The Bangles have always been somewhat a paradox for me. They were known for soppy love songs and the track, “Eternal Flame,” is one of their best known. A little story here: I read an account that while on tour for this album, “Everything,” the band was accosted in the Netherlands by a female contingent of the LBGQT brigade because they wore short skirts and sang such love songs. The thing is and the album proves it, The Bangles could produce some cool new wave sounding rock. Take the opening track, “In Your Room,” for instance, it is a trippy new wave sounding song and here’s the big thing, it got into the top ten in the singles charts in several countries! Unfortunately, the song will forever be overshadowed, (not by me), by “Eternal Flame.”
Here’s another interesting point about the Bangles, while Susanna Hoffs sings lead vocals on the majority of the band’s singles, the lead vocals on the album are almost equally shared by all of the band. Bloggers have sung the praises of the likes of KISS and The Eagles for the all members of the band being able to sing lead vocals but surely, the Bangles should be included there as all four members have great voices.
One song which is totally different on the album is “Bell Jar.” Lead guitarist Vicki Peterson sings lead vocals on it and makes it her own. It has a new wave sound which reminds me of my all time favourite Bangles song, “The Hero Takes a Fall” from their first album. Vicki also plays mandolin on the song and it does go way out in some parts. Is it the hidden gem? Well almost, that honour goes to “Watching the Sky” which oddly enough, Vicki sings lead on that. This particular track is the closest they go to a total rock out.
Another track which showcases just how talented this band was is “Something to Believe In.” It is a near haunting ballad with some rather trippy piano work on it. Bassist Michelle Steele sings lead and her vocals bring a different but cool element to the song. “The Glitter Years” rocks pretty good and Vicki plays probably her best guitar solo on it. The closer, “Crash and Burn” is another interesting song and is definitely the song to end the album on a good note.
Track Listing:
- In Your Room
- Complicated Room
- Bell Jar
- Something to Believe In
- Eternal Flame
- Be With You
- Glitter Years
- I’ll Set You Free
- Watching the Sky
- Some Dreams Come True
- Make a Play for Her Now
- Waiting for You
- Crash and Burn
Susanna Hoffs- guitar, lead and backing vocals, perucussion
Vicki Peterson- lead guitar, lead and backing vocals, mandolin
Michelle Steele- bass, lead and backing vocals, percussion
Debbie Peterson- drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals
Additional Musicians:
Darryl Citizen- noise
Paulinho Da Costa- percussion
Bobby Donati- guitar on “Some Dreams Come True”
Vinnie Vincent- 12 string guitar on “Make a Play for Her Now”
Tommy Morgan- harmonica
Jim Snodgras- tabla
David Lindley- classical guitar, bouzouki, saz, dobro
John Phillip Shenale- keyboards
Walker Ingleheart- keyboards
David White- keyboards
“Everything” further strengthens my argument about not judging an album by one or a couple of songs. Back in 1988, the Bangles had a reputation for making soppy love songs because of “Eternal Flame,” which if I was to rate the songs from best to worst, would be very close to the bottom. This is a great album of some cool new wave rock and should be listened to as a whole.
Next post: Fairground Attraction- First of a Million Kisses
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