The Curse of Blondie [Extra tracks] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese edition of 2003 album features 16 tracks including 2 exclusive official bootleg bonus tracks from Summer Sonic 03, 'The Tide Is High' (Live) & 'Rapture' (Live), as well as the first single 'Good Boys'. Slipcase. Epic.

Tracks:

Shake Down
Good Boys
Undone
Golden Rod
Rules For Living
Background Melody (The Only One)
Magic (Asadoya Unta)
End To End
Hello Joe
The Tingler
Last One On The Planet
Diamond Bridge
Desire Brings Me Back
Songs Of Love

Album Description

* The Curse of Blondie is the band's eighth studio album and eleventh album including "best of" and live discs.

* Enhanced with video for the first single, "Good Boys," directed by Jonas Ackerlund (Madonna's "Ray Of Light" and "Music," The Cardigans "My Favorite Game").

Customer Reviews:

Great Album - 4.5/5.......2006-11-22

Wow. I cannot believe the bad reviews this album got when it was first released in 2003, because "The Curse of Blondie" is the best Blondie album since 1979s "Eat to the Beat", and classic Blondie at their best.

The albums opener, "Shakedown" is the only stinker on this otherwise fine album, it really is an appauling listen. However, the first track is soon forgotten after the first single "Good Boys" hits your ears. You then get other brilliant tracks like "Golden Rod" "Undone" "End to End" and the beautiful closing ballad, "Songs of Love (For Richard)". The best track on this strong album would have to be "Rules for Living" - which is nothing short of a Blondie masterpeice.

So ignore those reviewers who cannot see past the end of their nose - because this is one fine album, and most Blondie fans will not be disapointed.

Enter the Curse.......2006-10-25

Some might look at Blondie's history as a curse because, despite their huge commercial success, they were always underrated and considered by many as lacking substance. But Blondie proved the naysayers wrong and not just by virtue of the fact that Debbie Harry and her band have become pop music icons. The Curse of Blondie is like a road map of the band's musicial history with only the best roads traveled. Blondie return to their roots right from the opening track "Shakedown," a rap/metal cut that has Ms.Deb(sounding charmingly bitchy)venting her frustrations and outlooks on New Jersey. They follow with a fabulous dance number in "Good Boys." Blondie have also not forgotten their punk roots with gritty rock cuts like "Goldenrod," and "Diamond Bridge," plus a terrific nod to the late Joey Ramone in "Hello Joe." Harry's lyrics are back to the poetic introspection she was so famous for back in the heyday, reflecting on her state of mind the way a poet thinks of a metaphor in "Undone," singing, "It's like an application, filling in the open spaces." Her vocals ooze her trademark pop coolness matched with a mind inquisitive and a heart fragile. Blondie have once again taken the downtown sound and turned it into pop chic. Some curse.

Holds up extremely well compared to their classic material........2006-09-28

2003's Curse of Blondie was the 2nd of the band's comeback albums after 1999's critically acclaimed but commercially ignored No Exit album.

While No Exit was a strong album, it also saw a band that hadn't worked together in 17 years having to kind of shake off the cobwebs a bit.

Curse of Blondie, however, sees this band once again firing on all cylinders. This album is as good if not better than their classic material like Parallel Lines or Eat to the Beat.

The album benefits from having a more cohesive sound and approach than 1999's No Exit.

The band once again strikes out in a multitude of directions stylistically, but overall, this album sees a return to more of an overall rock sound. Deborah Harry now has even more control over her wondrous sexy voice as she did in the past. She segues from a kind of spoken word type approach on the first track, to full throaty rock deliveries to a playful torch singer appraoch as well.

While this album did get kind of mixed notices from people, I really think that there isn't a bad track on the album. The only track I don't care for is the next to the last track Desire which seems them striking out in a really weird jazz angle that while it grows on you, it is out of place on this album.

The rest of the band sounds fantastic as well and the more stripped down production really benefits the material.

A fine addition to the growing Blondie catalog and a worthy purchase for anyone wanting to hear some most excellent pop rock like almost no one is capable of doing.

