The 4-CD box SEX, AMERICA, CHEAP TRICK contains rare tracks, previously unreleased tracks and B-sides with a companion 39-page booklet that includes a band biography, recording notes and photos.

Cheap Trick: Rick Nielsen, Bun E. Carlos, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson.

Producers include: Tom Werman, Jack Douglas, Cheap Trick, George Martin, Roy Thomas Baker.

Compilation producers: Bruce Dickinson, Cheap Trick.

Recorded between 1977 & 1995. Includes liner notes by Ira Robbins and Bruce Dickinson.

Digitally remastered by Vic Anesini (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).

This bonus-laden four-disc boxed set is a dream come true for Cheap Trick fans, and catches latecomers up with the best of the power pop juggernaut's work through 1996. It features not only their pop-canon classics ("Surrender," "I Want You to Want Me") but also alternate takes, b-sides, unreleased tracks, and several live performances. Additionally, former TROUSER PRESS editor-in-chief Ira Robbins and producer Bruce Dickinson provide informative liner notes.

Spanning four discs and 64 songs, Sex, America Cheap Trick contains nearly all of the group's hit singles and an amazing amount of rarities -- a grand total of 30 outtakes, live tracks, demos, single versions, soundtrack songs, and B-sides. Despite the abundance of material, there are still a lot of essential items missing, as well as several odd inclusions. Many of the group's biggest hits and concert staples are present, but Cheap Trick classics like "He's a Whore," "Downed," "Come On, Come On," "Taxman, Mr. Thief," "California Man," and several others are inexplicably absent. Nevertheless, the final two discs rescue all the highlights from the band's decidedly uneven '80s recordings and the rarities -- particularly single versions of early tracks like "Oh, Candy" and "Southern Girls," demos like "Fan Club," and a ripping live set -- are usually worthy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Sex, America, Cheap Trick is a classic example of a botched box set. Spanning four discs and 64 songs, the box contains nearly all of the group's hit singles and an amazing amount of rarities -- a grand total of 30 outtakes, live tracks, demos, single versions, soundtrack songs, and B-sides. Despite all of the abundance of material, there are still a lot of essential items missing, as well as several odd inclusions. Many of the group's biggest hits and concert staples are present, but Cheap Trick classics like "He's a Whore," "Downed," "Come On, Come On," "Taxman, Mr. Thief," "California Man," and several others are inexplicably absent. Furthermore, the final two discs bog down with slick radio-ready pop, even though they rescue all the highlights from the band's decidedly uneven '80s recordings. Still, the rarities -- particularly single versions of early tracks like "Oh, Candy" and "Southern Girls," demos like "Fan Club," and a ripping live set -- are usually worthy, even if they might have been better showcased on a double-disc rarities set. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone (10/31/96, p.68) - 4.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...Cheap Trick proved that articulate, uncompromised dementia and zinger-hook appeal were not mutually exclusive, a lesson not lost on Kurt Cobain or Billy Corgan..."

Q (10/96, pp.179-180) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...Cheap Trick's chosen field, flying in the face of 1970's symphonic rock, was skinny-tie power-pop delivered at hysteria pitch....[the box set] provides at least 20 tough-riffing diamonds..."

Q (1/02, pp.115-116) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...'alternate versions', demos and B-sides are the cream of their first four studio albums..."

Alternative Press (2/97, pp.57-58) - 5 (out of 5) - "...Cheap Trick are/were the quintessential American pop band. And this box set proves it..."