Although
Debbie Harry's popularity had decreased by the late '80s, 1989 wasn't a bad year for her at all. That year,
Blondie's former lead vocalist successfully portrayed a struggling singer on the brilliant but underrated CBS crime drama Wiseguy, and demonstrated that she could still have considerable fun in the studio. Under the direction of hit producer
Mike Chapman -- who had worked with
Blondie, as well as with everyone from
Sweet to
Scandal --
Harry delivers an eclectic CD that isn't in a class with a
Blondie treasure like
Parallel Lines but nonetheless has a lot going for it. Much of this new wave-ish pop/rock and European-flavored dance music is heartfelt, clever, and quite memorable. Everything from the charming "Brite Side" (which she performed on Wiseguy) to the addictive "Bike Boy" to the haunting "He Is So" makes it clear that
Harry, at 43, was far from a has-been. ~ Alex Henderson