Carlos
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Edited Sep 09, 2010, 13:36
Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 09, 2010, 13:32
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Autoamerican and The Hunter are two Blondie records that most people don't like. I don't quite like The Hunter, altough I also think it's not that bad.
But the thing is I LOVE Autoamerican. I don't really understand what's wrong in most people's ears with songs like Europa (amazing almost-epic almost-instrumental song), Live It Up, Here's Looking at You (cabaret-jazz feeling), Angels on The Balcony (one of Blondie's best songs,IMO), Go Through It, Do The Dark, Faces (Debbie's voice here is superb, so jazzy), T-Birds, Walk Like Me (strong song, like a shot into your head) and Follow Me (what a lovely way to end a record!!!). Autoamerican is the album of The Tide Is High and Rapture also. I supose the critics and part of the fans were not expecting a album like this one. They probably wanted another Eat To The Beat, but Blondie was in another mood, and they wanted to try new ways. The band was having inner problems as we know. But still I think Autoamerican is a historic and important record. I'm probably alone here, I know!
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Lawrence
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 09, 2010, 13:48
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The only one of those albums I have is the Hunter and I didn't think it was that bad.
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Hunter T Wolfe
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 09, 2010, 15:17
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must give those albums another listen. I know that I held off buying The Hunter till years after I had all the other Blondie albums, but that on finding a cheap copy and playing it I was pleasantly surprised. A lot better than its reputation suggested. I haven't played Autoamerican for ages, but I don't remember disliking it at all.
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sencha
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 09, 2010, 17:04
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The reason was that Rapture and The Tide is High were so completely effective it didn't create the demand for an album purchase or even make listening to the rest of the record an at home activity. You don't go looking for it, it's just there.
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Carlos
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 09, 2010, 18:51
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When the album was released The Tide Is High and Rapture were the ones I had to skip after a month or so of repeat listenings because I was a bit tired of them, altough they are superb "pop songs". I know those songs by heart, second by second and so I know the all record. I think it's a masterpiece.
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Gladwin
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 10, 2010, 09:59
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I love it, and agree that it deserves re-assessment.
Personally, I'm sad enough to own two different CD versions in order to get both sides of the Rapture/Live It Up 12" single, with Special Disco Mix extended versions that really are worth having.
Much of what I would say myself about the album is in the first post, so let me agree with everything, but particularly underline the assertion that Angels on the Balcony is one of the very best Blondie songs. Have a listen on YouTube, but don't form any judgment until you're more than 25 seconds in - the start is a bit odd!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8VEFzqSZMY
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Hunter T Wolfe
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 10, 2010, 14:56
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I dug out Autoamerican and stuck it on, and realised that the reason I haven't played it for ages isn't that it's poor, but because my copy is quite scratched and jumps throughout. Have just rectified that and bought another copy. It's a good album, although I can see why many were wrong-footed by it on its release- it's a long way from CBGBs, and is more like halfway between Studio 54 and Broadway. Showtunes and disco. Yep, Angel on the Balcony is a great song, but it could also sit easily on Abba's 'The Visitors.' Personally I think that Blondie were an amazing singles band- one of the best- who never quite made a consistently great album. Parallel Lines was the closest they came, I guess, but on Autoamerican they're trying to branch out and experiment more, and if it doesn't always come off I still respect them for trying.
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Carlos
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Edited Sep 10, 2010, 18:12
Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 10, 2010, 18:11
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I don't know Abbas's The Visitors, so I can't say a word about it. I can not agree with you when you say none of Blondie's albums are consistent. I totally disagree. The only I think it's not a consistent one is The Hunter. Mind that I'm not talking about Blondie's "ressurection". No Exit and The Curse of Blondie (especially this last) are a bit poor.
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Hunter T Wolfe
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Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 10, 2010, 19:02
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Fair enough, Carlos! Actually reading back my post it sounds like I'm being more critical than I meant to be. I like AutoAmerican. I like all Blondie's records. I do think all the albums contain a few patchy tracks as well as the moments of genius, though! But I appreciate that you disagree.
The Abba reference wasn't meant as a criticism, either- just an observation. Abba and Blondie aren't usually thought of together, but they're both great pop bands. And The Visitors is Abba's darkest record.
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Carlos
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Edited Sep 10, 2010, 19:11
Re: Blondie - the Autoamerican album
Sep 10, 2010, 19:11
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Thanks for your answers, dude. I've appreciate them, as always.
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