I'm not exactly sure why I like the Bangles as much as I do. One of their biggest hits (i.e. "Eternal Flame" from 1988's Everything) drives me absolutely nuts and the band's sound often suffered from slick production full of techniques that, thank goodness, never made it out of the 1980s. Still, the band always managed to put together enough hook-laden pop masterpieces to keep things interesting. Besides, the "paisley underground" movement from which the Bangles emerged were directly influenced by the jangling guitars and close harmonies of great bands such as the Beatles -- that's always a good thing.

Oh, and the members of the all-girl Bangles (Susanna Hoffs, Vicki and Debbi Peterson, and Michael Steele) are damned attractive. That never hurts things, either.

At any rate, I still remember being flat out crushed when the Bangles broke up in 1989. So, when I heard the Bangles were working on a new album, I was thrilled to hear it. Naturally, I also had my doubts as the Bangles were clearly a product of the 1980s and I wondered if the band wouldn't sound out of place with a new album in 2003.

I shouldn't have worried, really. Doll Revolution is a fine album which sounds like it could have been released in the 1980s. While that will undoubtedly put off plenty of listeners, we 30-something types who were teens in the 1980s and enjoyed the Bangles will find plenty of good stuff on Doll Revolution.

Fortunately, the Bangles didn't follow the troubled route of updating their sound in an attempt to appeal to a younger audience. The Bangles, on this disc, simply concentrated on what they did best -- smooth rockers with plenty of harmonies and jangling guitars tempered with a bit of distortion here and there. There are 15 tracks on the disc, and all but one of them is a keeper -- "I Will Take Care of You" is a sappy, bland little ballad which, like the aforementioned "Eternal Flames," is teeth-grittingly annoying.

Still, that leaves us with 14 tracks to enjoy, and the Bangles sound like they had fun, fun, fun while recording this one. The disc starts out with Elvis Costello's "Tear off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)" which is a no-nonsense rocker which is a bit more jagged and rebellious than the Bangles' typical fare. Frankly, the album's opening track is perfect as it sets the tone for the entire disc -- plucky, guitar-based rock pretty well from start to finish.

The first single from the disc, "Something that You Said," shows up as the third track on the album and is what fans of the Bangles should expect. It's a slick, hook-filled number held together with lush vocals and a soaring chorus. While it doesn't grab the listener quite as quick as, say, "Manic Monday" (possibly the biggest hit in the band's history), it relies heavily on the same kind of laid-back, breezy charm.

While I won't dwell on the virtues of all the songs on the disc, I can't resist pointing out such highlights such as the churning guitars, fast pace and great harmonies of "Ride the Ride." Also, the orchestral bit in "Nickel Romeo" sounds like it was stolen directly from the Beatles, but adds a nice touch to both the song and the entire disc. And, then there's "Between the Two," another "meat and potatoes" rocker that pretty well represents the Bangles in top form and going through an up-tempo track that's just downright enjoyable.

To sum it all up, this is an album that will likely be welcomed by long-time fans of the band. However, I doubt it will gain many new fans for the Bangles, and that's too bad. Clearly, the Bangles never had the "street credibility" that attracts critics, and the Bangles' probably won't be embraced by pop fans, either. Sure, the Bangles still sound a lot like they did in the 1980s, but top-40 radio will probably pass on them in favor of the latest boy band or barely-legal tart armed with a drum machine and idiotic lyrics. In other words, the Bangles have produced a fine album, but the market has changed on them. That's too bad.

To make things worse, the distribution on this disc seems to be horrible. When's the release date? I have no idea. Evidently, it's available about anywhere but the United States right now, although a U.S. version is scheduled for release next month. I finally said, "to hell with this" after waiting for the disc to be released in the U.S. and settled for an import.

Part of the distribution trouble, I think, has to do with Koch Records. The label, evidently, doesn't think much of the album's chance for success as the release date has been pushed back a few times this year and it doesn't appear the disc will be promoted much at all.

Still, the Bangles sold millions of albums in the 1980s, so I'm sure there are still some folks who'll be more than happy to pick up a new disc. Was it worth the wait? Indeed, it is. This is a very solid album, and the band is as good on this one as it ever was.


What? You just can't get enough of the Bangles? Read some of my earlier reviews, then! Check out reviews on 1984's All Over the Place, the fair-to-middling A Different Light from 1986, the very enjoyable Everything from 1988 or 1990's incredible Greatest Hits.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: At Work