| Product: |
Doll Revolution - The Bangles |
| Date: |
23/09/03 (141 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: The Bangles are bang on target, A brilliant, brilliant, reunion album.
Disadvantages: None
The four-girl group from Los Angeles that was to become the Bangles started out in 1981 as 'The Bangs'. Over the course of the next six years they were responsible for two platinum rated albums ("Different Light" and "Everything") and a string of memorable hit singles (Manic Monday, Walk Like An Egyptian and Eternal Flame). The line up, all of whom shared the vocals, consisted of Susanna Hoffs (guitar), Michael Steele (bass guitar - previously lead singer with Joan Jett) and the sisters Debbie (drums) and Vicki Peterson (guitar). In the immediate post-punk era their brand of sharp, jangling, punchy rock rhythm was a breath of fresh air.
Back then, what red-blooded male could not resist a secret hankering after one (or all) of these rocking, raunchy beauties. It is probably predictable that their looks - and stage act - would overshadow the fact that they were all accomplished musicians and talented writers in their own right. It was also probably predictable that as success mounted the media lighted particularly on Susanna at the expense of the over members of the group. These internal pressures were such that the group collapsed in on itself and broke up within weeks of "Eternal Flame" reaching the Number 1 spot.
After they went their separate ways, Susanna pursued a solo career and released two albums - neither of which was a commercial success. (I do have a copy of the eponymous "Susanna Hoffs" album from 1996 which is a delightful testament to her artistry). Vicki Peterson joined the country folk group Continental Drifters penning songs and performing on three of their albums. Debbie joined a folk duo with Siobhan Maher (a one time BBC TV presenter) calling themselves Kindred Spirit. Michael Steele disappeared into a quiet life in California.
In 2000 there were the beginnings of a reunion and reconciliation between the girls. Susanna has been reported as saying: "Despite some of th
e more sensational things that you read in the press about us, there was always a certain magic when the four of us were in a room, just picking up our instruments and playing. I think with the passage and perspective of time, that's what comes through now." She and Michael were invited to record a demo of the theme music for a British TV programme. Written by Elvis Costello this became the title track of their new album. They have written and co-produced the whole album themselves and have also resurrected the name of their first album "Down Kiddie" as their record label.
DOLL REVOLUTION - THE ALBUM
The running order (and my assessment of each track out of five) is as follows.
*1. Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution) ***** 3:57
Written by Elvis Costello
Main Voice: SUSANNA
After a rather regal English voice declares that "One must tear off one's own head" Susanna launches into this fierce paced rocker. Her immediate and irresistible appeal must be that husky, little girl, come-to-bed voice surrounded by but not dominated by the wall of sound. There is more than a hint of the violent innocent about this one. The tune of the chorus is easy to pick up and once hooked you'll be tempted to put this track on repeat play. At times it suggests Helen Reddy's old song "Angie Baby".
"You can pull and pinch him 'til he cries and squeals
You can twist his body 'til it faces backwards. Plastic features.
You could make somebody a pretty little wife
But don't let anybody tell you how to live your life. Broken pieces."
Once this track gets its hooks into you it won't let go - beware!! Worth the price of the CD
*2. Stealing Rosemary ***** 3:32
Written by Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson & Susanna Hoffs
Main Voice: VICKI
This is a somewhat more a folksy influenced song backed with chiming gui
tars and an insistent drum and percussion line. Goes well with the Parsley, Sage and Thyme.
*3. Something That You Said ***** 4:34
Written by Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson & Charlotte Caffey
Main Voice: SUSANNA. This has also released as a single.
Here comes that sultry, slightly husky, wrap-you-around-my-little-finger, come hither voice again backed by the girls in effortless harmony. Susanna shows her full vocal range on this slower rock ballad with an almost flawless opus.
4. Ask Me No Questions ***** 3:26
Written by Debbi Peterson & Walker Igleheart
Main Voice: DEBBI (This was also recorded by Kindred Spirit in1995)
This is an attractive lilting love song. It?s interesting to compare this with a live Kindred Spirit version. Debbi's voice is very similar in tonal quality but the pace has been slowed down somewhat and the Bangles accompaniment has been toned up. Much the better for it.
5. The Rain Song *** 3:41
Written by Susan Cowsill & Vicki Peterson
Main Voice: VICKI (This song was also recorded by The Continental Drifters in 1999)
This is another cover version given the full Bangles treatment - and probably the more reminiscent of later releases from their first period. It is not a particularly memorable song but for the trivia collectors this was also covered by Hootie and the Blowfish.
