Blondie "Panic Of Girls"

So here is a post by Ye Olde MadRocker of a record that hasn't hit the shelves (boy, is that outdated slang) in the United States.  I know, I know, I can hear you purists screaming "Don't be like all the other hacks out there, we like waiting months for your wisdom..."  It comes out here next week, but it was released digitally overseas at the end of May.  I bought it in early June (so technically, you have

been waiting nearly three months, purists).  It was physically released on July 4 in Europe and now we get it.  The record has been in the can since last year, and here is proof from an A&E program nearly a year ago...

Yep, that's sixty-something Debby Harry with Chris Stein and Clem Burke (ie. the old guys) playing live.  Loved one of the comments at the bottom of the video wanting to know who Debby's plastic surgeons were!  Granted, the studio cleans up some of the vocal mis-steps here, but all-in-all, there's no doubt it's Debby Harry singing, though the mix has her slightly treated and buried at times.  "Panic..." is eleven possible singles, most following the tried-and-true formulas of earlier smash hits that defined New Wave some thirty-odd years ago.  I guarantee you will say, "That sounds like 'The Tide Is High'," or "This reminds me of 'Heart Of Glass'," or something of the like on almost every track.  There are the songs sung in French and Spanish, just like the old days, too.  My two favorite tracks occur in the middle of the record.  #6 is "Love Doesn't Frighten Me", and for me, an obvious single, and track 7, "Words In My Mouth" made me think of Missing Persons for some reason and has a great line, "I've got an appetite for seduction."  Still got it, haven't you, DH?

"Panic Of Girls" doesn't break any new ground like the "No Exit" record from the end of the last century, but it certainly preaches to the massive worldwide choir, should any of them listen.  It hasn't burned up the European charts, but with a little support here, it may start the fire.  If you are ready for a good New Wave album in 2011, "Panic..." should be the one for you.