The major-labor debut from the Bangles and the band's best disc (so far)

Cryptic title? It is? Is it really? Well, here's the thing -- evidently, the Bangles are set to release a brand new album later this year called Doll Revolution. That's good news for ol' Hawg, to be sure. I know it's due to be out by March 17 in about every blasted country in the world but the U.S., and there seems to be some confusion on when it will be released in the states. Some accounts put the release date on March 17, other folks say it will be out in the summer. Oh, well. It's coming and I'm going to buy it. Good enough for me.

Indeed, it damn near killed me when the band broke up after 1988's Everything, so I'm glad to see one of the biggest acts of the 1980s is gearing up to put out another album. Stop your laughing, junior. Folks don't have a whole lot to look forward to when they enter their early 30s and have a couple of kids, right? Well, there's always retirement in another 32 years or so. However, since it's still too early to get fitted for my "old man" jumpsuit (complete with the mysterious crest on the upper left-hand pocket), at least I guess I'll have to settle for a new Bangles album when it arrives in stores.

At any rate, 1984's All Over the Place stands as a great debut for the Bangles. While it's a true shame the band's label, Columbia, went with the "look! Them girls is purty!" approach to promotion rather than concentrating on talent, All Over the Place is a true pop gem which features harmonies, jangling guitars and vocal harmonies which are downright addictive.

While I realize a lot of folks regard the Bangles as a light-weight band, I figure those people are either big, stinky poop-heads (yeah, that's right -- poop-heads) or they've just missed the point. All the ladies in the Bangles ever wanted to be was a pop band with a lot of influences from the 1960s. To say the ladies hit their target with this album is an understatement.

The songs on All Over the Place, which were primarily written by guitarist Vicki Peterson, are nothing but fluffy, fun guitar-pop which hit the listener on an emotional level. Just check out "Dover Beach," for example. As if the shimmering harmonies aren't enough capture your attention, Susanna Hoffs' bittersweet vocals about a romantic relationship that just won't work out will pull you right into the song. Indeed, you, too, could be a Bangles fan!

Another highlight is "Goin' Down to Liverpool," a song written by Kimberly Rew (remember Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine?) The track just sounds like a cheerful, Byrds and Beatles-influenced number anchored by an up-front and simplistic guitar riff that's hard to resist. Yet another highlight is "Hero Takes a Fall" a tale about revenge which somehow manages to sound, well, cheerful. And, who could forget the orchestration-drenched "More than Meets the Eye?"

Now, there are some songs on here that, while not bad, are still filler. "Live" is kind of dud which starts off in a simple and repetitive manner than seems to go nowhere. It truly lasts forever and gets a bit irritating due to it's very repetitive nature. Also, "Restless" sounds so mock-tough that it's hard to stomach after a time.

Still, in spite of a couple of duds, this is a fantastic disc which has kept me interested in the Bangles for almost 19 years now. While the band went completely commercial on 1986's Different Light (bad keyboards, a song written by Prince and everything -- totally 80s sound on that one), All Over the Place gives the listener a pretty good idea about how truly talented the band was when its members just showed up in the studio and relied more on technique than glossy production. Buy it.


Want to read more about the Bangles? Check out my reviews on Doll Revolution, Greatest Hits, Everything and A Different Light. Enjoy!