Review by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
No rating supplied
This was to be last in a long run of Blondie albums (they reunited
again in 1999 briefly). "Hunter" was a typically uninspired obligatory
album for the label. There was very little energy, inspiration, and
creativity left by the time they made this album. You could even hear
it in Deborah Harry's voice, it seemed like they all just wanted to
get the session over with and move on. That is exactly what they all
did once this was done. Harry had some wind knocked out of her sails
by the failure of her solo album "KooKoo." That disappointment, mood,
and energy was carried over into the sessions. The group continued
their downhill slide that had kicked in on the previous album "Autoamerican,"
which was a much better recording by far, but the attitudes were there
and the doom was festering.
I have enjoyed covering this Blondie remastered collection so much
that doesn't feel right not rant and rave about something. I have
always had some positive to offer with every album regardless of my
feelings and opinions. There wasn't a song on this album worth discussing…it
was a total bomb. Once again Mike Chapman was brutally honest about
what was going on in the Blondie camp at the time he was producing.
He was so straightforward with his dialogue that set the mood before
you even listened to the music. Perhaps that was a mistake on my behalf
to read the liner notes but I always do. Blondie had a chance at some
premium exposure by submitting their song 'For Your Eyes Only' for
the James Bond flick of the same name and it was rejected, and rightfully
so, it was dreadful. They were finished and everyone knew it, especially them.
My thoughts on what Blondie albums to add to your collection if you
are a minimalist are "Blondie" and "Parallel Lines"; the rest of them
can wait. If you are like me and have to complete the set then make
one trip to get the first five albums and skip this one.
1. Orchid Club (Harrison/Harry) - 5:44
2. Island of Lost Souls (Harry/Stein) - 4:42
3. Dragonfly (Harry/Stein) - 6:01
4. For Your Eyes Only (Harry/Stein) - 3:07
5. The Beast (Harry/Stein) - 4:54
6. War Child (Harrison/Harry) - 4:00
7. Little Caesar (Harry/Stein) - 3:01
8. Danceway (Destri) - 3:18
9. (Can I) Find the Right Words (To Say) (Destri/Harry) - 3:07
10. English Boys (Harry/Stein) - 3:49
11. The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game (Robinson) - 3:45
12. War Child (Extended Version) (Harrison/Harry) - 7:58
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