Trick - In Color - Steve Albini Sessions -1998 Cd Flac- — Cheap

In Color is undoubtedly a masterpiece, featuring power-pop staples like "I Want You to Want Me," "Southern Girls," and "Come On, Come On." However, drummer Bun E. Carlos and guitarist Rick Nielsen often felt the original production watered down the heavy, garage-rock sound they generated on stage.

However, the band was privately miserable about how the record sounded.

In countless interviews, guitarist Rick Nielsen and drummer Bun E. Carlos lamented that Werman’s mix "made it safe for radio," stripping the tracks of their intended grit. Bun E. Carlos famously described the sound as if it was “recorded in a cardboard box”. Nielsen put it bluntly, stating: "sonically it's wimpy and we're not wimpy". This long-held dissatisfaction directly set the stage for the explosive 1998 studio sessions.

: A rough mix was eventually leaked onto the internet and is highly sought after by fans in high-quality formats like FLAC. Standard Tracklist (Bootleg Versions)

: The project was never officially completed or released by the band, though it has widely circulated as a high-quality bootleg for years Tracklist & Content In Color is undoubtedly a masterpiece, featuring power-pop

While Rick Nielsen claimed the album was finished in 2010, bassist Tom Petersson later suggested the recordings were never actually completed with final harmonies and overdubs. Further Exploration

In just a few days, they re-recorded the entire 10-track album live in the studio, adding only a few overdubs. The results were a revelation. Albini’s signature style stripped away the original album’s slick 1970s sheen, replacing it with a raw, powerful sound filled with unbridled energy and grit. The band also recorded five bonus tracks during these sessions, including an unreleased version of “Fan Club” and a cover of John Lennon’s “I’m Losing You”.

So why all the fuss? The difference between the original and the Albini sessions is like night and day.

Werman possessed an undeniable ear for radio-friendly hooks, but his production style stripped away the band's sonic teeth. He polished Rick Nielsen’s roaring guitar riffs into polite jangles and softened Bun E. Carlos’s thunderous drumming. While In Color features some of the greatest pop-rock songs ever written—including "I Want You to Want Me," "Southern Girls," and "Clock Strikes Ten"—the band felt the final mix was far too polite, effeminate, and sanitized compared to their ferocious live performances. Enter Steve Albini: The Savior of Noise In countless interviews, guitarist Rick Nielsen and drummer

The true "Holy Grail" for collectors is the transfer of the Albini session tapes to . This format preserves the dynamic range of Albini’s analog recording, capturing the raw attack of the drums and the warmth of the bass without the compression of MP3. Communities like Guitars101 and various rock blogs have circulated FLAC versions of the "Albini Version," often labeled as "Remake In Color – Unreleased Steve Albini Sessions".

Formed in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, vocalist Randy Hogan (later replaced by Robin Zander), and drummer Bun E. Carlos, Cheap Trick quickly established themselves as one of the leading bands in the power pop and hard rock genres. Their early years were marked by critically acclaimed albums such as "Cheap Trick" (1977) and "Heaven Tonight" (1978), which included hits like "Surrender" and "Dream Police." Despite their growing fan base and commercial success, the band faced numerous challenges, including label disputes, lineup changes, and personal struggles.

By the mid-1990s, Steve Albini had already cemented his legend as the ultimate "engineer of authenticity." Having recorded Nirvana's In Utero , the Pixies, PJ Harvey, and The Breeders, Albini was notorious for his hands-off philosophy. He famously refused the title of "producer," preferring to be seen as a recording engineer who simply captures the band playing live in a room as truthfully as possible.

They wanted to prove that songs like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Downed" weren't just pop songs, but hard-driving rock anthems. The plan was not to replace the classic 1977 release, but to create a "Raw" version to be included as a bonus companion—a 1998 CD release that would finally showcase the band's preferred sonic landscape. 2. Enter Steve Albini: The Sonic Purist Carlos famously described the sound as if it

: The vocal harmonies remain intact, but they are layered over a propulsive, muscular rhythm track that elevates the song's urgency. Why the FLAC Format Matters for This Release

Experience the raw energy and catchy hooks of Cheap Trick's , captured in stunning detail through the Steve Albini Sessions.

: "Hello There," "Big Eyes," "Downed," "I Want You to Want Me," "You're All Talk," "Oh Caroline," "Clock Strikes Ten," "Southern Girls," "Come On, Come On," "So Good to See You".