The Bangles
Doll Revolution - Koch 2003
Tracks: 1. Tear Off Your Own Head (it's a doll revolution) / 2. Stealing Rosemary / 3. Something That You Said / 4. Ask Me No Questions / 5. The Rain Song / 6. Nickel Romeo / 7. Ride the Ride / 8. I Will Take Care Of You / 9. Here Right Now / 10. Single By Choice / 11. Lost At Sea / 12. Song for a Good Son / 13. Mixed Messages / 14. Between The Two / 15. Grateful
Comments:
In 1999, after a break of more than ten years, The Bangles wanted to get together again and make a new album. During the next 2-3 years, they thus recorded their fourth album, "Doll Revolution", which was released in 2003.
Although a ten-year break is a long time in pop/rock, where trends change continuously, "Doll Revolution" is a fine and logical extension of its predecessor "Everything" from 1988. You hardly feel that the four members have been apart working on individual projects for themselves through an entire decade.
Without reaching the sales figures of its predecessor, the album was well received, with good charts positions in the U.S., Germany and several other countries.
Three singles were taken from the album; all with lead vocals from Susannah Hoffs. Most successful was "Something that You Said", written by Hoffs together with Vicki Peterson and Charlotte Caffey. It is a nice melodic number somewhat related to "Eternal Flame" and which could well sound like a Neil Finn/Crowded House composition.
The title track "Tear Off Your Own Head" is a rousing hard rocker written by Elvis Costello. A great track.
"I Will Take Care of You" a pretty nice, country ballad, written by Hoffs. It's also a bit sentimental and not what you normally associate with The Bangles.
Apart from Costello's track, all the tracks were written by the group's members, and they have got away with it just fine. The lead vocals are distributed almost evenly, and although Hoffs is probably the one most associated with The Bangles sound, there are a lot of great vocals from the other three.
"Here Right", written and sung by Debbie Peterson is a favorite; a real power-pop track with ringing guitars. Another fine number sung by Debbie is the Beatles inspired ballad "Ask Me No Questions".
Vicki Peterson shines on the upbeat melodic "Stealing Rosemary", which she co-wrote with Debbie and the Hoffs. Also two other fine tracks have lead vocals from Vicki; the folkish "Single By Choice" and the rather catchy "Mixed Messages". Michael Steele has always been a bit of an outsider in the group, with some slightly different songs. Her best contribution here is another folkish number, "Song for a Good Son".
All in all, this is a solid comeback album that can easily compare with the previous three.
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