Best Of The Front Line Years, The - Tappa Zukie

Advantages: Some Superb Songs
Disadvantages: Some Tracks Are Quite Short

...Debbie Harry's musical career spans five decades and dates back to 1968 when she fronted a Band called The Wind in the Willows and released an Album of the same name. It is however with the Band Blondie that she formed a few years later that most people will associate her. Debbie Harry and the name of her Band, Blondie quickly became synonymous. Blondie were a Punk Band with a difference, and that difference was Debbie Harry, virtually no other Bands of that era were fronted by Women, and this is without a doubt an important factor why so many successful musical Women that have followed, including Madonna have described Debbie and her Band as a major influence. The Punk tag that Blondie were rightly given following the release of their debut Album called Blondie in 1976, and its follow up Plastic Letters the following year was... Read review

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Advantages: clever, energetic punk-folk music
Disadvantages: will not be everyones cup of tea

...glimpse. Musically the band have moved through a ongoing evolution, never losing the Blyth Power sound, but never sounding derivative from one album to the next. Born out of the punk movement that was headed by the likes of Crass and which evolved into the new age traveller scene that would spawn the far better known Levellers, Blyth Power have experimented with their sound from one album to the next, often their hand forced by the constant line up changes. In 1994, Anagram put out a compilation of the first ten years of their work under the title "Ten Years Inside The Horse", a period which is considered by many to be the bands heyday, covering some seven albums and their most intensive touring commitments. The band was always a "happy dictatorship" Porter has the captain of the ship, which caused some creative stifling of his band members... Read review

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Advantages: Great beats, great lyrics, brilliant songs - all hits
Disadvantages: Couple of songs not so hot

...I bought this recently and was amazed at how many songs I still new the words to that still had me bopping away - some great vocals and unexpected harmonies. Unfortunately, as with most greatest hits, the insert fails to provide lyrics, but does give a great write-up on the band. For all The Beat and ska fans, this album is a must! Even if not so much into ska, its a great album full of hits, almost all you will remember. 01 - Mirror in the Bathroom - reminded me of teenage days, being too conscious of looks and it really brought the ska beat to the front, preparing you for the rest of the album. 02 - Save It For Later - having a great tongue in cheek line, "just hold my hand while I come, to a decision I meant!", brings to mind the struggles of couples having the discussion about previous partners, and one finding out just how... Read review

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