Considering the last new material Debbie Harry released I wasn't even remotely excited for this album and well maybe that's why I don't completely dismiss it as crud. The punk/new wave opening cut "D-Day" has a quirkiness to it that makes it somewhat enjoyable. What the hell a second song that doesn't suck! Hmm, maybe this might be a return of sorts for the name of Blondie. "What I Heard" is a decent pop song that you'd even find on say a Miley Cyrus or Selina Gemez or even Kelly Clarkson record where they do that odd ball nod to the 80's track. Funny part is the song after a couple of listens sounds even better and earned it a place on my I-pod which I am very picky with selecting songs to be apart.
As the album continues along I'm beginning to smile because its becoming a modern day come back while being as true to the original sound of the band as possible this far past Blondie's heyday. The band pull out the reggae timing for "The End, The End" which stretches to their last real hit "The Tied Is High" for inspiration. The song actually works really well and I would listen to it again for sure. The real sugar comes in on track six "Love Doesn't Frighten Me" where Debbie Harry sounds like we all expect and the songs production is flat-out perfect. Her voice shows some of its again on this song but nothing overtly bothersome. I'd love to hear this song get some airplay because its deserving.
The album has thirteen tracks and I would consider that long but overall it plays well. It could have ended somewhere around nine tracks which would have been more than enough for even the most devoted Blondie fan. The last really good song is "Horizontal Twist" which has some more of the classic era sound. I don't really enjoy the reggae styled stuff as much on the album but others might as they aren't terrible songs. A surprising comeback for Blondie but nothing that will make them a household name again.
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