6. Nickel Romeo ***** 4:57
Written by Michael Steele, Brian Ray & Steven LeGassick
Main Voice: MICHAEL
Michael sings her own medium paced rock ballad in her own seductive fashion. Tangle at your peril.
"Hey Sugar, I had that dream again
I saw you in your red crushed velvet suit
Rolling on my feather bed"
Now where did I put Mr Essex-man medallion? If you listen very carefully you might just hear her dog barking on the play-out track.
*7. Ride The Ride **** 4:48
Written by Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson
& Michael Steele
Main Voice: BANGLES
The girls all share the lead vocals here (they have done this o
n tracks before) with a rocking backing that could have come from the Moody Blues ("Ride My See-Saw" perhaps) or Status Quo.
8. I Will Take Care Of You ***** 3:50
Written by Susanna Hoffs & Dillon O'Brian
Main Voice: SUSANNA
Another breathy, little-girl-lost vocal from Susanna. The promise in the title is carries through into the sentiments of the song which moves from a gentle opening to a full blooded crescendo conclusion.
9. Here Right Now **** 3:24
Written by Debbi Peterson & Peter Rafelson
Main Voice: DEBBI
The guitar riffs, the insistent drum rhythm, the vocal refrains all blend into a strong reminder of the Bangles in their heyday.
10. Single By Choice **** 3:41
Written by Vicki Peterson
Main Voice: VICKI
Here we have a strong, pounding medium rocker with a wry lyric. There is a suggestion that this is a semi-autobiographical effort although if that is the case Vicki has gone back on her inclinations recently. This song was originally recorded by the Psycho Sisters in 2001.
"I know what you're thinkin', She can't be complete
'Til the right kind of man comes sweep her off her feet
Well I've been there before times four, times five
With the right kind of man barely made it out alive."
11. Lost At Sea **** 3:55
Written by Debbi Peterson & Susanna Hoffs
Main Voice: DEBBI
This is a romantic ballad - started by Debbi and joined in harmony by Susanna part way through - likening a foundering love relationship with the title.
12. Song For A Good Son **** 4:01
Written by Michael Steele
Main Voice: MICHAEL
A sad folk rocker this - a dead (by drowning) mother, a suicidal father, a son presumably wracked with guilt. This track has a very different feel to the usual Bangl
es sound.
13. Mixed Messages *** 3:19
Written by Vicki Peterson
Main Voice: VICKI (Also recorded by The Continental Drif
ters 1995)
This track was penned by Vicki for the eponymous Continental Drifters album of 1994. The pace here has been speeded up somewhat and 'bangle-ised'. Not one of the best on the album.
*14. Between The Two ***** 3:42
Written by Michael Steele & David White
Main Voice: MICHAEL
An old Bangles concert favourite which has been resurrected and given a storming studio treatment. It has a strikingly strident counterpoint between the drums and guitar.
15. Grateful **** 4:59
Written by Susanna Hoffs, Dan Schwartz & Bill Bottrell
Main Voice: SUSANNA
This is a gentle lullaby from Susanna. There are notes of guitars singing and "Here comes the sun" which has been suggested as a reference to George Harrison. A fitting fade-out track for the album.
The album cover features a pink and grey baby face. Inside the insert is a recent group portrait, album credits and a lit of titles. There are no words (but these are available on the website). It was recorded at Stately Bangle Manor, Los Angeles over the Winter of 2001/2
Again the insert bears the simple inscription "This is for George" which is suggested to be a testimony to George Harrison.
CONCLUSIONS
This is one serious hard biting rock album full of contrasts: delightful and varied vocal performances, glorious harmonies, the jangling accompaniment, some with driving rhythms, some deeper more reflective songs. This album shows the maturity of their years in the business, their writing skills and their performing arts. It will grab you from the opening of the stand-out title track to the final refrains of Grateful. The Bangles were ever a group to tear your eyes out and rip your ears off. I'm sure they will do it again - and this time they will probably con
trol their own destiny.
Welcome back, girls - it's great to have you back.
Playable sequences from five of the tracks (*) are available from the Bangles
official website (http://www.thebangles.com/media/media.asp)
DOLL REVOLUTION - The Bangles (2003) LIBERTY 7243 58151022 £11.99
Beware - the German release has copy protection. The UK and Japanese releases do not.
There is a Japanese Import release with additional bonus tracks for £27.99
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