Blondie sparks magic here and there .......2006-07-07

The follow up CD to No Exit, is a mixed bag of musical experience. Anyway the touch of Blondie magic is still in between the different tracks. Track 1 Shakedown, is a talkative rap/disco hybrid which that doesn't have "that magic touch". A mediocre experience. Track 2 Good boys is the real "hit experience" on the CD. It has some classical standard Blondie elements that lifts this song up there in hit song star heaven. It has a an airy and open sound picture that realy makes it. This is the one that grip your soul and never let you go. There are some guitar riffs here and there to be simple: just make it. Pure Blondie magic. Track 3 Undone, is more mediocre, with some ecco from the classical Blondie period. Track 4 Golden Rod, is the rock & roller, but it has something of a depressive mood that follows it alltrough. Not to great this one. Track 5 Rules for living is a more slow song, but the "ice cold " Debbie Harry voice lifts this way above average. Track 6 Background melody, is the weird one, where Debbie sings like "Minnie Mouse", but in a rear way it works. Quite relaxable and a good listen alltrough, with some light reaggea rhythm that helps. Track 7 Magic, has a childlike atmosphere, like a children choir that sings in the background, but it`s Debbie voice that sounds sampled in a way. Not bad at all, and it sparkles some magic here and there. Track 8 End to end is more a classical rock&roller, which is speedy and up tempo in the right way. Simple and effective. Track 9 Hello Joe lack a certain melody string, and in the quality department it stops with ok. Track 10 The tingler, has lot`s of "tingeling" sound experiments, and it certainly works. Joyful and with a happy happy summer atmosphere lifts this one. Track 11 Last one in the world is the more heavy metal experiment on this CD.Ok, but some times a messy listening experiment. Overkill is probably the right phrase .Track 12 Diamond bridge is a simpel and quite effective little gem that grows. Track 13 Desire brings me back, is the "jazzy on" with a really weird beginning and sounds like a grotesque circus/ carneval comes to town. Track 14 Songs of love, is the moody one. Ice cold and atmospheric very decent ballad this one. Bonus Track 15 Good boys is the one that really deserve a new singel mix, this time by Giorgio Moroder. Pure eargasm magic . Anyway the touch of Blondie magic is still there on the Curse of Blondie CD.

curses.......2006-04-24

i was hoping this once-amazing band would redeem themselves and break back into the mainstream, and possibly chart a song.

this album is not very good. half of it is unlistenable, monotonous jazz/rock. i wouldnt know what else to call it.
the music doenst grab you with a sense of excitement, anticipation, or unease, as blondie had done in past work.

i think this is an improvement from "no exit", but not by much. id say for curious fans of rock/punk, go with the compilations, then if you must, the big 3: "plastic letters", "parallel lines", and "eat to the beat".

Average customer rating:

Who are these people?
Strong "Curse"
one of the best of their career
Very Different Sound - Perhaps TOO Different
Blondie in 5.1 makes The Curse RULE !!!!

The Curse of Blondie
Blondie
Manufacturer: Silverline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

No Exit
The Hunter
Greatest Hits (CD+DVD)
Plastic Letters
Autoamerican

ASIN: B00067Z2W8
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Tracks:

Shakedown
Good Boys
Undone
Golden Road
Rules For Living
Background Melody (The only One)
Magic (Asadoya Yunta)
End to End
Hello Joe
The Tingler
Last One in the World
Diamond Bridge
Desire Brings Me Back
Songs Of Love

Album Description

Over 50 million records sold worldwide The Curse Of Blondie is the band's eighth studio album, featuring the club hit "Good Boys".

A DualDisc is a two-sided disc made up of a CD on one side and a DVD on the other, DualDisc's breakthrough technology allows one disc to have it all. A full album on the CD side. All sorts of special material on the DVD side, including the full album in a 5.1 Surround Sound, exclusive video content and lyrics. DualDisc work wherever you play CD's and DVD's, including car stereos, PC's DVD Players, game consoles and CD players.

Customer Reviews:

Who are these people?.......2006-04-06

Really, who are these people calling "Curse" a "masterpiece", and hailing it as a landmark release for Blondie? Are they record company executives, trying to move sluggish units? Or tone deaf fans? (no offense).

Look, I've been a fan of the "real" Blondie since 1978. I've educated people who were ignorant of Blondie's brilliance. They remain my favorite group of all time (overlooking this piece of crap and the previous one, "No Exit").

"The Curse of Blondie", however, is not exactly a historic moment for this band. Granted, "Good Boys", "Last One in the World", and "Goldenrod" are enjoyable, but the rest of the CD is an embarrassment.

