The Knack

Although the Knack are often dismissed as a lightweight pop band, there's no denying the catchiness of their curve-hugging pop hooks. In fact, songs like "Baby Talks Dirty," "I Want Ya" and the Spector-esque "The Feeling I Get" have such tight hooks, you can almost overlook the pervy lyrics. Almost.

Of course, there's no way to win with a record like this. Like the Eddie Haskel-type kid
down the block, who was always spotless and mannerly but innately a creep (remember
Leave It to Beaver?), there's no way to convince Mom–or the fans – that it's all a fraud.
Who'd believe you? There was once a pernicious rumor to the effect that Alice Cooper
was Eddie Haskel. What Alice ever did to deserve that is beyond me – he was re... More >

When last seen they were onstage at Carnegie Hall, reading that stanza about writers and critics from "The Times They Are A-Changin'," and despite the title this is obviously their stab at artistic respectability, less The Knack's Second Album than Commander Chapman's Nasty Mouths Club Band. Or maybe they understand what critics don't: that little girls think it's cute and sexy to write songs about Mexican guys pimping their wives to Jewish guys. What critics understand and they don't--or maybe they're just so close to satori that they accept their limitations--is that whatever the subject, little girls prefer catchy, punchy second-hand songs to varied, indecisive thirdhand ones. In fact, so do critics. (Grade - C-)