BLONDIE: PANIC OF GIRLS
Eight years since their last release, Blondie's ninth studio album is effectively a third-act comeback in a rock soap opera spanning almost four decades. Delayed by line-up changes and label problems, Panic Of Girls is a self-released affair sumptuously packaged in strikingly surreal sleeve artwork by Chris Berens. Creative credits are mostly shared between singer Debbie Harry, newer recruits and outside songwriters, making co-founder Chris Stein a minority contributor. The result is a scrambled mix of moods and styles, lacking focus at times. But Panic Of Girls is also clearly the work of seasoned elder statesmen, and arguably Blondie's most musically diverse and emotionally mature album to date. No longer punk-pop pups, Harry and Stein are acting their age. Hence any new wave purists expecting classic powerpop anthems might be disappointed.
Tracklist:
1.D-Day 2.What I Heard 3.Mother 4.The End, The End 5.Girlie Girlie 6.Love Doesn't Frighten Me 7.Words In My Mouth 8.Sunday Smile 9.Wipe Off My Sweat 10.Le Bleu 11.China Shoes
Lineup:
Debbie Harry - vocals, Chris Stein - guitar, Clem Burke - drums, Leigh Foxx - bass guitar, Matt Katz-Bohen - keyboards, programming, guitar on "What I Heard", Tommy Kessler - guitar on "Mother" and "The End The End", Paul Carbonara - guitar. Additional musicians: Elliot Easton - guitar on "Love Doesn't Frighten Me", Zach Condon - trumpet on "Sunday Smile", "Wipe Off My Sweat" and "Le Bleu", Lauren Katz-Bohen - backing vocals on "Love Doesn't Frighten Me", Professor Louie - accordion on "Le Bleu"