Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Cheap Music Best Song: I Want You to Want Me Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3 (barely)
A decent live album but is suspect you’d have to be a fan of the band to truly love it
Sunday, 17 May, 2026 Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos push this record into upper echelons. Screaming Japanese girls brings it down a bit. Some legendary recordings.
I am not big on most live albums of this era. The sound is too airy for my liking. I do believe this album took Cheap Trick to their next level in their career and increased their fan base. The live performance of I Want You To Want Me was a game changer.
Don't really know Cheap Trick well at all, except for one song which thankfully is on here. I liked the first three tracks, but I found the chorus of Big Eyes annoying, it was then rescued by a strong middle section before it petered out a bit towards the end. If I was to rank all the albums in this list from best to worst, which I'm not going to because frankly who has the time for that, it feels pretty safe to say this would be pretty close to the platonic ideal of what should be slap bang in the middle.
Decent live album
2.75, mostly forgettable
I imagine it would have been good fun to be at this concert, but I'm not sure the album is one I needed to hear before I die. The songs were enjoyable but not so much that I think I would come back to it. The songs I really enjoyed I liked more because I was already familiar with them. It has made me want to rewatch 10 Things I Hate About You, I really like the cover of I Want You to Want Me at the end of that film. I think it was fun that they opened and closed (before what I guess is the encore) with Hello There and Goodnight, which I think would be cool if you were there, but I don't think they were particularly good songs outside of that context. Overall, a decent listen but not something I'll come back to. Fav song: I Want You to Want Me Least fav: Lookout
Two great things have come out of this album: the iconic scene at the end of 10 things I hate about you where a cover of I Want You To Want Me is played on the roof, and the scene in New Girl where she sings Surrender to try to get her parents to stop arguing. I could happily have not listened to any of the other songs on the album (maybe with the exception of Clock Strikes Ten). Also the producer says it wasn't even recorded at Budakon, I think pretending it is is a bit of a... cheap trick... Favourite song: I Want You To Want Me Least: Goodnight
The live version makes the songs sound a lot quieter unfortunately. I guess this can be on this list since it acts as a “best of cheap trick” and that’s the best thing about it.
I really wish this wasn’t a live album, I would have enjoyed it all the more if it wasn’t. As it is, the quality isn’t very good and it chafes after a while.
Me gustó pero muy largo, dame un disco de estudio de cheap trixk
first live album vocals are mid quality is kinda trash songs are basic some songs are good strangely back loaded alright but nothing special
Really interesting to hear their most popular song "Surrender" be announced as a track that just came off the new album that week along with not being their closing song. Overall, nothing crazy stood out to me on this live record. Other live records on here really showed the power behind a bands sound that couldn't be captured in a studio. I think this one is very similar to their studio sound which essentially makes this a greatest hits album. Meh.
Fun live album. I added “Surrender” to my playlist.
Cheap Trick, Rockford IL’s very own. I understand that they were playing to a Japanese audience and probably trying to help them out by speaking slowly between songs, but the lead singer sometimes sounds like he’s got a brain injury. Ain’t That a Shame should probably be left to Fats Domino.
Energetic (obviously) but did not particularly engage me outside of a few moments. As far as live albums, it’s not the best, but certainly far from the worst. Had fun with the cover of “Ain’t That a Shame.” Could never stand “I Want You To Want Me”.
Love music albums are not my favorite but I like cheap trick
6.5/10
Ani git ani słabe. Taki e 3
Honestly, not good. The crowd was boring, the music was boring, the voices were boring and thats the kind of music i expected from cheap trick
I mean it's pretty good songs done well, just not a band I care about listening to live Will I listen to again: 5%
I don’t know what it is with me and live albums: I just like studio recordings so much better…
Not bad for a live album.
I like
I'm aware of this album, but have never listened to it start-to-finish. I suspect there will be two tracks I'll really like, and the rest and gonna be meh. Yup, as expected, there are only two songs on here I recognize and like. The rest is thoroughly meh.
white folks 1979 japan trip
A decent live album. The live version of I Want You to Want Me is so different than the studio version and I think most everyone agrees that the live version is the one to listen to (at least that's the version I heard on the radio growing up).
3/5. Good time, this definitely would have been a fun show live. But also on the large spectrum of live albums, this one doesn’t particularly rank for me, which I will admit is definitely in part because I’m not the biggest Cheap Trick fan. However, they still definitely bring a strong energy live which makes this an enjoyable enough listen.
The atmosphere is noisy, and the music is mediocre
Pretty interesting mix. Feels like they couldn’t decide what genre they wanted. 3.5
I want you to want me is a classic but the rest is forgettable
Ok so it's good music but I still think it's an okay at best live album. I love cheap trick, I especially love surrender but idk. There is cool parts of this album being live, each song has some extra flair, but it just feels like it loses some of the mixing for me probably because of how and when it was recorded. 3.5, probably deserving of a 4 but eh
These were fun, with a few standout tracks. Mixing was a bit wonky over car stereo.
I have to say that I Want You to Want Me and Surrender do a lot of heavy lifting for this one.
Good rock album
Rock and Roll!!!
Started better than I was expecting, then outstayed it's welcome, then the singles were good - and head and shoulders above everything else.
I don't usually like live albums, but this one works quite well. Nevertheless, if I feel like listening to Cheap Trick, I choose "Heaven Tonight".
i liked a few of the songs but other than that its whatever. idk why theres so many live albums on this list
Everyone should have the kind of support from Japanese women that you get at this concert — listening to that squealing, you actually start to believe the music is cool.
This was alright.
Energetic performance but nothing exceptional.
Started off sort of simple, but won me over in the end. Missing some of the personality and "unprofessionalism" I typically enjoy in a live album. Probably won't be revisiting this and I'll just listen to the studio versions of Cheap Trick if I'm in the mood. Might be on the lookout for a second hand vinyl of this record - I'm a sucker for live albums on vinyl.
