Tom Petersson left the group after the muddled
All Shook Up, which was another sign that
Cheap Trick was entering a confused period.
One on One, the first record the group recorded with his replacement, Jon Brant, confirms that suspicion. Though it has two fine singles with the power ballad "If You Want My Love" and the lewd rocker "She's Tight," both songs fall short compared to their old standards. Still, they sound like gems compared to the remaining album. Though
One on One is nowhere near as ambitious as
All Shook Up, the songwriting is forced and stilted, lacking not only imagination but also hooks. A couple of cuts -- "Lookin' Out for Number One" and "Love's Got a Hold on Me" -- work as standard-issue arena rockers, but by and large,
One on One is another disappointment. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine