Zoom (The Knack album)

Last updated
Zoom
Zoom (The Knack album).jpeg
Studio album by
the Knack
ReleasedJuly 14, 1998
Genre Power pop
Label Rhino
Producer Richard Bosworth, the Knack, Oliver Leiber
The Knack chronology
Serious Fun
(1991)		Zoom
(1998)		 Normal as the Next Guy
(2001)
Singles from Zoom
  1. "Pop Is Dead"
    Released: 1997
  2. "Love Is All There Is"
    Released: 1998
  3. "Terry & Julie Step Out"
    Released: 1998
  4. "In Blue Tonight"
    Released: 1998

Zoom is the fifth studio album released by the Knack in 1998. It marked a second attempted comeback by the Knack, after their first attempt in 1991 with Serious Fun fizzled. [1] Terry Bozzio served as the drummer on the album in place of Bruce Gary. [1] [2] [3] The album received positive reviews, including one that described it as the Knack's best effort since their debut album. The album was re-released several years later as Re-Zoom with three bonus tracks.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Allmusic critic Steve Erlewine praised the album as the "best album the maligned power-pop band has recorded since their debut," Get The Knack . [1] Writing in the Hartford Courant , Roger Catlin noted similarities between the opening song "Pop Is Dead", the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing", and the Who's Tommy ; he also noted similarities between the album's second song "Can I Borrow a Kiss" and the classic song "Needles and Pins." [5] He commented that while the album initially seems "to be on a track to produce a classic in '60s rock emulation along the lines of Flamin' Groovies' Shake Some Action , some of the later tracks "disappoint." [5] Author John Borack called the album "a stunning effort" and called it his favorite album of the year. [6] Trouser Press referred to the album as "a good, solid effort" that "isn't at all bad as slick, commercial Beatlesque power pop goes" but also noted that "the Knack is firmly caught in a dead zone between nostalgia, irrelevance and scorn." [7]

The lyrics to the song "Can I Borrow a Kiss" were based on an incident from when songwriter Doug Fieger visited Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco as a teenager, and a girl asked if she could borrow a kiss. [8] Fieger noted that that kind of thing did not happen in his hometown of Oak Park, Michigan. [8] The song "Terry & Julie Step Out" is based on the Kinks' song "Waterloo Sunset". [9]

Re-Zoom

Re-Zoom
Studio album by
the Knack
Released2003
Genre Power pop
Label Rhino
Producer Richard Bosworth, the Knack, Oliver Leiber
The Knack chronology
Normal as the Next Guy
(2001)		Re-Zoom
(2003)		 Rock & Roll Is Good for You: The Fieger/Averre Demos
(2012)

After the rights reverted to the band from its original label, the Knack re-released the album with additional tracks in 2003 under the title Re-Zoom. [9] This release followed the band's next unsuccessful comeback with the album Normal as the Next Guy . Allmusic critic Steve Mason called Re-Zoom "probably the best Knack album since 1979's Get the Knack, with at least a few fine examples of pure L.A.–style power pop and a psychedelic closing ballad." [9] Mason also noted that although the songs on the album did not have misogynist lyrics like earlier Knack songs, the lyrics are "still rather smug," and that lead singer Doug Fieger sings "with a self-satisfaction unwarranted by his flagrantly derivative musical sense." [9] The additional tracks included covers of Badfinger's "No Matter What" and Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk." [9] [10]

Track listing

  1. "Pop Is Dead" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger) - 3:47
  2. "Can I Borrow a Kiss" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger) - 4:03
  3. "Smilin'" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger) - 4:03
  4. "Ambition" (Doug Fieger, Stan Lynch) - 4:28
  5. "Mister Magazine" (Doug Fieger) - 4:02
  6. "Everything I Do" (Melissa Connell, Doug Fieger) - 3:50
  7. "Love Is All There Is" (Doug Fieger) - 4:13
  8. "Terry & Julie Step Out" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger) - 3:33
  9. "Harder on You" (Prescott Niles, Berton Averre, Kim Amadril)- 3:05
  10. "You Gotta Be There" (Doug Fieger) - 3:22
  11. "Good Enough" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger) - 4:49
  12. "In Blue Tonight" (Doug Fieger) - 3:48
  13. "Tomorrow" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger, Prescott Niles, Kim Amadril )- 4:27
  14. "(All in The) All in All" (Doug Fieger, Oliver Leiber) - 5:13

Personnel

Re-Zoom track listing

As for the original album, with three additional tracks:

15. "No Matter What" (Pete Ham) - 2:54
16. "Girls Talk" (Elvis Costello) - 3:26
17. "Mister Magazine" (Instrumental) - 4:01
18. "Harder on You" Prescott Niles, Berton Averre, Kim Amadril, Doug Fieger
19. "Tomorrow" Prescott Niles, Berton Averre, Doug Fieger, Kim Amadril

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Knack</span> American band

The Knack was an American rock band based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with its first single, "My Sharona", an international number-one hit in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missing Persons (band)</span> American rock band

Missing Persons is an American rock band founded in 1980 in Los Angeles by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, vocalist Dale Bozzio, and drummer Terry Bozzio. They later added bassist Patrick O'Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild. Dale's quirky voice and heavy makeup made the band a favorite on MTV in the early 1980s.

