The debut, self-album by Cheap Trick is a fantastic power pop album brimming with smooth melodies, catchy choruses, perfect-key harmonies and perverse fun. Whether it’s the stomping chant-a-long “ELO Kiddies,” the punk roar of “He’s a Whore,” or the dreamy ballad “Mandocello,” all these qualities consistently shine through this eclectic album.

For all of the album’s bubbling and fun surface, the lyrics underneath reflect a darker nature. “Oh, Candy” is a song about the suicide of Marshall Mintz, a friend of Rick Nielsen, the band’s primary songwriter and lead guitarist. “Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School” (unfortunately) concerns pedophilia, and “The Ballad of T.V. Violence” covers domestic abuse.

Cheap Trick displays genuine pop songcraft talent as well as interesting themes. All bases are covered in this near-flawless album that puts the “power” in “power pop.” Fun with an edge. A recommended starting point for a new listener. Even though later releases contain their most well-known singles, Cheap Trick never released an album as consistently high-quality as their debut. Content warning for the subjects mentioned earlier, of course.