Ladies and gentlemen, light up, Blondie’s back. While “The Curse of Blondie”, their previous release from 2003 was a return to their roots and a more rocking approach – and it only peaked at no.36 in the U.K. charts – , the ninth studio album by the American Blondie bring us back to the care-free, relaxed 80s. Quite surprisingly they included for instance “Girlie Girlie”, a cover of Jamaican singer Sophia George, a Top-10 hit in the UK in 1985 and one song of Gilles Riberolles called “Le Bleu à l’âme” (“Blue In The Soul”), a homage to Jacques Brel and Serge Gainsbourg.
“Panic Of Girls” kicking off pretty cool with “D-Day”, an almost classic new wave track with all the good Blondie traditions incorporated, but that spirit it’s left aside, maybe only “Mother”, the lead single, have some charming left-overs of the glorious days. Still, I don’t believe Blondie managed to deliver another “Heart of Glass”, “Hanging on the Telephone”, “The Tide Is High” or “Maria”.
“Panic Of Girls” have a vacation/relaxation vibe, it’s waving smoothly, somehow it’s kind of beach music, if you know what I mean.
Debbie Harry is an icon, at least 2 out of 3 female singers still dream of become the “next Debbie Harry” one day, on the other hand no other American artist or band will managed to match their European and mainly British performances while only Blondie and Michael Jackson are the two American acts to reach number one in the UK singles charts in the 70s, 80s and 90s, “Panic Of Girls” have some nice moments – “D-Day” and “Words in My Mouth” from my perspective -, but it’s quite not enough for 2011.
Some things are better left to rest.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXX8rUV4p9A&w=500&h=305]
