africa, Sweet Dreams, Radiating Love and Little Cal's Big Mistake'. Gary's drumming, Averre's lead work and the Chicago and Tower of Power horn sections helping out. The band was expanding and showing some great style but (the backlashers, as I've always called them, dug heels and some of them unfortuantely had magazines and television stations to vent their nonsense' They had their forum and they drooled their contempt. They shaped an opinion that was spiteful rather than constructive. In the end, they really just spoke of how little they really seem to know. Unfortunately... this band has suffered some consequences over it.

I'm personally tired of it- hence this review.

The Knack have followed, over the past several years, with Serious Fun, Zoom and Normal As The Next Guy. These cds have remained solid with some suprisingly good work (I personally think the backlash crap tripped them after Round Trip and we'll never know what they could have done). Still... this is work that is good and should be heard.

Last point- for those who try to intellectualize a 3 to 5 minute song... 'get a life'.

Music is meant to be felt. You feel it or you don't. You have your right to your opinion... but you don't have a right to warp the facts and truths of an artist. They were Beatles fans. They signed with Capital. They loved the old 45 label and requested it (once again- because they're fans!) They recorded a great lp- who cares what it cost? Most important, they went to the streets to make that happen. Funny thing... the Beatles did that, too. Didn't any of you history buffs read about the Decca turndown or Hamburg? Getting out of leather jackets and into the suits? What do you think they were doing? They were learning their chops and reaching to the people.

Don't fault The Knack for doing the same.

Obviously, from a good deal of what the 'people' have been saying in these reviews, a good songs still saves the day. Nothing more and nothing less.

Signed- send the Knuke the Knack Attackers Packing.

"Round Trip" is the Knack's third album, their final release before their breakup. Of course, they have had a series of reunions and 3 more studio albums since then. But I think it's fair to say that the first three albums really represent the "true" Knack. I've always felt Round Trip was the best Knack album, but by the time of it's release in 1981, the anti-Knack backlash was raging, and the album flopped. And until now, it has been unavailable on CD. Thankfully, that injustice has finally been remedied. The songs on Round Trip are more varied and adventurous than on albums 1 and 2. The band was growing in ability, confidence and maturity, and it shows on standout tracks like "Africa", "Just Wait And See", "Lil' Cal's Big Mistake", "Another Lousy Day In Paradise", and "Pay The Devil (Ooo Baby Ooo)". "We Are Waiting" is the Knack trying to be a 60's psychedelic band (and succeeding). "Art Wars" is the Knack at their strangest, with moderate success. "Boys Go Crazy" is a great, high energy power pop gem. "She Likes The Beat" is the album's weakest track, sounding like a retread from "But The Little Girls Understand". This CD re-issue also includes 5 bonus tracks of moderate interest, the best of which is a ballad, "Go Away, Stay Away". The others are inessential. It's sure nice to have this album back in print, too bad it took 20 years.

It's a shame that any band that's touted as the next BEATLES never lives up to the expectations. Whether this was forced on the KNACK by promotors, the media, or if the band had laid claim to this themselves, the KNACK did have a fresh new sound back in 1978. However, the greatness and longevity of a pop/rock band is it's distinct personality, and to take that fresh sound to explore, to experiment and not to recycle. The KNACK did break out after their two first albums with ROUND TRIP. However, by then, they were not given the chance to explore and prove themselves and labled as the band that ALMOST was "one of the next directions". The album was ignored without realizing that this is a solid piece of work and growth by the band. The album begins with the (sorry to say it) Beatlesque "Radiating Love", a hopeful love anthem reminicient of the Beatles psychedelic era and the band does another retro turn with "We are Waiting" a few tracks after. Other tracks like "Lil' Cal's Big Mistake" and "Another Lousy Day In Paradise" are standout power pop songs with great vocals and musicianship. "Art Wars" sounds like an experimental fun track by the band and "Africa" with it's funk beat is an excellent and interesting tune to listen to. The rest of the album shines with typical KNACK fashion with songs that are varied, mature, and not cyclical. This album is a hidden treasure from a band that was wrongly labled. A great effort from THE KNACK!!

The Knack would check out for a few years after this release. They'd take a little while longer to record this album as they wanted to branch out a little bit instead of the tongue-in-cheek material cranked out on the first 2 albums. This took almost 2 years to release not only because of the songwriting, but also the mixing of the tracks. As the Knack hired Jack Douglas to produce the album. Well Douglas overbooked himself, and was producing Grahamn Parker's new album as well as the Knack's, so he'd sneak out to go home, and get some rest, and then came the 120 hour mixathon as Douglas would go 5 days and nights straight of mixing the album. There was also personal strife between Doug Feiger, and drummer Bruce Gray, and drug problems. They wanted to just get this over with. Released in the fall of 1981 I feel it was unjustly panned by the critics even though I didn't buy my first copy until the fall of 85. This has a sound circa 1966 all over it; "Radiating Love" the first song has a power trippy sound somewhat sounding like the Cryin Shames. "She Likes The Beat" isn't half bad either. "Boys Go Crazy" is a punk pounder if I ever heard one. My favorite though is "Just Wait & See" as they prove they can still do the Beatles. Unfortunately with video killing the radio star with MTV, and radio stations using computers to select the songs played on the air the Knack were all finished. Feiger would go into rehab, and Mike Chapman would play wherever needed, and then the Knack would reunite in 1988 minus Bruce Gray, and release "Serious Fun" in 1991. They're still going at it today.

I was a high school senior when "Get the Knack" was released, and for someone like me who hated disco and was sick of the songs from the late '70's, the Knack was a true revelation. "Get the Knack" was and is one of the best albums of all time. However, "But the Little Girls.." was a big letdown and nowhere near the level of "Get the Knack". It looked at this point like the Knack was through.