<i>Get the Knack</i> 1979 studio album by The Knack

Get the Knack is the debut album by American rock band the Knack, released in June 1979. At the time, the album was one of the most successful debuts in history, selling over one million copies in less than two months and spending five weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Sharona</span> 1979 single by the Knack

"My Sharona" is the debut single by the Knack. The song was written by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger, and it was released in 1979 from their debut album, Get the Knack. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, where it remained for six weeks, and was number one on Billboard's 1979 Top Pop Singles year-end chart.

<i>Chipmunk Punk</i> 1980 studio album by The Chipmunks

Chipmunk Punk is an album by the Chipmunks, as well as being the first album released by Ross Bagdasarian Jr., after he took over the voices of the Chipmunks after the death of his father in 1972. Despite the title of the album, none of the songs listed are considered to be in the style of real punk rock music. It was released in June 1980. The album peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard 200. It was certified gold by the RIAA on October 14, 1980, becoming the Chipmunks' first gold record. In 2005, it was re-released on CD, although the CD was only available through the official Chipmunks website. In Canada, the album reached No. 59.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Fieger</span> American singer-songwriter

Douglas Lars Fieger was an American musician, singer and songwriter. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the rock band the Knack. He co-wrote "My Sharona," the biggest hit song of 1979 in the U.S., with lead guitarist Berton Averre.

Bruce Gary was an American musician who was best known as the drummer for the music group the Knack. He was nominated for two Grammy Awards as a stage performer, producer, and recording artist.

<i>Cracked Brain</i> 1990 studio album by Destruction

Cracked Brain is the fourth full-length studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on May 1, 1990. It is the band's only album to feature André Grieder of Poltergeist, replacing Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, who was fired after the initial sessions for the album. Also featured is a cover of The Knack song "My Sharona".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Untitled Korn album</span> 2007 studio album by Korn

The untitled eighth studio album by American nu metal band Korn was released on July 31, 2007, by Virgin Records. It is the band's only studio release without an official drummer, released between the departure of David Silveria in 2006 and the arrival of Ray Luzier in late 2007. Vocalist Jonathan Davis hired drummers Terry Bozzio and Brooks Wackerman as session musicians. The album was intentionally released without a title, as Davis reasoned, "Why not just let our fans call it whatever they wanna call it?" The album was certified gold in the United States on October 30, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Girls Don't</span> 1979 single by the Knack

"Good Girls Don't" is a 1979 hit single written by Doug Fieger and released by the rock band The Knack, off their album Get the Knack. It was the follow-up to the group's number-one hit single, "My Sharona". "Good Girls Don't" was a No. 1 hit in Canada. It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 in Record World, and #11 in Cash Box, as well as No. 66 on the United Kingdom chart. It also reached No. 20 in New Zealand. The song has since been covered by a number of artists, including The Chipmunks, Ben Folds, The Chubbies, and The McRackins.

<i>Serious Fun</i> (The Knack album) 1991 studio album by the Knack

Serious Fun is the fourth album by power pop/new wave band the Knack released by Charisma Records on January 16, 1991. It was their fourth record; a comeback after a decade-long separation. It was accompanied by a public reunion and tour. Although the album did not achieve either commercial or critical success, it resulted in the hit single "Rocket O' Love," which reached number 9 in Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart.

<i>Round Trip</i> (The Knack album) 1981 studio album by the Knack

Round Trip is the third studio album by power pop/new wave band the Knack, released by Capitol Records in 1981. It received generally unfavorable critical reviews, and peaked at No. 93 in the Billboard 200. It contained the single "Pay the Devil ". "Boys Go Crazy" was issued as the single from the album in Australia. It was also issued as a follow-up single to "Pay the Devil" in the U.S. and was expected to be "chart bound" on the Hot 100, but it did not chart. The band broke up a few months after its release, with their label dropping them due to failed expectations. They remained disbanded until a 1986 reunion.