It was fine, nothing great or bad really
alright, not bad
I'd rather listen to their original studio output than this live record. Maybe it was the conditions I played it on but it didn't sound as good as I thought it would. I suspect that this album's impact is most felt for those who were surprised and impressed by a more muscular sounding Cheap Trick. And yet, for someone who is coming from the opposite end of history and musical taste this is not part of the equation (although I long to hear that 1997 session with Steve Albini re-recording In Color mastered and officially released on vinyl). Ultimately, it's fine but a bit of a let down given all the hype over the years.
eu esperava pior depois de já receber tanto rock e o que tá me aguardando também. acho que não é muito diferente de muitos álbuns de rock por ai dos anos 70. mas curti e foi gostoso de ouvir favoritas: come on, lookout, big eyes
Fun music, but that crowd is very loud. So for that, the music is a 4/5 but the live album itself is a 3/5.
This was fine, even if the songs were a little silly. 3.0/5.0: Good
decent songs, high energy but at times it feels very thin. I’m sure it sounded better at the show but it’s not something I’d want to listen to.
очень много визжащих девочек (мальчиков?) для такого обычного рока
It was pretty good, live audience didnt really add anything to the listening experience outside of Want You To Want Me
This was pretty good
Album No. 0193 on my playlist. Okay, another live album from the 1970s, recorded in Japan - that rings a bell (I've already reviewed Deep Purple's "Made In Japan" and didn't particularly enjoy it)! Of this album, I had only ever known "I Want You To Want Me", so I was curious how the rest of the album would hold up. In the end, I think that "At Budokan" is a solid live record. It has some good qualities, and some not-so-good ones. I think the songs themselves are pretty solid. Catchy, dynamic pop-rock songs. Nothing really stands out, but overall I like them. The crowd during this concert was pretty good as well. On the other hand, I feel like the recording of said concept was not particularly good; it feels like a slightly improved bootleg instead. I also found the band sounding a bit "chaotic", for a lack of better words. They do have a certain live quality, but the whole thing feels somewhat uncoordinated and messy. I will add "I Want You To Want Me", and "Surrender" to my playlist. 3/5 stars.
the tracks are not bad but it sucks that its a live album
I enjoy Cheap Trick’s radio hits but I wasn’t particularly overwhelmed by their live offering. Maybe it was the day & age & technology of the recording but I was expecting a better production. The studio recording of Surrender has such a massive sound, but in this Budokan environment it all sounded a bit weak to me.
Rock, good but not in the mood
not a good driving record, hard to hear anything. should revisit elsewhere
I don't love live albums, but this is pretty good. Has most of their best hits. Quality of sound isn't great, I wonder how it would play on vinyl.
It’s a good live album, but again it’s most likely a form of compilation of the songs from various albums so hard to make a determination of the significance. It was easy to listen to though
"One of America's most underrated bands at its creative peak." is a direct quote from the 2018 version of the book I have access to. I certainly can't back that up, and this album fails to deliver on that exceedingly high praise. It's a fine live album.
Vermoeiend - mogelijk een lagere score omdat ik zelf heel moe ben en dit album daar dus echt niet bij helpt. Edit: Oké, ik had gelijk, 2 was te harsh.
Wel een lekker plaatje. I Want You To Want Me is een gigantische banger.
IH CARAI SURRENDER TÁ NO GUITAR HERO 2. boa música gostava de tocar ela dito isso eu ia dar 2 estrelas pq eh ao vivo e nem eh bem gravado fraga. mas aí tocou surrender vou subir pra 3 pq ela eh bem boa. eh rockzinho ao vivo nada demais não
Hard to believe I'm in my late 50's and never listened to this one all the way through. For me, Cheap Trick was always one of those bands that had a few great songs, but the rest was just ok. Unfortunately, this album proves rather than disproves that theory for me. The live versions of Surrender and I Want You to Want Me are classics, but the rest just seems repetitive and boring. I wanted to like this album way more than I did. I'm being generous with 3/5, probably more like 2/5 but I'm nostalgic for Surrender.
Another album that I think would've been a lot better if it wasn't a live album. Favorite track: Surrender
Uninspired lyrics with pretty bland instrumental. I Want You To Want Me and Big Eyes were the only memorable songs as they were somewhat unique but the rest of the album just remains okay; not terrible but not great. Something I wouldn’t mind listening to in the background though for sure
Bueno
Passionate and energetic, but not super memorable. Still a cool listen while its on. I Want You To Want Me and Surrender are standouts.
Boring short of the hits.
The sound is not good. It’s clear that it is live, though. I’m not really sure, what I think about it. I guess I understand why people enjoyed this back in the day. They might have found it dangerous and cool. It’s neither good nor bad. It’s just there
Listenable but nothing special
It was ok - some solid songs on here but not sure why this would be a must listen
It's ok. Not sure how/why this was so acclaimed - maybe I need a deeper knowledge of the Cheap Trick back catalogue
So. Many. Power chords.
Que surpresa agradável! Não conhecia... Gostei principalmente das faixas #7 e #8...
I came into this knowing 2 Cheap Trick songs and it's clear why we know those and not the rest. Still it's a fun enough album.
A relatively fun set of hard rock that'll keep your attention but won't blow you away. The two big hits are the highlights. The chorus on "Surrender" is the best hook here, even if I've come to find the lyrics on the verses a little clumsy. The extended "Need Your Love" is another highlight. Other than that this is punchy, catchy hard rock with a ton of energy thanks to the live setting. That live setting does mean the recording quality is not great, though it doesn't detract too much. Parts of this do feel a bit corny - especially the "hello" and "goodnight" songs - though the energy and commitment makes some of the corny bits work, like the grandfather clock solo on the closer. If you're a Cheap Trick fan this will probably be a blast, and if you're not you at least won't be bored.
Locura, prefiero las versiones de estudio igualmente por su mejor sonido
The sound of the crowd is unbelievably shrill, but when you get over that it's ok
I warmed up to this. Not the best recording but I guess to be expected with a live album. Higher energy than i was expecting. fine but likely never listening to it again
2.5 rounded up Ain’t That a Shame is the crown jewel
Solid hard rock. “Need Your Love” really hit for me. The band stretches out and jams on this one, and they tip into heavy metal. “I Want You to Want Me” is a classic, and it also holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first songs I got sick of on classic rock radio. I used to groan when that shouted intro would come on, and I would switch the station. Now that I don’t hear it as much, I can appreciate it again. But I think learning to hate overplayed songs is a rite of passage for any young music listener. “Surrender” is a classic too! What a nice photo for the album cover. They look like friends just having a good time.
I love this album but all the best moments are near the end.
Classic rock
This is probably good, but it's not really for me. A couple great songs, the rest is just... boring.
i never liked Cheap Trick but thiswas better than I remembered. 3
I have always had kind of a hard time with Cheap Trick. I think it's a Robin Zander thing. "I Want You to Want Me" has always been one of those songs that irrationally bugs me. But, I really like "Lookout" and "Big Eyes" a lot, and even though I don’t love Zander's vocals on it, I think the arrangement of "Ain't That a Shame" is super cool. It’s very much on the edge of 3.5, there's just...*something* I'm not totally clicking with yet to get it there. High 3 stars. 3/5
This live album isn't my cup of tea, but it's got its moments. The raw energy is undeniable, especially once the band really gets into their groove. From there to the end, it's a solid listen. It won't change your life, but if you're into Cheap Trick, this is worth a spin or two. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Ain't That a Shame - I Want You To Want Me - Surrender
Idk pretty solid. Surrender is awesome tbh
This one is very meh... 2 stars with +1 for a few hits... But why is a live album on this list?
classic
It was in the mid-nineties when I first became aware of Cheap Trick. I was in either fifth or sixth grade when I heard the version of “I Want You to Want Me,” and I thought it was incredible. I can’t remember when I started hearing more of their music, but I remember listening to “Dream Police” and “Surrender” quite a bit when I was in college in the mid aughts. I wouldn’t consider myself a big Cheap Trick fan, but they have a few songs that I like. I’ve never listened to a whole album of theirs before, but I’m looking forward to reviewing At Budokan, because I assume it’s going to be a fun listen. Cheap Trick at Budokan was fine. For an album that’s supposed to be one of the best live albums of all time, I wasn’t really wowed by much of it, but “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender” were both an absolute blast. For the most part, all I could really hear clearly on this album were the lead guitar and vocals, so a majority of this album was run-of-the-mill classic rock to my ears. And for a live pop rock album, I thought the energy from the band was lacking, and most of the energy came from the screaming fans. The exceptions to that were easily “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender.” I remember my first time hearing the studio version of “I Want You to Want Me,” and being completely shocked at how flat it sounded compared to the live version. Everything on the live version is perfect though. The spoken intro, the drumming before the rest of the band joins in, and the blistering guitar riffs that are peppered throughout the song. Even the a cappella bridge is bristling with tension and anticipation. And after that, the band launches into “Surrender,” a song that hadn’t even been released as a single at the time of this recording, yet the band plays it with an incredible sense of familiarity. While I was underwhelmed by this album, I thought it was still pretty fun. Cheap Trick isn’t one of my go-to classic rock artists, but when I hear their hits, I’m going to play them loudly.
As much as I like lives this one was average.
It was okay, had some good ones, some bad ones. Like a 3.5
Dang! I do want to give this a higher rating because it was cool seeing them this last year. However, it only got fiery towards the end.
The energy of this is pretty rad; a real sense of how it felt to be in that hall. Although this is ostensibly power-pop, they don't half ramble on at various times.
It’s a good representation of the band. Playing is clean. Not too familiar with their catalog, but knew a couple songs. 3/5 Might listen again
Pretty incredible to have a live single be your biggest song. Invented the idea of being "big" in japan
That was quite fun
Ha! I've heard "I Want You to Want Me" on the radio a million times and I'd never caught that "This next song is the first song our new album..." that the Beastie Boys sampled. This is some solid 70s rock'n'roll. I don't love it but it's catchy.
I want you to want me! Some solid hits, but the album didn’t wow as a whole. 5/10 Decent
Haven't got a lot to say about it wasn't listening to it in a huge amount of detail. Decent. 64/100
Quite liked the live atmosphere. Didn't think much of the first listen but there were some standout parts. I imagine I would like this more upon relistening.
Great Songs: I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, Clock Strikes Ten Good Songs: Hello There, Come On, Come On, Big Eyes, Need Your Love, Goodnight, Mid Songs: Lookout, Ain't That a Shame Bad Songs:
In Japan.
Not bad for a live album. It’s a trade off between the energy of a concert and precision of the studio.
i imagine if i was more of a cheap trick fan this would be like the best album ever, didn’t really know them but very decent !
3.3 2x watched the live show on youtube as second listen through
my main question: why the live version? what’s so special about this album? idk but a few of the songs were super fun like I Want You to Want Me and Surrender, they had some fun
This is the type of live album that I've referenced in my other reviews. I've always enjoyed Cheap Trick's hits but haven't gone deep into their catalogue. I didn't hate anything here, and I'm sure it was a great concert. However, I don't think the live setting added anything in the same way that our previous entries have. In certain parts it almost felt like the crowd noises were edited in. It wasn't bad but it has nothing on Sam Cooke. 2.5-3
I had initially typed up a fairly lukewarm review but then I tracked down some video of this show and I get it now. I’m not especially familiar with most of the material but I liked most of it. I do think it sounds fairly 1:1 with the studio tracks which is generally detrimental to a live album but whatever. Review of the list tells me this is the only Cheap Trick offering here, so I'm going to take a moment to talk about "Surrender," which is truly one of the most immaculate pop songs to ever exist and is enough to convince me that there's some divine entity who can pick people up like a pen to create magic.
Great rocker of an album. Not sure if they are hard rock or pop rock. Enjoyed the pop songs much better
- Nice instrumentale deler
These "Big in Japan" albums are always fascinating, and I also find it interesting that these live recordings are the ones I'm most familiar with from the radio. I'm not a huge Cheap Trick fan, though. Incidentally, this has to be one of the worst album covers I've seen so far. This was really the best picture y'all had from the concert??
