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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bangles' greatest burns that eternal flame, November 27, 2003
Me not getting this album until now is like a Gen X-er not seeing Grease until the 1998 reissue. Wait, that was me too. Never mind. Anyway, having had all three of the Bangles albums, the Less Than Zero soundtrack, and both of Susanna Hoffs' studio albums, and me being aware that yeah, there were two new songs on there, I figured why bother, I wasn't missing much.That changed when I chose it for an instore play during a late shift at work and I was impressed with those new songs. In looking at the album, the songs are in order of release date. All Over The Place (1984) is under-represented with the two rockers "Hero Takes A Fall" and "Going Down To Liverpool." On the first, Susannah lashes out at an ex-lover, while on the second, giving a nod to their influences, the Beatles, Debbi avers that she's "going down to Liverpool and do nothing all the days of my life" Then comes five songs from Different Light (1985), the album that broke them wide open. The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" sure beats the old Garfield refrain of hating Mondays, as it incorporates the rush to get to work on time or else not get paid, the Byrdsy "Tambourine Man"-like rhythms of "If She Knew What She Wants", and the wacky dance tune "Walk Like An Egyptian" are so memorable to me. The poppy "Walking Down Your Street" is the single version featuring different vocals in the beginning and deserved a Top 5 rating at least. The haunting guitar-only "Following", sung by bassist Michael Steele proves she is a vocal force to be reckoned with. With Everything (1988), the Bangles began to write their own material. Before that, they hit the Top 5 with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade Of Winter," which outdoes the original with its fierce guitar and drum attack. All the Bangles sing in unison here, and the haunting lines "Seasons change with the scenery/weaving time in a tapestry/won't you stop and remember me" give an enchanting feel to it. The psychedelic sounds of the frantic "In Your Room" has a Tommy James-type beat, a la Mony Mony, and incorporates weird strings, organs, and distorted Indian sounds. Yes, the sixties are back. Then comes the lush torch ballad that has been redone by Atomic Kitten. Sorry, but the original of the #1 "Eternal Flame" burns twice as bright and more eternally than the remake, sung as it is by the one and only Susanna Hoffs, with some angelic chorals by the remaining Bangles. The upbeat "Be With You" failed to break the Top Ten, as did the mid-paced sad number "I'll Set You Free," which has an a capella beginning, echoing vocals, and Indian sounds instead of the usual guitar of the original version. Now the new songs. The engaging guitar rocker "Everything I Wanted" could've been a big hit, as it features Susanna on vocals and is classic Bangles instead of the matured songs from Everything. Finally, there's their cover of the Grass Roots' "Where Were You When I Needed You", sung again by Susanna, with sweet harmonies by the others, and which was the B-side of "Hero Takes A Fall." Dipping back into the Sixties was so fun for them, as they were heavily influenced by that music. Mondays won't be manic, I'll always be in my room, walking like an Egyptian, and I'll be listening to a CD whose flame will burn eternally.
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by The Bangles 
