Search - Blondie :: Parallel Lines

A Landmark In The Pop Music Lexicon; Essential

Gary F. Taylor | Biloxi, MS USA | 05/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"BLONDIE kicked around for several years and released a couple of albums without developing more than a very localized New York following, where the band was generally considered a sort of punk-pop fusion--and then in the late 1970s came PARALLEL LINES, which vaulted them to a superstardom seldom seen even in the high profile music world. And listening to the recording today it is easy to understand why: absolutely everything about the album is perfect.As a whole, PARALLEL LINES manages to walk a fine line between several different musical styles. Most of the tracks have a bouncy, almost bubble-gum feel: catchy and memorable with driving rhythms. But the arrangements are anything but bubble-gum: they rely on a mix of synthesizers and traditional drums-bass-guitar in a way that essentially defines the entire "new wave" sound of the late 1970s. And the lyrics, often savage, frequently satircal, and always memorable, are edgy and witty and sharp and about as far from pop as one can get.All of that would have been enough to make a hit album--but BLONDIE also had the front singer to end all front singers: Debbie Harry, who mixed tough and sexy and pretty and naughty to tremendous effect--and whose full-throated voice actually contrived to SOUND blonde. Whether we're talking about the sleek, disco-like "Heart of Glass" or the punk-edged "Just Go Away" or the new wave "Fade Away and Radiate," the music here suits her unique voice perfectly--and the result is a truly flawless group of recordings that set the standard for the next decade. Blondie would do several more recordings before the band collapsed, and some of them would be very good--but PARALLEL LINES is IT, a landmark in the pop music lexicon. This remastered release, which includes a couple of live recordings for good measure, is an essential in any pop music library. Strongly recommended."

Vive la chanteuse blonde!

Kelly L. Norman | Plymouth, MI United States | 04/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Remember the line in "Men in Black" where Tommie Lee Jones tells Will Smith, "This means I have to buy a new copy of the White Album" after showing him a futuristic audio device? Well, I only have one version of the White Album, but I've bought PARALLEL LINES in every form it's been released. Not because I no longer have the equipment to listen to it, mind you, but because I wore them all out! My purchase of this CD was due to the grief I still felt for the cassette tape, which met a sorry end in my clock radio set. The remastered version does not disappoint. It takes you right back to 1978, when we found out that punk didn't just mean Johnny Rotten's verbal sputum or the political pessimism of the Clash. Punk could be Fun! Debbie Harry's versatile, clear-as-a-bell voice is the highlight, from the opening growl on "Hangin' on the Telephone" to the oozy sweetness of "Sunday Girl". It exudes mystery in "Fade Away & Radiate", utter desperation in "Will Anything Happen" and "11:59", and sarcastic poutiness in "Go Away" and "Pretty Baby" (an ode, by the way, to Brooke Shield's scandalous child character in the movie of the same name).The bonus tracks I can take or leave. I like the live version of "Hangin' on the Telephone", but "Once I had a Love" is a weak version of "Glass". The cover of Marc Bolan's "Bang a Gong" is an interesting element, since it brings the number of gender-bending songs to three (including "Baby" and "Sunday Girl"), but not an especial showcase for the band. Never mind, this is still at the top of my list of discs I would take to a desert island (along with the corresponding audio equipment!)."

BLONDIE'S FINEST HOUR

Ashley Blair | 02/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Parallel Lines is nothing less than a Masterpiece. Constantly ranked in the Top 100 best albums of all time, not to mention sellers of all time, some 21 million copies internationally by 2003. Blondie soared to superstar status not only on the music charts 1978-1979 with this album, but forever placed them as POP ICONS. Blondie are truly among rock music's elite. If ever there was a perfect POP/ROCK Album, Parallel Lines is it. In a time where 6 singles off 1 album was unheard of, Blondie did the unthinkable and rode the International charts. Deborah Harry is simply sweet as honey, on songs like "Pretty Baby" and "Sunday Girl" a UK #1 in 79. Although "Sunday Girl" was the 5th biggest sellling single in the UK in 1979, it was never released in the USA, but recieved a fair amount of FM airplay. Parallel Lines is not without it's edgy moments, as evident on songs like "11:59", "One way or another" and "Hanging on the Telephone", we see Deborah Harry singing with frantic release. The world would forever be changed with the release of the Mega Smash "Heart of Glass", without a doubt one of the 50 biggest rock songs of all time. The techno beat of "Heart of Glass" sold millions of copies worldwide, hit #1 in the US/UK/CAN and some 19 other countries. The number #2 song of the year in the UK, Heart of Glass is still as vibrant a song today, as it was in 1979, fresh and still ultra cool. The technobeat of "Heart of Glass" inspires Dance music even today. Parallel lines rode the charts for 2 years and was the #9 USA and #1 UK best selling album of the year in 1979. Parallel Lines was produced by legendary producer "Mike Chapman", who produced 3 other all time classics, all from 1979. Pat Benatar's "In the heat of the Night", The Knack's "Get the Knack" and another 1979 BLONDIE album "Eat to the Beat". Parallel lines is an outstanding album, full of intelligent and catchy lyrics, and great grooves. This album does not have a weak track on it, this is a consumers dream, full of value and rock history. Parallel lines is a Classic album in every sense."