Decent stadium rock, from before that was really a thing.
I feel like there is disproportionate love for this album than it deserves. That is not to say it's not a fine album, but that's pretty much as high praise as I can give it.
Not bad I suppose.
Its a reasonably well performed live performance. Come on Come on was the highlight. 3 stars.
It was cool to he the audio of “ this is the first song on our new album”, then in my mind to hear Jimmy James. Nice live album. 2.5
I love a good power pop romp but this record only has two good songs on it.
Epitome of 92.9 The Eagle presents : CLASSIC ROCK
Cool recording, even with all the crowd screaming.
Always a bit tricky with a love album where you don’t know a lot of songs but it was nice
Still holds up well
I love the idea of seeing a live Cheap Trick concert at the Budokan in the 70s more than listening to a recording of it in 2026.
Seems like I'm getting bombarded by live albums lately. Overall enjoyable. Hello There kicks the record off strong. SURRENDER
Was not looking forward to listening to this but actually was not as bad as I thought it would be
Very thin sound, which makes sense for a live album I guess? But I am surprised it is their best selling. ¨ I guess reading further this was one of the first big selling live-albums? I don't know if that trend is enough for me to increase the rating. The tracks are OK, the sound is OK, leaning 3.
I heard a lot about this recording and finally got to listen to it as part of 1001. Fast pace and and power with great crowd reaction. I would have prefered to be there (as with most live albums). US guitar music sound probably not really appreciated in the UK's days of punk. I wonder what their studio albums sound like. Glad to hear this, eventually.
Good rock live album, nnothing I'd seek out.
Favorite Track: Need Your Love
Live instrumentation and vocals sounded great. I knew the songs "I Want You To Want Me" and "Surrender". Lyrics to majority of the songs felt cheesy and cliche. Probably won't listen again.
Bra energi!
Was a little excited when this popped up next in the album rotation. Live Rock album. All right! But after first listen it’s a meh. Songs rock, and live recording adds energy but keep thinking how is this album and band different than the plethera of other stadium rockers during this era??? My unfamiliarity with much of the songs probably didn’t help. Maybe with another listen this album would grow on me. For now 3 stars.
It's Cheap Trick. If you know the band, you know what you're getting. 70's rockers. The crowd noise was mixed in too much for my liking. Not horrible, but they lose a star for the extra crowd noise. It was interesting that they had a special intro and outro song. I think I enjoyed the outro song more than the rest of the concert. My Rating: 3/5
Meh.
I've always hated I Want You To Want Me. Just soft, stupid, bubblegum pop music. I wasn't interested in listening to this album. But it's pretty good....the first half, at least. Didn't need a cover of Ain't That A Shame and I Want You To Want Me is tolerable compared to the studio version. I wasn't aware that they did Surrender, another song I just don't like. Gonna give this a 3 cause I appreciated it and liked it more than I thought I would, just don't ever see myself returning to it. If I did, I'm probably just listening to the first 4-5 songs. Clock Strikes Ten is a solid track but kind of sums up my whole listening experience with them in one song...there's some hard driving guitars, some heavy-ish sounds but then there's some pop stuff sprinkled in that I don't care for.
Neutral I’m the drummer of cheap trick 😉
3.0 - Ok
Eh not my cup of tea
Not bad. 2 songs.
Fine I guess.
Seen Cheap Trick live (much later than this). Good to hear their early stuff!
Enjoyable live album but nothing that mind-blowing.
Even though I’m generally not a big fan of live albums, mainly because of the ambient crowd noise and the fact that bands don’t always sound their best, but I can still appreciate a good one when I hear it. This one is definitely one of those exceptions. I can see why this is one of Cheap Trick’s most popular albums, because as cliché as it sounds, their live performance really brings these tracks to life. There’s a whole new level of energy here, and it almost feels like some of the songs are being presented in a different light, like they exist in two versions, the studio version and the live one. If I had to choose, I’d still prefer the studio recordings overall, but I definitely understand why people love this album so much.
This was a nice listen. It didn't really stand out to me in any particular way.
I had never heard of this band and I didn't realize they wrote "I Want You to Want Me". I didn't realize I also knew their song "Surrender".
Quite fun.
1. Hello There - 5 It's a good intro to a live album but lyrically the track itself is a bit... cookie cutter. Drums are awesome on the track. 2. Come On, Come On - 6 Lyrically good, instrumentally solid. The drums and guitars sound excellent on this track, especially the way the drums keep the pace of the track. There's a cool burst of guitar in the middle that's appreciated as well. Good track. 3. Lookout - 6 Lyrically it's hard to make out what's actually being sung at times but it's not all too bad and instrumentally it sounds very good. Sounds like a standard rock song. 4. Big Eyes - 7 I don't even think this is as good a song lyrically as Come On, Come On or Lookout but instrumentally this track is brilliant. The way the guitar goes up and down is superb. It's such a great sound. Brilliant stuff. 5. Need Your Love - 8 Lyrically it's very simple, almost like a 50s love song and I'm not a huge fan of the vocals but you get four to five minutes of some excellent drums and guitars once you get past them and it's just an excellent listen. Brilliant sounding stuff. 6. Ain't That a Shame - 4 It's like a cheap 50s "baby I love you track". Instrumentally it's good but it just feels and sounds like a cheap love song that have been written a dime a dozen over the last half a century. 7. I Want You to Want Me - 5 It's an all time classic but I've just never been particularly a fan of it. It's got some amazing guitar playing in it however so it's not anything poor or unenjoyable. 8. Surrender - 6 Good song. Instrumentally it's a lot of fun with some superb drumming and decent riffs. Not a fan of how high in pitch the vocals become but it's still an enjoyable track. 9. Goodnight - 7 I love how quirky the lyrics are and how it's the last track (prior to the encore). I love the instrumentals as well. This is just a fun live track. 10. Clock Strikes Ten - 7 Love the lyrics. Like a 60s/70s swing rock track. Reminds me of early Aerosmith a bit. Good sound with some clever guitar lines on it to emulate a grandfather clock striking the top of the hour. Brilliant stuff. Average Rating: 6.10 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 3.05 Rounded Down: 3 Stars
I liked that a lot. I was not super familiar with many of these songs, besides I Want You to Want Me and Surrender, but liked the majority. Great live show. I wish we had ratings out of ten because I think this deserves more than a 3/5 but probably less than a 4/5 for me. Since we have to round, I’ll round up. Apparently this is a famous venue in Japan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Budokan)
Having a live album on the list is pretty cool. Up beat, fun, rocking mix of songs with some big hits mixed in. Vocals and guitars solos stuck out to me as sounding fantastic especially for it being live.
