Unfortunately, 1988's Everything was the last thing released by the Bangles before the band called it quits. While a new disc is due out from the Bangles later this year (odd, but true!), Everything certainly marked the end of the band's prime. While this is a fine, enjoyable disc, some of the production and over-commercial elements just drive me up the wall.

Now, I realize the Bangles were packaged and marketed like a ton of other bands in the 1980s, but the honest-sounding emotions conveyed by the band on 1984's All Over the Place was pretty darn noteworthy. A lot of Everything sounds contrived, partially due to the almost perfect, bland-sounding production on the disc and partially because of the huge single, "Eternal Flame," which is just about the only thing people remember from the album these days.

The problem with "Eternal Flame" is that it's just not a Bangles song. That is to say, the Bangles' best stuff was guitar-based pop with a very 1960s feel to it. "Eternal Flame" sounds like one of a million mass-produced, artificial-sounding ballads that tend to show up and dominate the charts from time to time. Any band could have performed the orchestra-drenched, slow-paced track in 1988 and scored a hit with it. It doesn't sound like something from the Bangles at all, really.

Discounting "Eternal Flame," there are some darn good things about this disc. Another song that charted is "In Your Room," a rocker with some sitar-influenced guitar licks banged out by Vicki Peterson and all manner of sexual innuendo from vocalist Susanna Hoffs. The retro feel of the track makes it the type of thing Bangles fans had come to expect of the band.

Also, what the hell is up with the appearance of Dave Navarro (who went on to play guitar for Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Vinnie Vincent (who was a former guitarist for KISS at the time) on the disc? Vincent is given credit for writing "Make a Play for Her Now" with Vicki Peterson on the disc. Heck, he played 12-string guitar on it, too. Vincent's appearance on the disc seems a bit odd considering the Bangles were a pure pop band, but "Make a Play for Her Now" is actually a bouncing, slightly-dark track which just bounces along pleasantly.

As for Navaro's appearance, he got a songwriting credit on "I'll Set You Free," another pleasant, bouncing tune. Neither "Make a Play for Her Now" nor "I'll Set You Free" have the ragged edges one would expect from either Navarro or Vincent, but they are pleasant tracks.

Perhaps they're a bit too pleasant -- a trait common to every song on the album. The musicianship, production and recording quality is just too perfect and sounds too slick. Heck, some folks love mass-produced music which sounds machine-corrected, but the glossy production makes a lot of the emotions sound downright contrived. The Bangles, on All Over the Place at least sounded sincere, but the band members rarely do on Everything.

There are times, however, when the album sounds like the product of the earlier (and, arguably, better) Bangles. "In Your Room" is fantastic, as is "Glitter Years," a mid-tempo track on which bassist Michael Steele sounds like she truly misses her youth. "Watching the Sky" rocks along pretty damn hard for a Bangles song, as does "Bell Jar."

Some of the tracks here just aren't distinctive at all. "Make a Play for Her Now" and "I'll Set You Free" fall into that category, and the same is true of "Be With You" and "Waiting for You."

Still, the only real stinker on the disc is "Eternal Flame," which -- once again -- isn't a horrible song. It just doesn't sound like a Bangles song.

One thing very enjoyable about this disc is that all four of the Bangles get a turn at lead vocals, a job which had always been dominated by Susanna Hoffs. Furthermore, the harmonies are as compelling as ever.

This is far from a perfect Bangles album, but it's pleasant enough and has a good number of moments the listener will want to hear at least a few times. Besides, I'm almost certain this can be found for cheap, so why not pick it up?


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


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends