Blondie's Back!!!!

[markydefad]

Blondie performed their new single "Good Boys" last night on Letterman. Most of the group looked kinda young--but Chris Stein & Debbie were still in there. Debbie was much slimmed down (lipo?) and seemingly face-lifted. She looked a little Zsa Zsa Gabor-ish at 50+. They sounded pretty good. Did a check on the new CD over at AMG and came up with these interesting facts.

AMG says:

The Curse of Blondie didn't even get a U.S. release. But what's shocking is that this, and not No Exit, is what should've been Blondie's big comeback effort. That isn't to say that The Curse of Blondie is a classic Blondie disc, but it's the first good one since at least Autoamerican, and features one of their best-ever singles in "Good Boys." "Good Boys" is prime Blondie the way they should be — pulsing layers of synthesizers are punctuated by sharp guitar riffs and the whole prize is dressed up in an infectious hook that's one part bubblegum, one part sexy chanteuse.

*******Disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder even mixed the single version, and this alone is a sign that the band is again aware of its strengths and choosing the right collaborators, unlike the turn with Coolio the last time around. The rest of the album doesn't quite live up to the promise of that single, but unlike No Exit, it's largely not embarrassing (opening track "Shakedown" aside — no one needs to hear Debbie Harry rap the lines "I think I'd have a better chance to see the Pope/I got so bored with his schtick and waving a dick/and all his high and mighty sh*t/I'm a witch").

******* All 14 songs are dressed up in Steve Thompson's chic, modern production — while the album sounds contemporary, it also sounds like classic Blondie. Perhaps this had something to do with the cultural shift that took place between this and the last album — in 1998/1999, rap-metal, trance, and bubblegum pop ruled the charts and all three clumsily found their way onto No Exit. But by 2003, bands like the Sounds and the Rapture were getting big doing virtually the exact same thing that Blondie had done 25 years earlier, and that set the stage for them to release this, their best album in well over 20 years. That doesn't mean The Curse of Blondie is great — after all, both No Exit and The Hunter were awful — and without a widespread release even fewer are likely to hear this. But those who do will probably be pleased to find that Blondie still have some life left. — Jason Damas

1. Shake Down - 5:05
2. Good Boys - 4:12
3. Undone - 4:28
4. Golden Rod - 5:23
5. Rules for Living - 5:12
6. Background Melody (The Only One) - 3:54
7. Magic (Asadoya Unta) - 4:05
8. End to End - 3:59
9. Hello Joe - 4:06
10. The Tingler - 3:52
11. Last One on the Planet - 4:31
12. Diamond Bridge - 4:07
13. Desire Brings Me Back - 5:31
14. Songs of Love - 6:43

2004 CD Sanctuary 84666


Giorgio Moroder & Steve Thompson!!!!!!!! Who knew????

[Mixmachine]

Yes, I did see this performance on Letterman, and I also thought she looked much better, and the song was really good, I was cheering while listening to it , I even noticed a bit of 'Rapture" in there!

[CharmingBastard]

Their best single in eons........

The album is also the strongest set since "Eat To The Beat"

She looks amazing.........and who'd have ever thought she'd end up on a VH1 divas special...........

[markydefad]

Yeah, the new CD is getting a U.S. release now. It's reviewed in Entertainment Weekly (B+) and People this week.

Welcome back, Miss Harry & Company. :D

[NickNack]

Ugh. Don't CALL ME, Blondie, I'll call you. :x

[Voyage]

I do like their new song, "Good Boys", since the first time I listened to it on the radio here on late Nov. 2003.

Voyage :P

[Art Figueroa]

Originally Posted by NickNack

Ugh. Don't CALL ME, Blondie, I'll call you. :x

Couldn't agree with you more, Nicky! I purchased the CD Single of Good Boys back in August, gave it a couple of listens, the last one after this thread was started...don't see the fuss!

Art

[Mixmachine]

CD single back in august? They told me at Virgin that there was no single!, Oh well, the album is fine and includes the Video of "Good Boys" that has that 80's retro pop sound not very popular today, if we could go back to the early 80's club scene this cut would 've been a major hit.

[Art Figueroa]

Perfectbeat.com currently has two singles both imports for this cut. One of them,a limited German Release, the one I don't own, of course has a seven minute Giorgio Moroder Mix. I based my opinion on the mixes I heard on the single I own.

BTW, I just checked and the German Release is still in stock

Art

[markydefad]

So the Giorgio Moroder remix is only on an import CD single? :-?

[Sami M]

I have the cd-single one with mixes by 1)Giorgio, 2)Scissor Sisters and 3)Arthur Baker&Johnny Toobad - those were the main reasons I bouhgt it. Giorgio's version is very modern with a fusion of trance and I Feel Love sounds - would be better as an instrumental. The Sisters version is more retro electro, but doesn't really thrill. And the 3rd mix has hard beat.

But this song is weak...

[Mixmachine]

Originally Posted by Sami M

I have the cd-single one with mixes by 1)Giorgio, 2)Scissor Sisters and 3)Arthur Baker&Johnny Toobad - those were the main reasons I bouhgt it. Giorgio's version is very modern with a fusion of trance and I Feel Love sounds - would be better as an instrumental. The Sisters version is more retro electro, but doesn't really thrill. And the 3rd mix has hard beat.

But this song is weak...

Let me see if I can track down this one locally, but this Imports singles are difficult to find and IMO overpriced, prices range from 3.99USD to 10.99 :o . I broke down and paid 10.99 for Simply Red's "sunrise" with the video, but how many times I'm going to watch that..

[DiscoMan]

Debbie Harry at 50+! Actually she turned 59! earlier this year! :o

Where are the years going?

[markydefad]

I've had a chance to listen to "The Curse Of Blondie" about 5 times now...and it's darn good. (If ya like Blondie, I guess).

So, if ya did (like Blondie back in tha day, that is)....BUY IT!!!

Maybe then , we'll get another one.

[markydefad]

Blondie did a "Live By Request on A&E" last night and it was terrific to see them perform again!!!! :D :D :D :D

They did all the classics and a couple from the new cd which I like a lot. :D

Miss Harry wore sunglasses for the first 3 or 4 songs. When she took them off--she looked great for 59!!!! Very Zsa Zsa Gabor--very lifted; but very well done. Not too tight--just right. What a face!!! :D

Her voice suffers on some of the high parts-- like the chorus of "Heart Of Glass"--but the attitude is there. Director John Waters who cast Debbie in his "Hairspray" flick called in and requested "Rip Her to Shreds"--one of my alltime faves. She killed with the tough girl "TUDE. 8) 8) 8)

Nice arrangement on the wonderful "Rapture"; "Dreaming", "One Way Or Another", "The Tide Is High", "Union City Blues", "Maria", "Call Me", "Good Boys" and "Undone" were also performed. A mom from Sacramento (?) who said she & her pre-teen kids were fans called in an requested a song; most bizarrely the request was......"X Offender--a wonderful song about a "SEX Offender"!!!! :oops: :oops: Maaaaaaaaa...wut up wit dat???? :o :o :o

Sadly, no "Denis" or "In The Flesh". :( :(

Try to catch a repeat.....couldn't find it in next week's TV Guide...maybe go to A&E online services.

Anyone else see it besides lil' ole me???? :-?