PARALLEL LINES - BLONDIE is by far their most popular album. And why not? It's a great one!
Blondie, for those of you who don't know, is one of the first bands to really push the punk/new wave movement back in the mid 70s. The mixed different styles like pop, disco, metal, rock, swing, big band and even rap in their albums. Since they mixed so many styles, they really defied any type of genre definition. Some called them punk, some rock, some disco, some pop. Their sound has been analyzed, they've even been a subject of VH1's BEHIND THE MUSIC. In the end though, Blondie varied their style because they wanted to, they did the music they wanted to do, and that's shown very well on this album's sound. They weren't about revolution, or changing the world or anything heavy. The liner notes of their first album put it best:
"Rock & Roll is the name of their game, but to give you, the listeners, more fun is the object of their fame. This album then may be just the thing you non-blondes have been waiting for, whether you like it or not (as it's only Rock & Roll)" - Ronnie Toast
When Parallel Lines came out, Blondie proved that they had real staying power (This being their 3rd album). Their single HEART OF GLASS flew up the charts, as did the entire album. Two other singles, HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE and ONE WAY OR ANOTHER both did well.
The album overall mixes punk, rock and even disco. Each song, even though veyr different from the one before it, flows easily into the next one, making the album go by fast. You'll find yourself singing along with a lot of the lyrics, penned with great thought to imagery and meaning. If you've ever seen the music videos for this album, you might even catch yourself dancing like Debbie Harry, in her own sultry way
I'd say this is an essential album to have, if you're a veteran Blondie fan or you've just discovered them. The mix of different styles and types of songs (From a pumping rock beat in ONE WAY OR ANOTHER to a slowed down, almost psychadelic sound in FADE AWAY AND RADIATE to the dance song HEART OF GLASS) makes this album one to have, and great to play almost any time. It's easy to listen to, it doesn't have to be "deep" or anything, it's just fun music. It's not going to get a "parental warning" sticker because it's not that kind of sound - Blondie is about having fun, and they really do it with this release.
