Blondie - Pollinator
by Mary O'Meara
published: 3 / 7 / 2017
Label:
BMG
Format: CD
intro
Appealing new album from Blondie which includes songs written by Joan Jett, Sia, Johnny Marr and Blood Orange's Dev Hynes as well as some Chris Stein/Debbie Harry's own numbers
It's somehow very fitting that the new Blondie album 'Pollinator' germinated in and was given birth to at New York's famous SoHo recording studio The Magic Shop. Sadly the studio is no more and 'Pollinator' happened to be the last record made there. Legends including David Bowie (his final two albums were made there), Lou Reed and Foo Fighters favoured this space. Perhaps these esteemed acts left some fibre of their beings there as there's some kind of alchemy about 'Pollinator' - a feeling that a sort of communal vintage magic that belongs to no individual but works best synergically has laced the album. Therefore it's also fitting that almost each track is written by a different musicians including Charlie XCX and Sia, as well as artistes of the same era of Debbie Harry herself, such as Joan Jett and Laurie Anderson. I'm glad to report there are a couple of Chris Stein/Debbie Harry numbers all the same and Debbie also co-wrote current single 'Long Time' with Blood Orange's Dev Hynes. This and opening track 'Doom or Destiny' carry the classic Blondie sound. 'Long Time' stays in your head once you meet it, containing those familiar particles of buoyant Blondie/ New York DNA. A track like 'Fun' is the kind I thought nobody could write anymore - a perfect piece of dancefloor euphoria, it's as disco as 'Heart of Glass' but as hypnotic as 'Rapture' but completely different to either - an exploration of excess and compulsion but with that touch of melancholy and wisdom in which Harry concludes "Too much fun...isn't fun". The brooding 'My Monster' penned by Johnny Marr is a perfect marriage between himself and the band. It manages to sound like it could almost be lifted from Marr's last album 'Playland' yet in essence it carries the quientessential Blondie sound. Harry's delivery is perfect, the pauses, the ebb and flow of words assemble and merge into the music "Run/It's come/Gone/It got to ya/In your heart of darkness." There's one more track that stands out for me - the achingly beautiful 'Too Much' which keeps with the theme of excess, of overflow, of loving someone "just too damn much." 'Pollinator' offers a diverse yet unified blend of Blondie tracks that sit together remarkably well considering how many songwriters were involved. Fans will likely love it and anyone who has somehow not got acquainted with this 40 year old band could fall in love too. SoHo recording studio The Magic Shop was a favorite for acts like Lou Reed, Foo Fighters, and David Bowie. Magic Shop founder Steven Rosenthal’s year-long dispute with his landlord recently came to a head. With the backing of Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Rosenthal attempted to buy the property, but his bid was rejected by the co-op board of the building.
Track Listing:-
1 Doom or Destiny2 Long Time
3 Already Naked
4 Fun
5 My Monster
6 Best Day Ever
7 Gravity
8 When I Gave Up on You
9 Love Level
10 Too Much
11 Fragments
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/Blondie/http://www.blondie.net/
https://twitter.com/BlondieOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/user/BlondieVEVO
https://www.instagram.com/blondieofficial/
Label Links:-
https://www.bmg.com/uk/https://www.facebook.com/BMGRM
https://twitter.com/BMG
https://www.facebook.com/bmgchrysalisuk
https://twitter.com/bmguk
Have a Listen:-
profiles |
Chris Stein - Negative: Me, Blondie and the Advent of Punk, Somerset Hous (2015) |
Adrian Janes enjoys Blondie guitarist Chris Stein's evocative recent exhibition at Somerset House in London, which documents the 70's New York punk/new wave scene and his band's forty year career |
live reviews |
02 Apollo, Manchester, 11/11/2017 |
LIsa Torem watches groundbreaking NYC New Wave act Blondie combine recent and vintage material to dazzling effect at a sold-out show at the Apollo in Manchester. |
(With Garbage and X), Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, 7/7/2017 |
O2 Academy, Leicester, 19/8/2014 |
Blondie |
Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 19/7/2011 |
Barrowlands Glasgow November 19th 1998 |
favourite album |
Against the Odds 1974-1982 (2022) |
Nick Dent-Robinson examines a new box set from Blondie, which, as well as containing their first six albums, also includes many unreleased tracks. |
features |
Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2014) |
In our series, in which our writers write about ten songs that made them love a particular band or artist, Mary O'Meara reflects on her favourite Blondie songs |
soundcloud
reviews |
Vivir En La Habana (2021) |
Excellent new live album recorded in Cuba from Blondie who late in their career continue to push boundaries |
No Exit Plus 3 (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Kula Shaker - Natural MagickIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Inutili - A Love Supreme
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart