My Amazon Reviews: Blondie "The Panic Of Girls"

Calmness of Panic 
3 Out of 5 Stars

Never a stranger to genre jumping, Blondie's third album since refiguring themselves ("No Exit," "The Curse of Blondie"), and "The Panic of Girls" goes for the hopscotch with gusto. Debbie Harry makes you start salivating when the electric pulse and Bo-Diddly drums kick off "D-Day" is classic Blondie style. She teases you by singing 'Debbie, Devil, don't you dare, day of the Deb..." or at least that's what it sounds like. There's all the wonderful traits of the great Blondie singles: self depreciating, a wink and a smirk, Debbie's pure and unique voice and a kicking hook.

"What I Heard" continues with same force, then "Mother" (about an old fave nightclub from the band's Lower Manhattan formative years) makes it to third base. But then "Panic of Girls" starts to scatter. "The End The End" and "Sunday Smile" are the required "Tide is High" retreads, "Le Blue" is four and a half minutes of pseudo French cabaret kitsch, and "China Shoes" closes the album with a yawn. The only surprise is that they didn't attempt to clone a "Heart of Glass" single. Still, then band plays with the groove of a unit that's been working together long enough to sound casually perfect, and that makes the halfway songs like "Words In My Mouth" or the remix ready "Wipe of My Sweat" enjoyable.

"Panic of Girls" is about as good as "The Curse" and doesn't pander the way "No Exit" did (no trendy cameos here). It's also a better album than Harry's "Necessary Evil." Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke still make quite a racket for old fans, just remember that these are old pros making sturdy if unremarkable music for us oldsters.

   

My Amazon Reviews: The Bangles "Sweetheart Of The Sun"

Back with a Bang
4 Out Of 5 Stars

A surprisingly spry and energetic comeback, The Bangles' "Sweetheart Of The Sun" picks up right where their jangle-pop classics from the 80's left off. For a band that could have easily spent the rest of their performing lives playing "Walk Like An Egyptian" at state fairs, this album snaps with creativity while still showcasing their tight harmonies, chiming guitars and classic-pop sensibilities. There's even a rocking cover of Todd Rundgren and Nazz's "Open My Eyes."

That might be due to producer Matthew Sweet as producer. He's done a pair of cover albums with Susanna Hoffs, and he treats the band with care and a light touch. The Bangles are now a trio (bassist Michael Steele has retired) but the vocals are still recognizable. They strut their stuff right away with the opening "Anabelle Lee," a single so catchy and retro that it could have been an "All Over The Place" outtake. You can pick Susanna Hoffs' raspy voice right out of the mix, as sisters Vicki Peterson and Debbie Peterson blend in perfectly. Then they kick the gears up a notch with the peppery "Ball and Chain," reminding folks that Vicki was a darn good lead guitarist. Of course there's a wannabe "Eternal Flame," this time it's "One of Two."

What's really cool about "Sweethearts Of The Sun" is that it sounds like natural progression. As the mid-20's guy that bought "All Over The Place" and "Different Light" and still loves them both, this album sounds like something I'd have been expecting from the band three decades on. One member lesser, a little rougher along the edges and singing like (and about) adult women. Sweet was sympathetic enough to frame this all in an album that plays remarkably better than I think anyone would have expected. After all, anyone remember the dismal "Doll Revolution" from 2003? This time, I think you'll hang on to this Bangles Reunion for a longer time. One of 2011's more pleasant surprises.