The Bangles - Doll Revolution
(Down Kiddie)
The gals return on the original homegrown label that gave us their debut single ("Getting Out of Hand") over 20 years ago for another stab at that brass ring. Hell, if it worked for The Go Go's.... Only problem is, while they are infinitely more successful than their ugly stepsisters, they don't have the tunes to make you want to rush out and welcome them back. Oh, they try: the power pop with a snarly bite of Elvis Costello's title track seems less confrontational coming out of the mouths of babes, and the driving, harmonic pop of "Stealing Rosemary" ranks with their best, and the bouncy, calliope-laden carnival-like atmosphere on "Ride the Ride" may be singer Susannah Hoffs' best single track ever. But then the ballads take over and it's time for the welcome (back) committee to leave town. Ballads have always been the band's downfall (and, naturally, biggest sellers), so "Doll" plays it safe and ups the sugar quotient accordingly. We get a syrupy earful of coo-coo-ca-choo's on "Something That You Said" (it sounds like a Britney Spears' reject and is the weakest snoozer on here, so obviously it's the label's choice as debut single and will probably be a future million seller - you've been forewarned), drummer Debbi Peterson's limp ballad "Ask Me No Questions," the perfectly titled "Lost At Sea," and Hoffs' own "I Will Take Care of You" (which would have been perfect for Linda Ronstadt, ca. Heart Like A Wheel, but not on a power pop comeback album from a bunch of fortysomethings.)
Always a second-fiddle Jan to The Go Go's' "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia," The Bangles have always been adored by the record-buying public, but abhorred by the critics, who feel their cutesy pie, clean-cut, girl-next-door image is all fluff and no stuff. Not coincidentally, their hits have all come from outside sources (Billy Steinberg co-wrote "Eternal Flame," Liam Sternberg [Rachel Sweet's ex-manager/producer/songwriter—'nuff said!] wrote "Walk Like An Egyptian," Jules Shear was responsible for "If She Knew What She Wants," Prince penned "Manic Monday," and of course there's Paul Simon's "Hazy Shade of Winter"), so the tendency to view them as puppets going through the Britney, Spice Girls, etc., uh, interpretive motions overpowers their competent playing and sweet harmonizing. Ending with the impossibly silly, "Up With People" singalong, "Grateful," speaks volumes. These gals stepped in something and they may not want to wipe it off until the aroma settles.
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