Good music but I feel the live aspect adds little to the album
I think I am missing some historical context for why this live album is so great. Pretty basic rock music. But in saying that “I Want You to Want Me” is so catchy with tasty guitar solos.
Surrender still seems like the standout track.
Not bad
The energy is infectious and some of the hooks just keep you bopping
Not bad, lots of songs I recognized but not crazy about it
Genre: Power Pop Decent live album, with some fun interactions with the Japanese crowd, and some decent hit songs played well. Not sure why this is essential beyond it being a big seller, and Cheap Trick being very big at the time, but not bad, pretty quick, decent rock and roll. 3/5
Never listened to Cheap Trick but had got the impression they would be kind of fun. However, this was somewhat underwhelming at first. Gets going a little more about halfway through when the songs improve. Still not convinced I need this in my life, though.
Pure intensive rock music.
This was a jolly outing and a solid if uneventful little live album. I like a live recording where it’s all blended together like this, the proper feel of a ‘set’. I don’t think the recording was the best, but maybe to be expected for a live performance. Solid guitar, percussion and vocals. I’m not sure of the wider significance of this album (if any) but it’s a solid listen.
Enjoyed this as it seemed fairly niche yet had tracks of great familiarity which is either credit to them or the slightly mainstream nature of it. It's easy to absorb which means it may not have staying power but for me to have this new experience was refreshing and different. Live dimension was interesting and had great vibrancy to it. It started a little more heavy / rustic which I prefer but can't hide I enjoyed the riffy more pop central ones in the middle. Might come back as a worthy interest point.
This is exactly the sort of thing I envisioned listening to when I started this project. A live recording of a Japanese concert from a niche US rock band. There is something faintly Spinal Tap about the whole thing and I like it. And it was pretty good. Not the polished production of a studio album but it had good energy and I can see why this was picked up as a great performance. They have that classic American rock band flavour but there are also lots of moments that seem to foreshadow later bands, at some points the vocals almost sound like nineties brit-pop. I considered pushing this album into the upper marks. It's a cool recording of a fun, high energy performance and I was taken in by the story of the underappreciated band on an epic Japan tour. I think it just falls short for me just on the basis of the music being fairly formulaic and inside the box. Good solid stuff though nonetheless.
Great
59/100. An okay live album. The energy from the crowd is definitely there and gives the record a nice vibe, but for me, the songs themselves feel pretty repetitive.
Need Your Love
Tiene pinta de que me va a gustar el grupo, pero en general no entro en los discos en directo
I wonder why they have a live album instead of a studio one. Maybe they haven't released a worthy studio recording. This has 2 massive hits obviously but apart from that it's decent but don't think it's super great. Probably 3 stars
Another record that's just getting the 80s started. This isn't bad per se, it's just not something I'd intentionally revisit. Sounds like they put on a live and entertaining show, the music just doesn't quite grab me as other artists do. I'm a lenient and open-minded reviewer, so this will be another 3.
Cheap trick was never a favorite of mine.
Honestly, pretty fun! I'm sick as hell right now, so all the songs kind of flowed past me like water, however I had a good time with this! If it popped up on autoplay, I probably wouldn't turn it off. That said, I feel like this album was a little hurt by being a live album, with the *key exception* of the kpop-esque coordinated chanting during parts of the songs, which was *awesome*.
Another band I’ve known, but not fully experienced. For a live album, this was pretty solid.
Este es álbum que me genera sensaciones encontradas. Por un lado pienso que es un registro que contiene una historia interesante, la de un grupo que no estaba teniendo suficiente éxito comercial en Estados Unidos que va a realizar este concierto a Japón y tiene una recibida masiva, comparada con la Beatlemanía. 20.000 fans japoneses a los gritos son parte de la grabación de este álbum, cuya grabación es decente, pero el foco claramente fue volver a Estados Unidos triunfantes. Esta experiencia catapultó la popularidad de un grupo hasta entonces poco relevante. Aunque no fue una banda que pudo sostener por mucho tiempo su fama, tuvo su momento de gloria. Sin embargo pienso que también es un producto de su época, ya que muchos artistas de Estados Unidos durante los 70s, y parte de los 80s se dirigían a Japón para ser recibidos con mucha popularidad por parte del público de un país donde el sistema económico capitalista florecía, y el consumismo general, y en especial el de la cultura estadounidense post segunda guerra mundial en Japón crecía enormemente hasta encontrar su techo con la crisis económica en los 80s. Teniendo esto en cuenta no es tan sorprendente que una banda de power pop de Estados Unidos a fines de los 70s se tan bien recibida en Japón. No es por quitarle mérito a lo que logró la banda, pero me parece importante ilustrar el panorama, porque además lo cierto es que no considero que este sea un gran grupo, o que el álbum sea una excelente grabación. La música tiene sus momentos buenos, sobre todo creo que la sección rítmica tiene grooves interesantes. "Big Eyes" tiene un riff muy bueno en medio del tema, "I Want You To Want Me" es una linda composición. Pero en general la banda suena muy genérica y no ofrece más aspectos memorables a mi parecer. La ejecución musical es sólida, la grabación es decente considerando el contexto, las letras son muy cliché, la voz no es muy icónica pero cumple con su rol. Creo que el valor del álbum en esta lista viene más del fenómeno histórico que de la música en sí.