1981's "Round Trip" was a significant change from the sound and style of the Knack's first two albums. Although it was a commercial flop and I bought my vinyl copy of the album for about $... in a cut-out bin at the local record store, I discovered that it contained several jewels, and it is still one of my favorite "unsung" albums of all time.

The first side of the album, especially, is classic. Every song on that side (Radiating Love, Soul Kissin, Africa, She Likes the Beat, Just Wait and See, We Are Waiting) is wonderful. The production is sort of psychedelic and enhances the songs wonderfully. The sound is more laid back in a way, and I like the stronger bass guitar and bass drum sound than they had on their first two records.

The second side is not quite as strong but still good. The songs are simpler and more like the first two albums. However, those guys wrote good pop/rock stuff, so these songs are still enjoyable and to this day stand out from what came out in that era.

All in all, this is a very good album and it's a shame that it was dismissed so quickly by the public. Thankfully for fans like me, the album's release on CD is a treat and I can enjoy those songs again more fully than when I listen to the vinyl album I still have.

Everyone knows the story. Little band from Los Angeles explodes from nowhere and have huge hit. Hipsters immediately loathe them. Band engages in self-destructive behaviour and then releases second-rate follow-up album. Just as quickly as it novaed, it imploded. The Knack had become pariahs.

"Round Trip" was released a bit less than two years after "But the Little Girls Understand," and saw the band both licking its wounds and trying like mad to break away from the diminished expectations laid forth by the meteoric rise and just as dramatic fall. Mike Chapman was tossed aside in favor of producer Jack Douglas ("Double Fantasy" and "The Up Escalator"), and the album was more produced than the legendary $18,000 rapid-fire "Get the Knack." There was still plenty of readily identifiable sounds; both "Radiating Love" and "Just Wait and See" are Beatlesque, and "Boys Go Crazy" is cut from the same cloth as "Frustrated" and "Baby Talks Dirty."

The big revelations are the jazzy pop confection of "Africa" and "Lil Cal's Big Mistake." The later features a horn section and quick pass to Was (Not Was) (Fieger was a guest vocalist on ""Born to Laugh At Tornadoes") in the verse "Fagenson looked out of his window...Don swore he was singing..." Flo and Eddie sang, members Toto of jammed, there is even a verse in Hebrew on "We Are Waiting For You." "Art Wars" and "Sweet Dreams" experiment with sounds (backwards guitars and a rack-rap). There were touches of Steely Dan and country to make sure everyone knew that The Knack were no longer just a skinny-tie pop band. The first single, "Pay The Devil (Ooh Baby Ooh)" was in waltz time. "Round Trip" was a sophisticated effort and a big bid for respectability, and I really dug it back on its original release.

But the backlash was just too deep, and "Round Trip" quickly and quietly flopped. Doug Fieger and the late Bruce Gary were feuding so heavily that - along with the lack of success awarded "Round Trip" - the band broke up a few months later. This album didn't even make it to CD until this 2002 issue some 20 years later. I may be in a minority but I was thrilled to get this on CD. I like it more that the "Serious Fun" reunion, and "Round Trip" still rates spins in my library.

I think this Album threw most original Knack fans for a loop and also didn't quite register with many listeners during its' original release. To be honest, when I first heard this album I had a bad reaction. I guess I was looking for "more of the same" from the Knack...

It wasn't until I listened again years later that I "got it". I can now say that this is really a great album that was actually ahead of its time (or rather OUT OF its time). This material was a bit out of place among the synth pop and new wave sounds defining the charts of that time.

Not everything here is good or great and you really can't expect complete success when a group takes on a new approach. "Africa" is a great Knack song and so is "Pay the Devil"!

The real GEM here though (in my opinion) is the bonus track "go away, stay away". An amazing song that will absolutely KILL you if you have ever had a bad "break-up" or are going through one when you listen. This song can also be looked at as the final resolution and other end of the spectrum of "my sharona". Listen for the soft, almost hidden, heart breaking words spoken at the fade-out.

Another real treat is "on the beach" (not to be confused with a later Knack song called "man on the beach").

You can say what you want about the Knack, but Doug Fieger has come up with some of the most CLASSIC pop lyrics and melodies ever written. It's true that he's come up with some of the worst as well (baby talks dirty)... but hey, the guy didn't ever do anything "half way" :)

A great album all around!

-JM

One of those albums I'd bring along to a desert island.
The remastered version sound great and the bonus numbers are nice.

I would never say the Knack were a great band. As with most of Paul McCartney's solo work, the Knack's records come off rather shallow and callow (so maybe those Beatles comparisons aren't so far off!). Even so, dammit, I like Round Trip. Basically, it's consistently above average power pop with the occasional foray into psychedelia (the sarcastic Beatlesque peace 'n' love anthem "Radiating Love" and the creepy Beatlesque demonic possession tune "We Are Waiting;" dig that rockin' chorus sung in Hebrew!) and jazz-inflected pop ("Africa" and "Lil' Cal's Big Mistake"). Two tracks, "Soul Kissin'" and "She Likes the Beat" sound like outtakes from Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust album (that's a huge compliment, in case you aren't familiar with that particular classic record).

Not really a "comeback" cd, as many have suggested. It came out only a year or so after their last cd. But definitely a change of pace. Most of it is a change for the better, as the Knack expand their musical genre. There is still plenty of power pop to satisfy your sweet tooth. The Knack also mixes in some Beatlesque tunes such as We Are Waiting and Sweet Dreams, where Doug Fieger sounds eerily like John Lennon. They also delve into some world music (Africa) and some country (Pay the Devil). Overall, a good album worth listening to.