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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> B -> Blondie Parallel Lines |
| Blondie - Parallel Lines Band: Blondie Tracks: - Hanging On The Telephone - One Way Or Another - Picture This - Fade Away And Radiate - Pretty Baby - I Know But I Don't Know - 11:59 - Will Anything Happen? - Sunday Girl - Heart Of Glass - I'm Gonna Love You Too - , Just Go Away - Once I Had A Love (The Disco Song 1976) - Bang A Gong (Get It On; live) - I Know But I Don't Know (live) - Hanging On The Telephone (live) Gets better with every listing... This is Truly a great album. Listen after listen, it gets better. <BR>The songs range in style, but all have the same flavor. Just because Deborah Harry is the "star" of the band, does not lessen the impact of the other players. I especially like Jimmie Destri's sparse synths and kickin' organs. Harry's singing is the standout though, her voice floats between soft Whispers and throaty screams. Usually within the same song.<BR>Standout tracks for me are "Pretty Baby", "11:59", "Will Anything Happen", and "Hangin' on the Telephone". All are great new wave rockers. Even though "Heart of Glass" and "One Way or Another" are the recognized hits of the album, they don't overshadow the other songs (unlike most albums where the hits blow the other songs away). <BR>One great Cameo is Robert Fripp of King Crimson. He adds spacey guitars to "Fade Away". This is probably the coolest song on an album of amazing tunes. Sinister Synthesizers over the dark song and wonderful vocals by Harry. It shows how a great guest appearance can really add to an album.<BR>Not only is this a great album by an underrated band, but a great album overall. "Stars Live in the evening, but the very young need the sun" Hearing that opening line from Parallel Line's Pretty Baby I'm reminded of why I Love Blondie so much: they represent pop music at it's most unique and intelligent. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein were pushing 40 back in the glory days of Parallel Lines. They were old enough to have established points of view and pretty much stuck to them. They were slightly retro, girl group and sci-fi obsessed New Yorkers. Their success came when they teamed up with L.A. based producer Mike Chapman (who also produced most of Pat Benatar's best work). In his new and enlightening liner notes Chapma ting Time (another one of their best). Also, Man Overboard is an excellent song that is well worth the time on the cd, even though it's not a Live recording. I feel I must mention one other thing before I end this review. There are still a few poor, misguided souls out there that doubt the musical talent of Mark, Tom, And Travis. Mark while an adequate bassist, really shines in the vocal department. He is always on key, and has a distinct tone quality to his voice that is unmistakable. Tom, is quite simply one of the best Guitarists in music today. Listen to M&M's on Cheshire Cat, and What's my Age Again on this cd. T BZZZ.jpg Buy Blondie Parallel Lines at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