1001 rock band live albums recorded in Japan before you get through mid October. Not really essential, and while I enjoyed it well enough the deep purple one was definitely more impressive and interesting. Being live didn't really add that much here apart from a few introductions which are a negative point, so would rather have heard this recorded. Still basically fine but no reason to come back, 2.5.
I don't really understand why live albums are on the list. Or - why most love albums are on the list. This one doesn't really capture any essence of Japan, it is just a decent album. I Want You To Want Me is by far their best track. The rest are alright. Wore thin.
Another live in Japan album hey. I'm not familiar with cheap trick, but I did recognise "I want you to want me". I did think it sounded pretty decent, but I would rather not my first experience of them be a live album. Why so many live albums on the list. Do they really make for essential listening? Can't see anything in this one that does 2.5
Surrender bangs
It's an OK live album I guess. Was going to give it a 2, but it ended up having its moments. Mostly not a fan of live albums on the list.
Rare instance where the back half of an album goes harder than the first half. Great cover of Ain't That a Shame. The end of Need Your Love really rocks. Have heard I Want You to Want Me a million times but it still rocks. Clock Strikes Ten is an excellent closer. 3.5/5
It’s fine
Pretty mid as the 13-year-old would say, but it was fun recognizing a few tracks that I've heard on the classic rock stations over the years. Not groundbreaking but not awful
𝘈𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘯 captures the moment Cheap Trick went from cult favorites to international stars, thanks largely to their massive popularity in Japan. The live setting gives hits like 𝘐 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘦 a rawer, more energetic edge, and that energy finally broke them into the U.S. charts. Still, for all the enthusiasm, Cheap Trick often sound like a second-tier hard rock/power pop band — fun and catchy, but never quite on the level of their bigger peers.
I mean, the live version of "I Want You To Want Me" and "Surrender" are superior to the original, the rest is kinda meh. Big in Japan ain't what it used to be...
i swear ive heard surrender before, good song. overall its a 3
One of the few live rock albums I honestly enjoy listening to. Most fall into the "had to be there" bin for me. The too long version of "Need Your Love" cost this one a star in my rating. Other than that one this album has it goin' on.
I didn't knew this band. They have a good vibe.
A totally fine live album. The big hits standout and the rest is pretty good. Enjoyed it enough and don’t plan on revisiting.
By the shrieking in this album, you’d assume Cheap Trick was the Beatles. They weren’t. But they were good fun!
Good clean rock and roll
Definitely a turn the amps up to 11 kind of vibe. Cheap Trick is ultimately held back by their talent ceiling, but it's a fun live album
Didn’t think I would like this but they’re much better live than in studio
Good live album
A pleasant live album from a solid act.
I can't believe it, but I actually liked this. A Cheap Trick live album sounds like a terrible idea to me (and I still don't think this belongs in the 1001), but somehow this was fun. The run of tracks from Ain't That a Shame to Goodnight is a powerful hit parade. How could you not sing along to Surrender. On this occasion I liked finding out that the performance was 1 week after the track released, that was cool. 3.4/5
It's okay, just a live album
Some great songs on this album, but it's still not my favorite. I do like the live aspect.
It was ok. The screaming became tiresome.
Funny to think that these guys were once considered to be the next Beatles.
Decent live album
"Hello There" - 2, I can’t hear shit "Come On, Come On"- 3 "Lookout"-3 "Big Eyes"-4 "Need Your Love"-3 "Ain't That a Shame"- 4 "I Want You to Want Me" - 3.5 "Surrender"- 4 "Goodnight Now" -3 "Clock Strikes Ten"-4
"Hello There" - 2 "Come On, Come On"- 3 "Lookout"- 3 "Big Eyes"- 3 "Need Your Love"- 2.5 "Ain't That a Shame"- 3 "I Want You to Want Me" - 4.5 "Surrender"- 4.5 "Goodnight Now" - 3 "Clock Strikes Ten"- 3
Not really that memorable. Even the hits aren't that memorable.
Enjoyable, high energy live concert. Audio out of a tin can.
I can’t stand “I want you to want me” and have never been able to but Surrender is a good song
“Come On, Come On” rocks. Want you to want me, Surrender also great. The rest falls off, but pleasant enough for the most part.
Favorites: I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, Clock Strikes Ten Unfortunately, this didn't really do much for me. Compared to the other live albums I've heard so far, I didn't feel too immersed in this one. I thought the performances of I Want You to Want Me and especially Surrender were great, but outside of that I wasn't too impressed and felt rather bored. 6/10
solid live album.
Great live rock performance, let down by a poor quality recording. The Beatlemania type screaming from the crowd is weird.
Some bangers, cheap trick had more than i realised
new band to me, sounds intriguing and old me would have loved them even more.
First listen, probably bit wasted on me listening to a live album when I've never listened to the band. Was decent though
A pretty raw and fun live album. Gives a little depth to the cliche of a band being "big in Japan". I didn't think the recording was very good quality but the band played with lots of energy. Not quite sure if I am missing something that is supposed to seperate this album from the hundreds of other live albums of the same genre and era.
Cheap Trick and Alice Cooper was the first real concert I ever attended in 2005 when I was 14. Honestly not sure why my dad got us tickets because I don’t think either of us were massive fans of either band, but it was still an incredible experience. Listening to Cheap Trick at Budokan now immediately took me back to that show. 27 years after Budokan and I’m pretty sure they had a very similar set in Toronto at the Docks. I wonder if they already had the 5-neck guitar in 1978. Overall, this was an enjoyable listen, but I still don't think Cheap Trick are going to be my favourite band or anything.