It sucks. Song after song, the guitars glide over very boring, monotonous chords. There is no energy, there is no lust for life, no angst, no cool-as-ice guitar riffs (thank you, Mr. Infante!), no beautiful melodies resembling black girl groups from the 1960's, etc. Yes, I realize that this isn't 1980, but thats my point-- Blondie's best days end with the sound of the ocean on the final track of "Autoamerican".

At least 1/2 of "The Hunter" can get you rockin' or contemplating Deborah's interesting poetry. "The Curse" just reminds me of the Tele-tubbies, for some reason.

If you are curious about this band because of recent exposure (Hall of Fame induction, or release of latest greatest hits DVD), and are looking for music/video of the great American band called "Blondie", i urge you to look online for it.
Dont look to "The Curse", though. It will corrupt your impression of Blondie.

Strong "Curse".......2005-01-13

If there's a curse on reformed punk band Blondie, then their second reunion album sure doesn't suffer from it. "Curse of Blondie" manages the unique quality that most reunion albums lack: It makes us think of their older stuff, while still having fresh, new material.

"Curse" opens on a shaky note, with Harry attempting again to rap in the vaguely sexy "Shakedown." It's not bad, merely silly. Then Blondie gets its footing again with irresistable new wave dance rock (the cool, smooth "Good Boys," "Golden Rod"), a bit of jazzy pop (the sensual closers to the album, "Desire Brings Me Back" and "Songs of Love") and solid ballads ("Magic (Asadoya Yunta) "). A particular high point is "Hello Joe," an ode to Joey Ramone ("I know the sight and sound of you/won't be erased").

When older bands get back together, usually they just play their older songs, or new ones that nobody likes. Blondie kicks that tradition on its head. This collection of songs has that old New York spirit of the 70s. It has the right amount of color and cool, while also being more cohesive than the first comeback album, "No Exit."

Rough basslines, strong guitar and quirky lyrics are what really rule this album. "Curse of Blondie" is blessed with unique lyrics like "We lit up fireflies/we kissed on New Year's Night/We changed the century," and a bunch of stuff like magnetic seas, sparks, insane gods and "I feel your pull like the moon." Time hasn't really changed Harry's voice -- still throaty, still flexible. But now her voice has a new maturity and assurance, tinged with humor.

It has the spirit of older Blondie material, and the polish of a veteran band who still has what counts. Whatever the "Curse of Blondie" is, it doesn't appear to have hit the second comeback album. Vivid, sharp and very together.

one of the best of their career.......2005-01-05

the curse of blondie is one of the best albums of 2004,there was
tracks like goodboys,undone,and golden rod. This album rocks!

Very Different Sound - Perhaps TOO Different.......2004-12-01

I have had a love affair with Blondie for many years now, matched only by my love affair with new gadgets and technology in the audio world - hence, this new release (the first time Blondie's music has been available in 5.1 DVD-Audio) would seem to be the perfect meshing of the two. And in most respects, it is. The clarity of the individual elements in the recording are warmer and sharper (at least in the Advanced Resolution audio mode - compatible only with DVD-Audio players) and the 5.1 mix is one of the most immursive and daring that I've heard yet, eschewing the more traditional vocals-in-front and echo-and-cymbles in back to create a genuinely lively, 5-dimensional audioscape.

That said, the new 5.1 mix is really just that: a NEW mix. Elements of the original recording that once sat far in the background are now bumped up to the front, and Debbie's vocals don't rest nearly as comfortably on the instrumental tracks as they did in the original stereo mix. This could partly be an issue with my speaker placement and volume, but all my other DVD-A's sound fairly well proportioned - even a bit TOO much like the original, non 5.1 recording. In this sense, it's nice to buy a DVD-A that delivers on its promise of audibly transforming the original recording. But how much of that recording (and Blondie's original intentions) have been lost in this version is a question up for grabs.

Blondie in 5.1 makes The Curse RULE !!!!.......2004-11-15

The Curse Of Blondie now on dual CD/DVD and in 5.1 digital sound makes this fantastic 2004 Blondie CD 10 times better to own ! This is Blondie's best studio CD since their 1979 smash hit million selling CD "Eat To The Beat". Blondie opened so many doors for so many out there in the music industry . Blondie are and have always been way ahead of their time . Debbie Harry is an ICON and is the true Queen of Rock and Roll music . I would suggest this version of "The Curse Of Blondie" because it gives you a chance hear so much more of this awesome CD than before . This CD contains Blondie's Billboard Top 10 Dance smash hit single "Good Boys" ( which on the dual DVD side you can now view the video in your DVD player ) this CD also contains Blondie's second U.S. single "Undone" and the should be hits "End To End" , "Diamond Bridge" and "Goldenrod" . I guess the only thing any one can say to this release is AMEN! Blondie is back , better than ever and this is one "Curse" I will love forever !!!!

Average customer rating:

Blessing Curse

The Curse of Blondie
Blondie
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000CAOJ1
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Tracks:

Shakedown
Good Boys
Undone
Golden Rod
Rules for Living
Background Melody (The Only One)
Magic (Asadoya Yunta)
End to End
Hello Joe
Tingler
Last One in the World
Diamond Bridge
Desire Brings Me Back
Songs of Love
Good Boys [Giorgio Moroder Single Mix][*]

Album Description

Limited edition European pressing of 2003 album includes one bonus track, the 'Giorgio Moroder single mix' of the first single 'Good Boys'. Slipcase. Epic/Sony.

Album Details

Asian Version featuring a Bonus Track: "Good Boys (Giorgio Moroder Single Mix)".

Customer Reviews:

Blessing Curse.......2004-04-10

The Curse of Blondie, the group's eighth studio album is the epitome of peroxide pop-rap-punk rock that made Debbie Harry the ultimate diva, yet the charismatic writer of the wise lyrics contributed in this music package. Full of potential hits, hard to swallow-easy to dance, this unique portion of magic songs flies among music styles and lives! Shakedown, Good Boys, Undone, The Tingler, End To End are just examples of perfection that allow Harry, Stein, Burke and Destri along with Foxx and Carbonara to spread the fire...Watch out!!They are older, wiser and still have it....!The original blonde returned!

Average customer rating:

Curse of Blondie
Blondie
Manufacturer: Sony/Epic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000LYD408
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

Shakedown
Good Boys
Undone
Golden Rod
Rules For Living
Background Melody (The Only One)
Magic (Asadoya Yunta)
End To End
Hello Joe
Tingler
Last One In The World
Diamond Bridge
Desire Brings Me Back
Songs Of Love
Good Boys (Giorgio Moroder Single Mix) (Bonus Track)

Album Description

Limited edition European pressing of 2003 album includes one bonus track, the 'Giorgio Moroder single mix' of the first single 'Good Boys'. Slipcase. Epic/Sony.

Album Details

Asian Version featuring a Bonus Track: "Good Boys (Giorgio Moroder Single Mix)".

Average customer rating:

Curse of Blondie

Manufacturer: Msi Music Corp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002B8SWE
Release Date: 2003-09-22

Average customer rating:

One more classic Blondie record worth trying
The Curse of Brilliance!!
Well worth the wait
The Curse of Blondie Works Like A Charm
Domestic release

The Curse of Blondie
Blondie
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000B00IO
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

Shakedown
Good Boys
Undone
Golden Rod
Rules For Living
Background Melody (The Only One)
Magic (Asadoya Yunta)
End To End
Hello Joe
The Tingler
Last One In The World
Diamond Bridge
Desire Brings Me Back
Songs Of Love

Amazon.com

Blondie's second post-reunion album rivals their eclectic string of '70s and '80s hits for daring. The Curse of Blondie opens with Debbie Harry declaiming like a cross between Detroit's Eminem and Jersey's Patti Smith and closes with "Desire Brings Me Back" and "Songs of Love," two left turns that recall her occasional turns as an art-song chanteuse with the likes of the Jazz Passengers. As those suggest, little here sounds like nostalgia. Sure, some tracks recall Blondie's Eurodisco classics, but the blend of machine-tooled grooves and layered guitars on "Good Boys" would make youngsters like Basement Jaxx proud. And other echoes of the vintage sound are given similar new life; for instance, you might mistake the angelic girl-group stylings of "Background Melody (The Only One)" and "Last One in the World" for outtakes from the Blondie of '78. More a reason, to be sure, for cheers than curses. --Rickey Wright

Album Details

The Second Blondie Reunion Album Makes the 2003 Full Length with No USA Release Date Scheduled. Jimmy Destri, Original Blondie Member, Writer, and Keyboard Player Since 1976 Returned to the Band and to Performing with Blondie During their 2003 World Tour.

