Sex, drugs and rock & roll...typically and, adhering to cliche, the rock star is cool, HE gets the hot chicks...he's everything you want to be...but where are the ladies? When you think of true, bona fide rock stars...who do you immediately conjure up in your mind? It's mostly male dominated...from ELVIS PRESLEY and his hip-thrusting lady luring charm...all the way through to say, (and an extreme example to say the least) GG ALLIN...bollock naked, literally shitting on stage, rock & roll and all it's umbrella terms has always been a cock-fest...the girls get an unfair deal here...apart from one Debbie Harry...if ever there was a woman who took rock and roll by the balls, it was the BLONDIE front-woman. Sure there are ladies who rock harder, but this isn't about genre, this is about legacy and Debbie Harry has been a punk rock queen since the 70's and do you know what? She's still going strong to this day! Yes Blondie have always been iconic and their contribution to pop culture can only be admired, but can they still retain a level of relevance so many years down the line? With new album "Pollinator" they hope to spread their seed to a new generation...will they germinate?
It has to be said, punk rock as a movement was intuitive, free, and despite it's brash nature it was and always has been a sensible genre, speaking out against political corruption etc...and while musically in age Blondie have calmed down a bit, they remain sharp...and this album brings together a multitude of collaborative artists showcasing Blondie's willingness to evolve and stay fresh creatively after so many years, and what better way to kick off than with a song with JOAN JETT? "Doom Or Destiny" gets us underway with that classic, old-school new-wave punk vibe...it's incredibly nostalgic and the production has captured the vibe of the era perfectly; there's a simplicity to it that takes you back and the mere fact Jett is involved automatically doubles all credibility...it's a hell of a throwback and a good start to the record...
The album does continue to play well too, with "Long Time" being generally up-beat, again utilizing that classic Blondie sound; it's melodic and vibrant with a decent hook throughout resulting in some genuinely pleasant music, but it does feel like it drags towards the end, sometimes a songs only downfall is not knowing when to cut off, this is one of those songs, repetition not helping...but this album has more to offer; lead single "Fun" is a fantastically catchy disco-funk inspired track with infectious dance-along beats and it's incredibly, well, fun...this is more like it! Likewise with "Gravity" which was co-written by current pop-queen CHARLI XCX, experimenting with auto-tune and coupled with the soft-synth style it's a nod to today's production values but with a classic twist, while "Too Much" keeps the infectious synth-infused disco pop coming strong, and "My Monster" calls on the support of THE SMITHS guitarist Johnny Marr, bolstering the indie-rock qualities of the track.
No one is immune to duds however, as "Best Day Ever" couldn't be more contradictory in sound; mediocre at best and hampered by a poor vocal display, plus "When I Gave Up On You" with it's mellow acoustic country elements almost sounding out of place here, while "Already Naked" simply sounds like generic album filler...going by the evidence here it's clear Blondie can still deliver a tune or two but given the fact that they've relied on outside influence is disconcerting...yes it's good to see what's popular these days but at the same time it gives off the impression of lack of confidence creatively...there are some decent moments here but overall you can't help but feel there's not much gas left in the tank. Blondie might be pollinating but this could very well be their last good crop...harvest now while you can. [6]
It has to be said, punk rock as a movement was intuitive, free, and despite it's brash nature it was and always has been a sensible genre, speaking out against political corruption etc...and while musically in age Blondie have calmed down a bit, they remain sharp...and this album brings together a multitude of collaborative artists showcasing Blondie's willingness to evolve and stay fresh creatively after so many years, and what better way to kick off than with a song with JOAN JETT? "Doom Or Destiny" gets us underway with that classic, old-school new-wave punk vibe...it's incredibly nostalgic and the production has captured the vibe of the era perfectly; there's a simplicity to it that takes you back and the mere fact Jett is involved automatically doubles all credibility...it's a hell of a throwback and a good start to the record...
The album does continue to play well too, with "Long Time" being generally up-beat, again utilizing that classic Blondie sound; it's melodic and vibrant with a decent hook throughout resulting in some genuinely pleasant music, but it does feel like it drags towards the end, sometimes a songs only downfall is not knowing when to cut off, this is one of those songs, repetition not helping...but this album has more to offer; lead single "Fun" is a fantastically catchy disco-funk inspired track with infectious dance-along beats and it's incredibly, well, fun...this is more like it! Likewise with "Gravity" which was co-written by current pop-queen CHARLI XCX, experimenting with auto-tune and coupled with the soft-synth style it's a nod to today's production values but with a classic twist, while "Too Much" keeps the infectious synth-infused disco pop coming strong, and "My Monster" calls on the support of THE SMITHS guitarist Johnny Marr, bolstering the indie-rock qualities of the track.
No one is immune to duds however, as "Best Day Ever" couldn't be more contradictory in sound; mediocre at best and hampered by a poor vocal display, plus "When I Gave Up On You" with it's mellow acoustic country elements almost sounding out of place here, while "Already Naked" simply sounds like generic album filler...going by the evidence here it's clear Blondie can still deliver a tune or two but given the fact that they've relied on outside influence is disconcerting...yes it's good to see what's popular these days but at the same time it gives off the impression of lack of confidence creatively...there are some decent moments here but overall you can't help but feel there's not much gas left in the tank. Blondie might be pollinating but this could very well be their last good crop...harvest now while you can. [6]
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