Classic rock well done just not my style
As I've written here before, I don't really like live albums. But this seems like a solid example of a worthwhile live album. The guitar sounds great, and the whole sound has an punchy energy without being rough around the edges. I've never listened to Cheap Trick's studio records, so not sure how they compare. The crowd noise doesn't detract, and you can imagine how fun it would have been playing to a hyped crowd in Tokyo in the 1970s. On the downside, the actual compositions do very little for me - it's standard hard rock, medium hard like a boiled egg. The lyrics all go like this: "oooh baby baby, I need your loving little girl waaaaah waaah wowowow baby little girl". Standard boomer rockstar stuff. There's a cover of "I Want You to Want Me", and this version sucks apart from the crowd's energy carrying it. IN CONCLUSION: live albums, surprisingly redeemed; Cheap Trick, not for me. 3*
3.7
Surprisingly boring. Surrender is still my favorite. Three stars
Live albums kinda suck
Pas mal, pas trop mon style mais sympa à écouter, en accompagnement d’une activité créative.
Good
not quite 4, could i write poetry to this? n
Not my taste, still good music
Classic album from an ok band.
I knew a song so that was fun, otherwise it was a standard live album with no crowd banter whatsoever
"I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender" are a catchy vibe. But this recording is ass.
I would've given this 4 stars, but a concert recording isn't an album, so gets demoted.
Random thoughts: - “this is the first track on our new album”. So cool to hear that sample in its original form. - “want you to want me” and “surrender” are the standouts. - the crowd does seem really into Cheap Trick. - I feel this one is a little overrated. People really love the 70s rock live shows. Maybe I had to be there to get it.
Despite my feelings that live albums are cop outs, this rocks
My first time sitting down with a Cheap Trick album. Damn they’re bad ass! The guitars are super loud even heavy at times but also Very Beatles-esque. Really enjoyed the songs Big Eyes, Need Your Love, Surrender live sounds so rad.
As always with live albums, I guess you had to be there.
It's full of good, upbeat rock numbers, and it's a reminder that I should check out more Cheap Trick. I'd prefer to hear an actual studio album though so I can check out the songs properly. It's always a bit strange listening to a live album for a band you don't really know that well. I only knew Surrender on this album (which I love) and that hit well as a result. Overall... it was a good gig. 3.5 rounded down.
Flashero para su época, parece más de los 80. Nota: 2.7
Pas vraiment mon bag. Il y a du bon musicianship je dois admettre... La plus grande qualité de l'album c'est de m'avoir rappelé de retourner écouter Dylan @ Budokan. Je donne une étoile de plus que mérité pour ça. Je vais aller manger ma crème caramel, c'est définitivement meilleur que ça.
This power pop/pop rock style isn't my favorite genre but they do it well enough to keep me entertained. 6/10
Sits perfectly at a 3.
Another live album for a rock band. What else is there to say?
I was so distracted by poor quality the recording, especially toward the beginning of the album.
Nothing special about this album. Just another live “greatest hits” type album, so no fair comparison to a regular cut studio album.
really really solid live album for a band that i don't even really listen to apart from surrender
I don’t know if this is a topic of a lot of discussion or not but here is my hot take: LIVE albums should not be on the list unless that live album has an entirely original set/track list. Like this album is basically just a greatest hits album recorded in japan. There are a lot of things to praise about this album. For example, the production is super clean and clear. The actual playing is perfect, super clean as well. And even the tracklist itself shows how many hits Cheap Trick had under their belt by this point. Honestly it’s a great album, and much like the live Thin Lizzy album I gave a 5 to, it just kinda feels unfair to have this on the list. ESPECIALLY if the studio albums that contain these songs are ALSO on this list. Because at that point it’s like what am I reviewing? Their ability to play these albums to the studio quality? I mean yah I guess that is impressive when you think about it. But it feels like a cheap excuse to include this music/band without actually picking a studio album. I’m sure I might be in the minority but I’ll say it again, live albums do not belong on this list.
Sounds like a fun concert.
Much better than I expected when I saw it was a live album. Ultimately it's still a live album though. I like the energy, I dislike the screaming audience and the fact it sounds like it's recorded from far away and is almost a bit hollow in its sound Standouts Come On, Come On I Want You to Want Me Clock Strikes Ten 3/5
3?5
good ol' rock
This was a solid listen, though it didn’t fully win me over. I can see why this album became such a big deal — the crowd energy is wild, and the band clearly knows how to work a stage. There’s a real sense of fun to the whole thing, and a few moments that made me grin, especially when the fans start losing it over songs like “I Want You to Want Me.” The performances are tight, the guitars are crunchy in all the right ways, and the live setting adds a punch that the studio versions sometimes lacked. That said, I think it might hit harder if you already have a strong attachment to these songs. For me, it felt more like a good time capsule than an essential listen. It’s energetic and catchy, sure, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. I liked it
Erstmal: Ich kenne den Artist noch gar nicht! Bin gespannt - dass es ein Live Album ist find ich schonmal cool.
Genuinely thought the song 'I want you to want me' was by Letters to Cleo 😂 Not that fussed by the rest of the album, sorry Jed
Never particularly a fan and I’m not a great lover of live albums but this was quite jolly. I recognised more songs than I thought I would.
Wasn't feeling the first half too much, but the second half made up for it. 3.5/5
God kok. Likte detta. 3,2/5
# Album Name: At Budokan # Artist: Cheap Trick # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not bad. Two good tunes on the album. Not sure whats so special about this live performance though. # Top Tunes: Surrender / I want you to want me # Would I listen to it again? Not bad. Maybe.
Three stars for the genre, knew I Want You To Want Me from 10 Things I Hate About You. The album is fine, but boring.
no me gustó ni me disgusto, debería darle otra chance a la banda, no se si un vivo es la mejor primera escucha
No lo llegué a terminar pero no estaba tan mal
It was OK. Didn't know "I want you to want me" was by them. Screaming crowd was annoying.
