By: Blondie Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered Label: Capitol Number of Discs: 1 Release Date: September 11, 2001
Not Nearly As Bad As Some People Say!!! Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1UPHO8VCMP495 My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!! Blondie is one of one of my favorite bands and Deborah Harry is one of my fave singers/writers.
THe Hunter This album came out around my birthday in 1982. I was already a major Blondie fan (still am), so what could have been a better present? Took it out of the shrink wrap, put on on Orchid Club and just grooved on it. The album has been called a megabomb and an uderrated classic. It's both and neither. For Eyes Only captures Blondie at its most playful, Danceway at its most peppy,The Hunter gets Captured by the Game at its most sensual. English Boys, The Beast, War Child and Can I find the Right Words to Say. However, it also contains 2 of the worst songs ever. The Star Wars Dragonfly is just inane. But Little Caesar is the absolute worst. Debbie sounds like she was inhaling helium on this track.
An underappreciated gem! As all the other reviews have likely pointed out by now, The Hunter was Blondie's final album until their reunion in 1999 with No Exit. By 1982, the band was ready to call it quits, but they were contractually obligated to deliver another album. Many have said the band sounds "tired" here, and the songs aren't up to the standards established by masterworks like Eat to the Beat and Parallel Lines. Some even say this album is completely worthless. Well, as a hardcore Blondie fan, I have to respectfully disagree! The Hunter is full of great tunes just waiting to be discovered. Lyrically and rhythmically, many of these songs are among their very best. My favorite by far is "War Child". I especially love the extended version of this song included as a bonus track on the remastered edition. "Danceway" is a lot of fun, as well as the driving "Orchid Club" and the Bond theme that wasn't to be, "For Your Eyes Only" (I prefer this to Sheena Easton's sappy hit). "English Boys" and "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game" (a Marvelettes cover) are two of Blondie's best ballads, and even the second-tier songs like "The Beast" and "Island of Lost Souls" are very catchy. "Dragonfly", "Little Caesar", and "(Can I) Find the Right Words (To Say)" are perhaps the album's weakest, least memorable songs, but they are by no means bad. I don't believe there is such a thing as a bad Blondie song or album -- just don't expect something like Parallel Lines and you will probably enjoy it. Check it out!
Sad Mess Blondie as a band was over before this album was released. This album is nothing but the record companies last grasp at some dough from the fans of what was a great band. This mess should just be forgotten. It is an ugly stain on a their history.
Not their best, but it grows on you Yes, it has some songs that I consider "filler", but the bottom line is that the best songs (English Boys, War Child, Orchid Club, Island of Lost Souls, Danceway, For Your Eyes Only, The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game) are as good as any of the best ones on other Blondie albums.
I'd rate it about 75% great; 25% not so much.
In a way, Debbie does sound tired, and the band's playing seems less enthusiastic. The heyday was clearly over.
Still, I'd hate to have to do without the best songs.
In a way, the song English Boys is a perfect farewell: Debbie asks wistfully: "Does it feel the same to you?" as if to say (to all of us) that all good things must come to an end.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
