Blondie Fans Rejoice
06/25/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Don't buy this thinking of it as a proper album. It's a hodge podge, and isn't crafted like a proper LP. It would be better to take the approach that you spent [money] and got a stack of singles. It is worth the money just for Gary's killer versions of "Scenery" and "Presence Dear". It's just too bad that the Know never recorded an album, because it would have been every bit as good as the Romantics, Paul Collin's Beat, or the Knacks' first records."
GRUNGEY POP FROM BLONDIE BLACK SHEEP
Scott Coblio | West Hollywood, CA United States | 10/02/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I always thought it was a shame that Gary Valentine left Blondie, as his eccentric and esoteric lyrics added an interesting dimension to the group's sound and image.But alas, the hyperactive Valentine pogo'd his way right off the stage and stayed there, putting the stage focus back on Debbie where it belonged but also robbing the group of a very interesting narrative voice.
Debbie always sounded especially inspired when doing a Valentine-penned piece. So I couldn't wait to hear the songs he wrote for the band that they never recorded, as well as a general curiosity about his vocal abilities. We know he had the ego of a superstar, but did he have the pipes to match? Well, no. Valentine as a vocalist is servicable on some cuts, almost bad on others, and is generally not a very memorable singer. His poetic songwriting on the other hand, is most impressive. It's a shame Blondie didn't do the other songs he penned for the first two albums. His "Scenery' was THE highlight of 1994's Blondie retrospective CD "Blonde and Beyond". Some think Blondie's version is half baked but I love it. Valentine's version has slightly different chord changes and is grittier but just as enjoyable. There's something in Valentine's delivery that suggests a humor about himself and his mad philosophic searching that doesn't come across in the Blondie version.
All of the songs are listenable and interesting in a way that still sounds modern and refreshing. It's cute without being cutesy, smart without being pretentious. I'm surprised more artists don't cover his material."
A Must Own for Any Blondie Fan
L. A. Diedrich | Denver, CO United States | 04/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow! This is a real treasure. Gary Valentine was, in my opinion, one of the most creative and fun-loving Blondies and contributed several of the most memorable songs to Blondie's catalog in their early years. This CD contains Valentine's own version of the Blondie hit PRESENCE, DEAR and the song SCENERY which never made it onto a Blondie album (but did make it onto a CD compilation of the band called BLONDE AND BEYOND). Valentine's version of SCENERY is much better than the Blondie version I have heard and it's fun to listen to them both and compare them. And Valentine's solo work is the kind of music that will make Blondie fans very happy. TOMORROW BELONGS TO YOU is my personal favorite, I would've liked to have heard the band Blondie do a take on this one. Valentine's more recent musical output is quite interesting and still has a CBGB's flavor to it.So, if you love Blondie, GET THIS ALBUM! Now if only Jimmy Destri's solo album would get released on CD!!!!!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
