Debbie Harry - Rockbird (1986) Japanese Press

×

Debbie Harry - Rockbird (1986) Japanese Press

Close

By this time it was long official: Blondie was on…shall we say semi permanent hiatus after the commercial failure of their album The Hunter. It was probably exactly the right time. Debbie herself had already released the excellent and funky Chic produced solo recording Koo Koo a year before hand anyway. So time had come for her to get on with her solo career. Actually seen this album around a lot. Heard some things about it that led me to believe that it was a little on the weak side. But everyone has their own opinion right? Following her first solo recording and latter work with Blondie,Debbie was branching out of the new wave rock sound and into interests in funk,dance and even jazz. What direction would her solo career continue to take? Where would it go? Well this is Debbie Harry and the best one can do with her is join her on her wild musical rides.

One thing this is not is a rock album. In fact guitars play a very minimal part in this music. In fact only the bubblegum pop sounding "I Want You" and the title song have much to do with rock n roll or Blondie's sound at all. And they are pretty good little pop tunes actually. And quite inventive. "French Kissin" is a strong highlight,with kind of a stop/start jazzy pop rhythm and a very intricate melody. The jumpy "Buckle Up","You Got Me In Trouble","In Love With Love" and "Secret Life" are all equally excellent songs,taking a somewhat quirky and almost Prince-like approaching of fusing 80's dance revival with elements of new wave rock. Nothing Minneapolis here though-even those songs come from a very New York state of mind. "Free To Fall" is the one slow song here. Rather a heartland pop/rock type number with a great melody and some insightful lyrics. The final track is my own favorite. In keeping with Duran Duran of the time,"Beyond The Limit" has some powerful bass/guitar interaction and is deeply in the groove. It's a strong continuation of the sound of her debut.

Overall this is a wonderful album. Not a bad track to be heard from this vantage point. It's filled with melodic peppiness,superb instrumental arrangements and song craft. Not only that but Debbie and her band,including the sympathetic Uptown Horns actually craft a sound that's soulful,funky and dance worthy for the era. This s a good example of how even 80's haters would have to admit music did indeed become more powerful from the mid to end of that decade. People such as Debbie Harry on this album had managed to find a way in which to use a combination of electronic and standard instruments to focus attention on the songs and the music rather than the sound of them. So the grooves are tough,the melodic ideas are sharp as could be and even the rhythmic combinations used are very inventive. People such as myself who heard this album was a generic throwaway and was "extremely corporate" (one never knows what genuine phrase will become tomorrows buzz words,do we>),they would be well advised to give this album a chance. There's nothing but good music to be found here.

Review by Andre S. Grindle, Amazon.com

×

Debbie Harry - Rockbird (1986) Japanese Press

Close

×

Debbie Harry - Rockbird (1986) Japanese Press

Close