Search - Various Artists :: Platinum Girl: Tribute to Blondie

More good than bad

03/19/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was a big Blondie fan in the '80's, but bought this cd just to hear Tiffany sing Call Me. She was her usual awesome self, and was very faithful to the original. In any tribute album, many artists are going to improvise, sometimes for the better, sometimes worse. A few of these--The Tide is High, Sunday Girl, Dreaming--I felt were ruined. But there were several pleasant surprises. To me, Ex-Voto actually improved Accidents Never Happen, speeding it up a bit and going heavy on the drums. I prefer the female voice, but the male voices fit this song. Great job. I 'discovered' Cherie Currie on this CD. She sang For Your Eyes only and has an excellent voice. I also liked the Electric Hellfire Club's Rush Rush quite a bit. Mephisto Waltz did a good job with Hangin' on the Telephone; as did the Swing Cats w/ Christi Ellen Harris with I'm Gonna Love You Too."

Out of all the "Blondie Tributes" this is the ONE.

r-11217 | New York, NY | 12/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to agree with most people that the other 'Blondie Tribute' albums ("How Many Bands Does It Take to Screw up a Blondie Tribute" and the one with the Blondie postage stamp on the cover) sound like the same band doing all the songs. THIS ONE HOWEVER, has some interesting twists and turns on how the songs sound. I like the fact that they didn't just try to make the same version a la 'Blondie'. NO!, they did something different to the songs. "Shayla" was made upbeat. "For Your Eyes Only" was made downbeat. Both "Raptures" have an interesting twist. "Accidents Never Happen" is done a la 'Human League' with a guy and a girl vocal from that 80's sound. Then you also have your hard metal/electroclash renditions as well. "Sunday Girl" is dark and gothic. The only 'wart' on this album is Tiffinay's version of "Call Me". She sounds like she recorded it in the mall."

Better than expected!

M. Lewandowski | 04/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The problem with tribute albums arranged by a record label, is that too many of the artists aren't original fans and miss the point of the band and their songs. Thankfully there are not too many of those on here. The biggest offenders are two dire versions of Rapture, one of which removes half the rap, the other of which doesn't bother at all! And both are so slow they are painful to listen to. Sunday Girl and Dreaming also fail to capture any of the joy of the originals but most of the rest are better than expected - The Tide is High has been revved up, and seems to take more inspiration from the Remixed Remade Remodeled version than the original. The energetic versions of Call Me and Accidents Never Happen are excellent takes on the original. Rush Rush is a strange inclusion, but is great song done very well - the heavier, slightly sleazy electric guitar feel suits the song's drug theme well. Best track, though, is one that seems to deliberately and knowledgeably miss the point of the original - Berlin's Shayla. While the original was dreamlike and ethereal, this version is loud and in your face - it even has a rap. But it works - unlike the dumb Rapture takes, Berlin's reinterpretation retains enough of the original essense while making it their own song.As a major Blondie fan, I was wary of this release. But I've been pleasantly surprised - it's actually pretty enjoyable."