#18 At Budokan ~ Cheap Trick The story of Cheap Trick's early success might seem a bit strange today. The American rock band did not find much immediate success at home, but in JAPAN, they found themselves gods by the time of their second album. And after a legendary performance at the Nippon Budokan, their live recording album was their first significantly mainstream album, spread via word of mouth. From there, there popularity was cemented. The sound of At Budokan is quite catchy and neat, loud rolling, tight guitar work underpinned by a steady rhythm section. This is the sauce of Cheap Trick. Solos are kept fairly short and conservative, melodies are very simple and catchy. And harmonies are lavishing stripped down to the essentials and filled out by the sound of the guitar. And the lyrics might not mean much, just sing about something empowering. Nowadays this is pigeonholed by critics as power pop or pop punk, but in the late 70s this genre was practically dead, placed by disco and soft folk rock. Cheap Trick revived this genre, and the raw sound of this band can point to how. The nature of this album being a live album serves well to show the power of Cheap Trick, but its muddied mixing might hide the fact that this is a incredibly tight and urgent band, and that tightness is what brings some of the flair of Cheap Trick. And by today's standards, the songs may seem very uninspired and kitsch in comparisons by their direct descendants in the 80s and 90s: Guns and Roses, Green Day and their ilk. Preferably you check out Cheap Trick's early catalogue as they sound much more interesting there than on the live album. But if you are starting to get into Cheap Trick (it's never too late), you can't go wrong with Cheap Trick At Budokan.
Haven’t listened to Cheap Trick in so many years! “Surrender” still makes me happy I like the rest too, but honestly, it gets a bit much if I try to take it all in at once. Still, a fun live album.
pretty good live album
I’ve always thought that Cheap Trick was kind of a mid rock band. The best songs on this live album are Surrender and I Want You to Want Me no questions. Their songs are a bit repetitive and whiney but still worth checking out and listening to.
I don't care for live albums typically, and this one is no different, but it does make me want to listen to more Cheap Trick, so I guess it worked?
Mest bare støj men fin udgave af de sange jeg i forvejen kunne lide
Ok rock
I'm not a huge fan of live albums, and this one actually kept my attention for longer than most. I like it! Surrender is my favorite Cheap Trick song, and they nailed it's energy live. The screaming ladies was a bit much, but overall, a fun listen. 3.25/5
Energetic, lively hard rock live album by Cheap Trick from the late 70s. There are better live albums which are not included on this list, though. It's probably not something I will listen to again.
Good album. Always enjoy listening to it.
3*. The first album I've gotten where the B side has done all of the heavy lifting.
Absolutely forgettable back ground rock
Bang average live album
Decent
Back half of album is ok. This band is dull, corporate nonsense.
one of the first albums i ever had on vinyl!
Maybe 3.5
Again I ask myself, why is this in here. I suppose 1001 albums is a lot and there has to be some fluff as there's probably only 300 GREAT ones... 🤣 It wasn't too bad, but I don't know why it would be here...
I can't say I've cared about Cheap Trick outside of "Dream Police" and, to a lesser extent, "Surrender"; not for lack of trying, either. Somehow, At Budokan flew under my radar and I'm only just getting to it as part of this list. It's an unfortunately short set (clocking in at just under 42 minutes), but I'm left wanting more. Despite a few questionable choices ("Big Eyes"; "Need Your Love"), Cheap Trick delivers a memorable performance. Highs: "Hello There", "Come On, Come On", "Surrender", "Goodnight"
6/9/25. Good, fun live album! Great example of the power pop sound as each song is catchy, and the crowd was super into it based on the audio. I think this is a good introduction to Cheap Trick.
Quite good (for a live album).
Good shit, rockin n rollin all nite long bby
It was okay. “I Want You To Want Me” and “Surrender” are descent songs. The whole album was middle of the road rock.
Another solid and expected performance. 3/5
Love Cheap Trick, and have seen em a few times live now, though obviously not as good as this album is live. However, its a better concert than it is an album. Though "I Want You..." will infinitely be better Live than the studio.
I find live albums a bit hit-and-miss, especially if it's not an artist you know. This was OK, a good performance. I enjoyed 'Clock Strikes Ten' and its use of Big Ben's peals
Album art:2
A middling band makes good in Japan.
Live from somewhere
This album was fine. I don't love live albums that have tons of screaming/cheering from the audience, and this one has that. It just takes up too much time when I want to hear the song, not random people from years ago. The band sounded fine, and I like a couple of their songs on their own, so it was cool to hear them played live. But that's about it. It's middle of the road.
i always appreciate a good live album! and this was pretty solid all things considered, plus this is the Superior version of i want you to want me. no new-to-me tracks grabbed me though
This album was all the rage when it came out. After that it seemed like every band did a concert at Budokan. Listening to the album now, it’s a solid live rock album but doesn’t seem to rise to the level of four or five stars.
Good
Decent sound to their stuff, but I'm not really a fan of live albums and it's overall just not that interesting. Generic rock album. I Want You To Want Me is a banger though.
Their name says it all. Overrated!
Goddamn it! If I get another double album or "live" album from the 70s, I might be done with this challenge. Good songs for the most part, but the piped in crowd noise is ridiculous. 2.5/5 Album 55/1001
Nuevamente toca una banda que ubico de nombre: quizás escuchando alguna canción de este disco los reconozco. Al final, no los reconocí. Sí puedo decir que suenan a rock and roll clásico, con voces que homenajean en parte a Elvis y sonidos sutilmente punkies, principalmente en la primera canción. Buenos temas. Rockerazos. Pegadizos. Sumados al espíritu del show en vivo, hacen de éste un buen disco. Hasta mañana.
I know the 3 popular tracks on this album and have never listened to anything from Cheap Trick that I haven't heard on the radio. I do enjoy Surrender quite a bit but overall an ok 3 star album for me.
It's a good live album. I run hot and cold with Cheap Trick. There are a few songs on here that I enjoy occasionally if I'm in the right mood (Surrender, I Want You To Want Me, Hello There/Goodnight) but the rest of the album is just alright. 3 stars.
Solid album
I think it ok for a live album
you have to love the energy, the tight playing, and the showmanship. unfortunately i just don't really care all that much for the songs
Olihan tässä energiaa. Arvostan, että vedettiin läpi vailla hitaita biisejä ja että yleisö oli alusta asti noin mukana (mitä kirkumisesta voi päätellä). Biisit sinällään ihan perusrockia, mikään ei noussut mahtavana esiin.