<i>...But the Little Girls Understand</i> 1980 studio album by the Knack

...But the Little Girls Understand is the second studio album by power pop/new wave group the Knack, released by Capitol Records in February 1980. The album reached the number 15 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart in 1980. The singles "Baby Talks Dirty" and "Can't Put a Price on Love" charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 38 and No. 62, respectively. The song "Mr. Handleman" was released as a single in some countries, such as New Zealand. Guitarist Berton Averre has stated that "Mr. Handleman" was the first song he and lead singer Doug Fieger wrote together. The RIAA certified the album as Gold on April 14, 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Talks Dirty</span> 1980 single by The Knack

"Baby Talks Dirty" is a 1980 Top 40 single written by Doug Fieger and Berton Averre from the Knack's second album, ...But the Little Girls Understand. Like the album it was taken from, "Baby Talks Dirty" fell short of the success of its predecessors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Put a Price on Love</span> 1980 single by The Knack

"Can't Put a Price on Love" is a 1980 song written by Doug Fieger and Berton Averre. It was originally released by American pop group The Knack on their second album, ...But the Little Girls Understand. It was the second song from that album that was released as a single, reaching #62 on the Billboard Hot 100, falling short of the performance by its preceding single, "Baby Talks Dirty", which reached #30 in Cash Box and #38 in Billboard. Overall, it was the fourth single which The Knack had released, and was the first such release which did not reach the Top 40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pay the Devil (Ooo, Baby, Ooo)</span> 1981 single by The Knack

"Pay the Devil " is a song written by Berton Averre and first released by the Knack on their 1981 album Round Trip. It was also released as a single, and reached #67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It continued the descending patterns of the Knack's singles from "My Sharona" which reached #1 to "Good Girls Don't" which reached #11 to "Baby Talks Dirty" which peaked at #38 to "Can't Put a Price on Love" which only reached #62. However, it was the last Knack single to chart at all until "My Sharona" re-entered the charts at #91 in 1994 in the wake of its appearance in the soundtrack of Reality Bites. "Pay the Devil" was later included on Knack compilation albums The Retrospective: The Best of the Knack and Very Best of the Knack.

<i>Normal as the Next Guy</i> 2001 studio album by the Knack

Normal as the Next Guy is the sixth and final studio album by American rock band the Knack, released in 2001. It marks the fourth comeback attempt by the band after its second album, ...But the Little Girls Understand, failed to achieve the success of the band's début album. AllMusic critic Mark Deming noted that the album finds songwriter and lead singer Doug Fieger having resolved his issues with women, but has not "found a subject that appears to compel him nearly as much as the treacheries of girls once did." Therefore, Deming feels that compared to older songs by the band, the songs on Normal as the Next Guy "may be more pleasant, but they're not as interesting." The Rolling Stone Album Guide gave the album a 3 star rating, as high as the group's début Get The Knack, and higher than any other Knack studio album.

<i>Rock & Roll Is Good for You: The Fieger/Averre Demos</i> 2012 studio album by The Knack

Rock & Roll Is Good for You: The Fieger/Averre Demos is an album by The Knack which was released on September 11, 2012. It includes demo recordings made by Doug Fieger and Berton Averre made between 1973 and 1975. Most of the songs are performed by just Fieger and Averre, both singing and playing guitar, but some songs include the full band. Two of the songs, "Good Girls Don't" and "That's What the Little Girls Do," were released in more polished form on the Knack's debut album, Get the Knack. Other songs whose demos appear on Rock & Roll Is Good for You later provided elements for other Knack songs. For example, "Corporation Shuffle ," described by Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "a nifty bit of fuzzy, snarky rock & roll in the vein of the Move," provided the basis for "Terry & Julie Step Out," a song from the 1998 album Zoom.

"(She's So) Selfish" is a hit song written by Doug Fieger and Berton Averre that was first released by the Knack on their #1 debut album Get the Knack in 1979. It also appeared on a number of live and compilation albums. It was intended for release as a single, but was prevented by its "scatological" lyrics. It was inspired by the same woman who inspired the band's #1 single "My Sharona." It was praised by critics for its hooks and style, but criticized for its nastiness and sexism.

"Your Number or Your Name" is a song written by Doug Fieger and Berton Averre that was first released by the Knack as the second track on their No. 1 debut album Get the Knack in 1979. It also appeared on a number of live and compilation albums.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Erlewine, S. "Zoom". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  2. ↑ Brackett, N. & Hoard, C. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4 ed.). Fireside. p.  463. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ↑ "The Knack". vh1.com. MTV. Archived from the original on October 30, 2002. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  4. ↑ Allmusic review
  5. 1 2 Catlin, R. (September 3, 1998). "Zoom - The Knack". Hartford Courant . Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  6. ↑ Borack, J. (2007). Shake some action: the ultimate power pop guide. p. 25. ISBN   978-0-9797714-0-8.
  7. ↑ Robbins, I. & Sandlin, M. "Knack". Trouser Press . Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  8. 1 2 "Getting the Knack". knack.com. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Mason, S. "Re-Zoom". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  10. ↑ "The Knack: Re-Zoom". knack.com. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.