Customer Reviews:

One more classic Blondie record worth trying.......2004-04-16

As many people of my age I got acquainted with the Blondie starting from her excellent 1978 Parallel lines record back in 70s. I still believe this was the best record ever made by Debbie Harry and the boys. A Classic Blondie. Then I got myself the Autoamerican LP (1980). Quite an eclectic record with variety of different styles. But I liked it back then and I still like it a bit. I tried some other stuff recorded by Blondie in 70-80s and it doesn't attract much of my attention.

When I heard about Blondie reunion release in 1999 it got me interested. I tried mp3 samples on the web and I was really disappointed with what I heard. Apart of Maria, an obvious and very good hit single, there's no decent track on the record. Frankly I lost all the interest to Blondie reunion efforts. I almost forced myself to give it a try when the new CD, the Curse of Blondie, was released in 2003. And, boy, I was really rewarded for my interest. I have found surprisingly good and consistent record. It's a little bit eclectic as Autoamerican with rap, disco, rock and pop there. Surely trademark Debbie's vocal is present as well. No doubt this is one more classic record from Blondie (with almost the same line-up). Nice riffs and tunes can be found here and there all over the record. Although, in my opinion, 'Good Boys' is not that good as a hit single as Maria from 1999 CD, but I found no filler track on this record. If you like Parallel Lines and Autoamerican I believe this 2003 release is for you.

But do not expect to be surprised with the sound quality. This is the pop-oriented record and they tried to correspond to all the modern standards of the industry. So, it has overcompressed sound that is harsh at times. But it's not that bad to detract you from the music which is quite good. Not that good as Parallel Lines but good enough to give it a try.

The Curse of Brilliance!!.......2004-04-16

I will say that I have been a Blondie and Debbie Harry fan since 1975 so perhaps I am biased, but I am not tone deaf by any means and this album is great! I loved "Maria" and a lot of "No Exit" but this album is a better album overall. I bought it without hearing a single cut and it's been in my car cd player since I put it in. 'Good Boys' and 'Undone' are my favorites but the whole album is worth listening to and after 28 years Blondie still has what made them globally popular. I must say I don't understand the American record executives who didn't want to release the album here...not a great track record at predicting the American public's musical tastes. (remember how they thought "Believe" by Cher would be an American flop?) Buy this album and support the tour - as we said in 1977 "Blondie Lives!"

Well worth the wait.......2004-04-14

Wow! I had hoped (and expected) that the CD would at least be decent, and that one or two of the songs would be almost as good as the first single "Good Boys", but The Curse has far exceeded my expectations. When I first heard "Good Boys", I thought it was a great song that would be difficult to top, but after hearing the entire CD, I was pleasantly suprised to find that "Good Boys" is not even the best song on the album. Every song on there is good and several are just awesome. "Golden Rod", "Hello Joe", "Diamond Bridge", "End to End" and "Undone" are up there with some of Blondie's best songs. There is not one weak or inferior song on the album. Debbie's voice is better than ever and she looks every bit as good now as she did 25 years ago. The woman is amazing. The band sounds great as well. They all deserve more recognition and appreciation than they get. Anyone who buys or listens to this CD will not be disappointed.

The Curse of Blondie Works Like A Charm.......2004-04-10

Blondie sounds strong and vital on their latest release, incorporating a myriad of styles as always, showing versatility and creating a pleasurable listening experience. As a rock fan first and foremost, I absolutely love the song "Golden Rod". Deborah Harry's vocal is superb on this driving rock song that never lets up from start to finish. Even as the song fades, Debbie's vocal is still going strong. "Last One in the World" is classic Blondie and could have been on Parallel Lines. "Good Boys" is right in the groove and is the obvious choice for a single, it should be all over the radio. Other excellent tracks include "Undone", "End to End" "Magic" and "The Tingler". I thoroughly enjoy listening to this disc.

Domestic release.......2004-04-06

STOP! On April 6, 2004, this CD was released in the US, meaning you can now order it for about half the price listed on this page. Check out its domestic release page!