Customer Reviews

Walking in London

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I admit, of their first five albums, this is probably the weakest. But, their weakest is another bands best, right? The hit from this was "Someday?", but the title track and "Ghost Of A Texas Ladies' Man" are pretty strong too. I also like "A Long Time Ago" and "I Wanna Be Your Friend Again", and "Coeurs Jumeaux" is a beautiful song done in French. Plus it ends with a "James Brown" cover. So, although this might not be the best pick for newcomers, it's essential to the fanatic, and overall pretty good.

If there was ever a low point in Concrete Blonde's five-album career, WALKING IN LONDON would have to be it. After the success from the strong BLOODLETTING, you could say that almost anything would have disappointed--but WALKING IN LONDON suffers strictly on its own merits.

That's not to say that there aren't good songs on it; "Someday?" and "Walking in London" could have easily fit in on any other album, and "Long Time Ago"'s whimsical style is a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn't live up to this.

"Ghost of a Texas Ladies' Man" grows musically tiresome by the second chorus (despite some witty lyrics), "Les Coeurs Jumeaux" seems to stretch on into oblivion, and "I Wanna Be Your Friend Again" is easily the most annoying song Concrete Blonde ever recorded.

There's a lot of brilliant Concrete Blonde material out there, which makes WALKING IN LONDON all the more frustrating. The fact that bandleader Johnette Napolitano was already talking about the upcoming MEXICAN MOON when this album was released (their last original album for IRS) really says it all.

Do make sure to buy the other albums (CONCRETE BLONDE, FREE, BLOODLETTING, MEXICAN MOON, and the b-sides compilation STILL IN HOLLYWOOD), and eventually you'll want to add this to your collection; if you do so, save this one for last.

This album finally shows the writing talent of Johnette. A well done and creative CD that is enjoyable to listen too. I rate this as an eight out of ten.

but a few "filler" songs keep this from being a 5-star album. Definitely worth the purchase, as better than Mexican Moon.

Concrete Blonde's "Walking In London" #73, to me is their last great album. Johnette, James and Harry put it all together here, after their masterpiece in 1990's "Bloodletting". The album starts off with the modern-twang of "Ghost Of A Texas Ladies Man" #2 mainstream rock, followed by the haunting title track. "Les Coeurs Jumeaux", with Bernadette Colomine doing the French monologue and James' sterling guitar. The hard hitting "Woman To Woman", "Why Don't You See Me", a solid number, the frantic "City Screaming", to which my dogs bark every time the car horns go off on this track, good lyrics. A song that was a modern rock hit "Someday?" #8, should of hit the top 40 also. "I Wanna Be Your Friend Again", shows Johnette rapping with a great musicial backbeat, "Long Time Ago", a simple strolling pop song with Jeff Trott from Wire Train helping out. And then they finish with the James Brown classic "It's A Man's World", Johnette's vocals give this song it's balls! They never reached this high again ," Mexican Moon" ***1/2, "Y/Los Illegals **1/2, "Group Therapy" *** and "Mojave" *** 1/2.

People! I bought "Bloodletting" on its release and was sorely disappointed, wondering WHAT all the buzz was about. I wanted to let my own blood, if you will. Of course, the bland songs blinded me to the astonishing vox of Napolitano; what an idiot I was.

BUT!!!! "Walking in London" rocks from the two openers to the Godfather of Soul's cover. And "I Wanna Be Your Friend Again" is most assuredly NOT annoying, unless you don't like hot rhythmic vamps to tap your patootie to. By comparison, "Mexican Moon", a fine album in its own write (sic), is a thin sibling.

This platter is in my changer all the time.

CONCRETE BLONDE IS ONE OF MY TOP 10 GROUPS OF ALL-TIME,AND THAT GOES BACK 30 YEARS. THIS DISC SHOW'S GREAT STYLE IN ALL SORTS OF MUSICAL GENRE'S. THE SPANISH SOUNDING "LES COEURS JUMEAUX",THE BALLAD"A LONG TIME AGO", JAMES BROWN'S "IT'S A MAN'S MAN'S MAN'S WORLD", AND THE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BIG HIT'S "GHOST OF A TEXAS LADIES' MAN", "SOMEDAY", AND THE TITLE TRACK. JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO IS ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE VOCALIST OUT THERE, TO BAD ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER.

I was A BIT LEARY of this relaese after what Tom
Petersson was forced to by his ex- in the horrific
"Tom Petersson and Another Language" (sold exactly
323 copies of the 10,000 pressed - vinyl only, in
'84), but I like it better that C.B.'s last one.

By the way, Trick fans - Tom still lives in L.A.,
the home of my beloved L.A. Clippers! Good Effort
here. Tom did well on the Bass here - then why'd
he do so mediocorely on Woke Up With A Monster?