Parallel Lines [Remastered] - Blondie

Advantages: The first high ranking new wave album by any artists or band
Disadvantages: A couple of flat tracks that dampen the spark of the album

...British. The cover for Parallel Lines, a design thought from their manager, Peter Leeds and photographed by Edo was to Miss Harry's disgust. She hated the shot and immediately said that it looked flat. It was, however, to become an iconic view of the band. The sharpness of the black and white, bold stripes behind the black suited band and Debbie in a white dress and shoes denoted the new wave feel that the music held within. For 1978, it was design ...
...adapted to the up and coming Ska movement of that time. Blondie, were very much the fore runners for a new type of sound. It is within this album, that the listener can generate the music tastes that were going to happen in the near future. Very much a Blondie album, it experimented with different music genres that were big in the late seventies. The examples of this are, 'Heart Of Glass', a fusion of disco and glam to suit the diverse vocals of ... Read review

Advantages: 5 of their greatest hits; catchy tunes; deep lyrics; exciting sound
Disadvantages: does not include the 'French' version of 'Sunday Girl'

...got to be heard! Parallel Lines has one of the strongest starts with three exciting and accessible New Wave anthems, particularly the seminal album track 'One Way or Another,' which has become an anthem for generations to come. Debbie's raw vocals, the fast guitar power chords and crashing drums simply exude passion on 'Hanging on the telephone,' 'One way or another,' and 'Picture This.' All three songs have truly memorable lyrics and still sound ...
...but each track offers something deeper than the conventional love song. Considering the arrangement is hardly avant-garde, the lyrics are everything on this album but in the same way, the simplicity of the melodies is what makes the lyrics so memorable. As far as album tracks go, 'Fade away and radiate' which was the B-side to 'Picture This' is completely different from anything Blondie have ever done. A really slow and dark tune making use of the ... Read review

Advantages: To get the best of Blondie without having to get the "Best of Blondie"
Disadvantages: None

One of those few albums that I would call "perfect". Every track a winner, from those you may know to those you should know. Thankfully, now that we have CD versions of this album, we have eliminated the only bad thing about it. Having to turn the record over halfway through. The rawness and originality shine through. The sound of past rock 'n' roll, the punk era and some future sounds, make this seem as modern as the day it came out. I've got ... Read review

Advantages: Great, Classic and Timeless tracks
Disadvantages: a couple of lesser songs

"Parrallel Lines" contains some of THE classic Blondie Tracks. In fact for the first three tracks you may feel you've put on a "Greatest hits" collection as you get three big hits all in a row. With "Hanging on the Telephone" the opener, quickly followed by the punchy brilliance of "one way or another" and the Soaring vocals of "picture this" After the initial brilliance however the standard dips a little mid-album before reviving with more great ... Read review