Curse of Blondie [Import]

Blondie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 9, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sbme Import
• ASIN: B0000B00IO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,388 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Shakedown

2. Good Boys

3. Undone

4. Golden Rod

5. Rules for Living

6. Background Melody (The Only One)

7. Magic (Asadoya Yunta)

8. End to End

9. Hello Joe

10. The Tingler

11. Last One in the World

12. Diamond Bridge

13. Desire Brings Me Back

14. Songs of Love (For Richard)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Blondie’s second post-reunion album rivals their eclectic string of ’70s and ’80s hits for daring. The Curse of Blondie opens with Debbie Harry declaiming like a cross between Detroit’s Eminem and Jersey’s Patti Smith and closes with "Desire Brings Me Back" and "Songs of Love," two left turns that recall her occasional turns as an art-song chanteuse with the likes of the Jazz Passengers. As those suggest, little here sounds like nostalgia. Sure, some tracks recall Blondie’s Eurodisco classics, but the blend of machine-tooled grooves and layered guitars on "Good Boys" would make youngsters like Basement Jaxx proud. And other echoes of the vintage sound are given similar new life; for instance, you might mistake the angelic girl-group stylings of "Background Melody (The Only One)" and "Last One in the World" for outtakes from the Blondie of ’78. More a reason, to be sure, for cheers than curses. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

* The Curse of Blondie is the band's eighth studio album and eleventh album including "best of" and live discs.

* Enhanced with video for the first single, "Good Boys," directed by Jonas Ackerlund (Madonna’s "Ray Of Light" and "Music," The Cardigans "My Favorite Game"). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Curse" strikes hard, April 6, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Curse of Blondie (Audio CD)

If there's a curse on reformed punk band Blondie, then their second reunion album sure doesn't suffer from it. "Curse of Blondie" manages the unique quality that most reunion albums lack: It makes us think of their older stuff, while still having fresh, new material.

"Curse" opens on a shaky note, with Harry attempting again to rap in the vaguely sexy "Shakedown." It's not bad, merely silly. Then Blondie gets its footing again with irresistable new wave dance rock (the cool, smooth "Good Boys," "Golden Rod"), a bit of jazzy pop (the sensual closers to the album, "Desire Brings Me Back" and "Songs of Love") and solid ballads ("Magic (Asadoya Yunta) "). A particular high point is "Hello Joe," an ode to Joey Ramone ("I know the sight and sound of you/won't be erased").

When older bands get back together, usually they just play their older songs, or new ones that nobody likes. Blondie kicks that tradition on its head. This collection of songs has that old New York spirit of the 70s. It has the right amount of color and cool, while also being more cohesive than the first comeback album, "No Exit."

Rough basslines, strong guitar and quirky lyrics are what really rule this album. "Curse of Blondie" is blessed with unique lyrics like "We lit up fireflies/we kissed on New Year's Night/We changed the century," and a bunch of stuff like magnetic seas, sparks, insane gods and "I feel your pull like the moon." Time hasn't really changed Harry's voice -- still throaty, still flexible. But now her voice has a new maturity and assurance, tinged with humor.

It has the spirit of older Blondie material, and the polish of a veteran band who still has what counts. Whatever the "Curse of Blondie" is, it doesn't appear to have hit the second comeback album. Vivid, sharp and very together.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Curse Has Been Lifted. 10 Stars Best CD of the Year!, September 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Curse of Blondie (Audio CD)

After listening to this cd about 20 times all the way through. Here is my review. "Shakedown" A Rap that would rival Eminem. Debbie Harry and Blondie are Rap Pioneers, having the first ever #1 Rap Song. They are still leaders on this NJ Rap. "Good Boys" first single geared especially for radio. Best mix is D:Bop Mix if you can get your hands on it. "Undone" Very classic and playful Blondie, cute lyrics, and over the top guitar pop. "Goldenrod" hard rocker for that group of their fans. They will not be disappointed, what a flower. "Rules for Living" is the best written song Blondie has ever done. Rivals the songwriting talents of Lennon and McCartney. Best Song On CD. "Magic" is a lovely salute to a Japanese Folk Song. Could be a sleeper Smash, as it reminds me of Enya. End to End is in my opinion the most radio friendly song, and my 2nd favorite, and very Blondie. Sort of like putting the end to the end of the end, as Blondie will go on and on. "Diamond Bridge" is a great coming of age song. Harry, now 58, still beautiful and enduring as ever. "Last One In The World" is another great moderate rocker. "The Tingler" is a spoof of the 1959 Horror Movie of the same name, starring Vincent Price. One gets the feeling she is talking about the movie, the vibrator and a microphone all in one song. "Hello Joe" is a great pop song in tribute to Joey Ramone. These are just some highlights. Lots of Jazz towards the end as well, as a nod to "The Jazz Passengers," in which Debbie moonlights. An excellent CD, and I hope it sells by the truckloads, as it really deserves to. Hope to see them at the AMAs and Grammys next year as well. A++++++++++++++++

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MASTERPIECE!, April 13, 2004

By 

Todd A. Johnson "music fiend" (Lakeland, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Curse of Blondie (Audio CD)

If you are either a die-hard fan, or just a casual listener, you should have this album. It's a masterpiece! It perfectly balances the commercial side of PARALLEL LINES and the experimental side of EAT TO THE BEAT into their best album ever!
The first single "Good Boys" takes the dance trend that started with "Heart Of Glass" and shows that before Kylie, there was Blondie. It's an earworm that will infect your head and demand replay to soothe the itch.
And if you are wondering what inspired the current wave of Pop-punk, you need look no further than "Undone". It has the macho guitar growl of Good Charlotte, and the lyrical fun of Blink 182. This is not them stealing from today's artists. Blondie has always been eclectic, mixing serious straight-ahead rock and dance with a silly playfulness that clearly reflects their days of working along side The Ramones and Talking Heads back in the days of CBGB's.
Also harking back to their darkside on PLASTIC LETTERS, is "The Last One In The World". After hearing this song, you'll understand why both Shirley Manson of Garbage and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit express their gratitude for Blondie's influence.
Jimmy Destri again proves that 'Blondie is a group' by providing the incredibly touching ballad "Rules For Living", a song about love that never dies.
They also remind us that no other band truly loves music as much as they do; embracing Jazz ("Desire Brings Me Back"), Rap ("Shakedown"), and now Japanese Folk music ("Magic(Asadoya Yunta)"). Truly, Blondie are the best thing that ever happened to Rock-n-Roll, and with this album, might just have made themselves the best thing that ever happened to music, period.