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THE KNACK
Get The Knack (Capitol)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
Remember when Rolling Stone Magazine called The Knack the "new Fab Four?" It would have been a dirty rotten thing to do to them if the band (or their handlers) hadn't gone out of their way to foster the image, to the point of concert stages with white lights illuminating black and white instruments and musicians in black and white suits. Skinny tie bands were getting black eyes in the press at the time anyway, and if you came along with retarded sexuality in your lyrics you were an obvious target. Of course, the thing about having a lot of critics shouting your name in anger is that your name is being shouted. It really doesn't matter that the shouted words were "these guys suck!"
Anyone can shout words. but the simple fact was that they were a damned good power pop band with infectious songs. Then again, with these infectious songs the free clinic should have at least been considered. A musical guilty pleasure shouldn't leave an open sore. But it was the end of the 70s, after all.
Get The Knack took the country by storm when the line in the dirt seemed to separate tough punk rockers in spiked hair and polyester-clad disco fans. The jangly, happy (and horny) songs of The Knack reminded us that there was another alternative, before that word became corrupt, and while they were certainly not the first band playing power pop - or even close to it - they certainly brought more people into the genre than anyone had in ages. "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't" sent this record into platinum status is under two months, despite the protests of critics everywhere. (Little secret: music isn't made for us to write about. We just do that because we can. Some critics still can't seem to understand why they can't dictate what will and won't "make it." The Knack have played and the people have spoken.)
Capitol is reissuing four Knack albums, in CD format, of course, each with bonus tracks and each in much improved 24-bit sound. This, the band's debut release, sounds amazing at all volume levels (especially HIGH!). You know all about the original music on this CD, so let's get to the bonus tracks. Throwaways? No way. The first is a Bruce Springsteen-penned track called "Don't Look Back," which was recorded for inclusion on Get The Knack. The Boss gave it to them, but The Boss' boss, Jon Landau, pulled the plug on it, saying Bruce hadn't recorded it yet so The Knack couldn't either. They were allowed to play it in their live set, though. This is the studio version, finally among the songs it was meant to mingle with. Good tune. If you're fascinated by the evolution of songs, you'll love the songwriting-phase home recordings of "That's What The Little Girls Do," "Maybe Tonight" and "My Sharona," and for kicks there's a smoking cover of "I Knew The Bride When She Used To Rock & Roll." Informative liner notes complete a nice package.
Get The Knack, in its new incarnation, is really an historical document. It's the same good-time power pop champ it always was in that good hooks and melodies don't expire, but you'll know what I mean when you're listening to the final track and you hear Doug Fieger and Burton Averre playing unplugged electric guitars around a cassette recorder in Fieger's apartment, working out the very first bits of "My Sharona." It's a strange feeling listening to that humble beginning because you know that simple little riff would change their lives shortly thereafter. Adds to the charm of this CD, I must admit.
© 2002 - DJ Johnson