release date: Nov. 1980
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,86]
producer: Mike Chapman
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 4. "The Tide Is High" - 5. "Angels on the Balcony" - 8. "Rapture" - 11. "Walk Like Me"
5th studio album by Blondie is the third consecutive album produced by Mike Chapman. Like its predecessor Eat to the Beat (Oct. 1979) was received as a step down compared to Parallel Lines (1978), this one marks another (big) step down. 1980 was a difficult year for many artists in the respect that no one had the slightest idea of what direction new music styles like punk rock, post-punk, and new wave would take music to in the new decade, and Blondie here proves unable to show any direction whatsoever. Autoamerican only contains one fine composition, and even that has divided fans. The album contains a vast variety of genres and styles making it the most unclear album to date by this band. Generally, it feels more laid-back with its inclusion of jazz pop, reggae, and funk-inspired music, tracks inspired by pop standards, as well as bits of new wave. I never really liked the album, and I'm closer at handing it 2,5 and sometimes even just 2 'cause it's basically one big mess. Still, the album made it to number #3 on the UK album charts list, number #7 in the US, and the single "The Tide Is High" secured the band another top of the charts hit single in both the UK and the US as well as in a number of other countries. The relative success may be with thanks to their fine predecessors, and simply because people purchased the album without listening to it.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 1 / 5 stars ]
