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 (1979) was a step down compared to Parallel Lines (1978), this is another (big) step down. 1980 was a difficult year for many artists in that 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 in the new decade, and Blondie here proves unable to show any direction. The album only contains one fine composition. The album contains a vast variety of genres and styles making it the most unclear album by the band. Generally, it's more laid back with 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 2 'cause it's basically a 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 countries.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 1 / 5 stars ]
