Rising out of the ashes of the early '80's Los Angeles punk scene and led by bassist/singer/songstress Johnette Napolitano, Concrete Blonde is one of those bands that were always coming but never quite arrived. Releasing several diverse but inconsistent albums over the course of their recording career, (itself an on again, off again affair depending on Johnette's whims) they are a band that covered a lot of ground over the years and never quite got to where they were going. This album, unlike so many other "Best Of" collections by other artist, truly does find the best this band has to offer and slaps it onto one disc for all to sample. And it succeeds in painting an accurate and focused vision if this sometimes ill defined but worthy rock n roll band.
Covering a lot of ground itself, you get a little something of everything from the best part of Concrete Blonde here, just as the "Essential" title suggest. From the opening post punk urgency of "Still In Hollywood" to to the venomous riff heavy "God Is A Bullet" and the rootsy "True". Also represented are the hits and almost hits "Caroline", and the pop flavored and whimsical "Happy Birthday" and "Someday". Included also is their most commonly known song, the top 40 hit "Joey", which showcases singer Napolitano's lovely and powerful tenor.
For "classic rock" fans there is a nice cover of "Little Wing" and the hard rock breeze of "Dance Along The Edge", as well as the soft acoustic balled "Sun", which would of been right at home on some long ago Fleetwood Mac record, and the heavy hitting "Walking In London". And of course the standout track here is the now alt rock classic "Tommorow Wendy", one of the greatest "no god" songs ever, perhaps just behind John Lennon's "Imagine" and XTC's "Dear God". It's good stuff.
The special talent of Concrete Blonde is that despite the bands diverse musical stylings, they always maintained their own distinctive sound. Thanks in no small part to singer Napolitanos' strong, sturdy, and distinctive voice. One of the better female vocalist in all of rock, she dominates these songs and owns them with her very soul, it seems. Moving confidently from ballad to rocker and everything in between, she leads her band with authority and gives this group the edge it needs to make this album what the title suggest. A truly essential recording in any rock music fans library.
This Message Edited On 06.21.06
