Cheap Round Trip (Music) (Knack) Price

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Customer Reviews of Round Trip

Underrated
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).

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One of the best unsung albums I've heard
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.

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The Knack's "Round Trip"...A Hidden Treasure!!
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!!