Parallel Lines
by Blondie

The Album opened very strongly with 3 stonking tracks, then it took a dive at 4 and struggled to get back to the heights, but it eventually did. By the 2nd track of side 2 Sunday Girl, cheered me up in time for Heart of Glass, which is brilliant. This was a.new wave track...listen to the synthes and beat boxes in the background and you might think you were listening to a Vince Clarke track.
The album was.probably their best, and was a great 70's Rock / Pop album. I don't listen to the whole album, but have the tracks I like in various playlists. (Edited)

Love this New Wave album, solid record that still rocks today. Something about your voice sounds so confident. Really not a bad song on album in my opinion. My favorite is "Heart Of Glass". (Edited)

Perhaps the greatest new wave album of all time. All songwriters and band members have a cohesive style that is endlessly enjoyable and unique. 9.5/10! (Edited)

From Boltzmann 11/29/2023 07:18 | #300198

I could do without their sorry attempts at metal in the first side. The latter side is a return to the simple rock tunes we love, but it doesn't hold up to their debut. (Edited)

Tracks 1-2, 4-6 ??

Solid record

Very good album, influential for its time, I love One Way Or Another, Picture This and Heart Of Glass, but overall this album is not my thing.

Parallel Lines is a landmark album and more than forty years later it still rocks. Critic Robert Christgau was accurate when he called it "a synthesis of the Dixie Cups and the Electric Prunes"

This album is a killer synthesis of fast-paced rock with the sweetness of old school doo-wop and girl groups. The band and Debbie Harry's vocals have a slight retro sound, coming off as classy rather than musty. I especially love the Crickets / Buddy Holly cover, a very fitting choice for the group.

Harry's vocals are stunning and powerful. She has a confident, gentle delivery with a tasteful ragged edge, very reminiscent of Nanci Griffith.

The influence of Blondie on later bands is easy to spot, especially rock groups with a lead female singer like No Doubt and especially Paramore. Parallel Lines is a pivitol New Wave album.

Essential.

Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Heart of Glass
B-Side: Picture This (Edited)

Album Rating: 73.33
(880/12)

1. Hanging On The Telephone. 73
2.One Way Or Another. 78
3.Picture This. 84
4.Fade Away And Radiate. 79
5.Pretty Baby. 71
6.I Know But I Don't Know. 69
7.11:59. 72
8.Will Anything Happen? 69
9.Sunday Girl. 70
10.Heart Of Glass. 78
11.I'm Gonna Love You Too. 67
12.Just Go Away. 70 (Edited)

Aside from a couple of dogs (I Know But I Don’t Know and Just Go Away), this is a really fun and well constructed record. There’s a lyric in 11:59 that captures the mood of the entire album: “Take me down the highway like a rocket to the ocean”.

That’s the essence. Fast, carefree, here to have a good time. Debbie Harry is perfect in the role of the girl who would give you so many headaches but is irresistible nonetheless.