Deborah Harry Album: “Necessary Evil”

I have seen some good and some odd reviews of this cd but to me as a fan of Ms. Harry since 1979 it is always a welcome site to see a new cd as either Blondie or Jazz Passengers or as a solo act-- you know you are going to get something new and different to hear.

When I first played the cd I was a bit taken back with some of the songs-- There are some that I would have left off (Charm Redux and Heat Of The Moment) but then I read an interview with VH1- their Track by Track series and in that Debbie goes through each track and gives you an idea of the song's origin or meaning or the fact that some of the instrumentals through out the cd is to break up the theme of some songs or add a different feel to others and I am thinking that here is a woman who has busted her butt for over 30 years and she can basically set this cd up as she wished. The new Billboard interview also lets you know that she recorded the cd basically with her own money and really is set up for her fans and not sure how well it will actually sell but wanted to make a cd for herself and fans alone. Be damned with what others think I guess.

So here is what I think of Necessary Evil. The lead track "Two Times Blue" is to me not even the best track on the cd. It is a "Maria" type pop hit that has such a killer hook -- try and find the Nickel And Dime radio remix because that is THE best version of the track. Now for the most part on the cd Debbie is much more aggressive sexually lyrically and vocally than the last 2 Blondie cds. "School For Scandal" is pure Alternative Rock that smolders with her delivery. The best track on the new cd is the 3rd song "If I Had You"-- flawless from the intro to the end of the song. It is heart on sleeve/honest Debbie vocals shining all through the song. This song is a huge hit if the label or radio could find a way of finding each other. The second best track is the title track "Necessary Evil" and it's cock rock guitars and Debbie's smarty vocal performance. This needs a really solid remix to run up the dance chart."You're Too Hot" starts out with a new Debbie persona-- Black Gospel Debbie just going all Gospel at the intro and then it breaks into a flat out yelling/chant of a vocal with heavy guitars all through the song. Listed on the credits-- Debbie played guitar on the song. Then you get 2 lovely ballads- "What Is Love" with it's killer hook but odd break off to a bit of chanting and the super personal "Needless To Say". The tracks "Dirty And Deep" and "You're Too Hot" are companions and so is the "Needless To Say" and "Heat Of The Moment" as well. So that should be obvious. The cd from 1-14 are produced by Super Budda.

The bonus tracks or tracks 15-17 are produced by Chris Stein and Bill Ware from Jazz Passengers. They are sort of Middle Easteren/African influenced and a different in scope and feel from the first 14 tracks. "Jen Jen" is basically an instrumental with chants and a New Order type guitar running through the song-- think of the b-side to "Strike Me Pink"--- 8 1/2 Rhumba and you get the idea of the song. The next bonus song- "Naked Eye" is a classic Stein/Harry written track-- a song of love about leaving your mark on your partner -- good or bad. The last track is the female suicide bomber track "Paradise" and it was hard to get into the lyrics when Debbie is singing almost as a wind /saxapohone instrument . Written by Roy Nathanson from The Jazz Passengers and it sounds more POP jazz in style. Listen a few times like I had to and it will grow on you.

So for me on the whole the cd is a fascinating look at the mind of Deborah Harry. Since a child I have been fascinated in what she has to think and say musically and to me is one of the few artists you can hear thinking as the songs progress. Like I said before some will LOVE this cd or think it is ODD but to me it is never boring ever.

On "Necessary Evil" Debbie Harry rocks out harder than she has in years (with just a slice of hip hop as we've come to expect). With most of the tracks (particularly "White Out" and "You're Too Hot") Debbie proves she still has punk attitude in spades. It's an album full of sing a long hooks and her voice is magnificent throughout. It sounds like she was really enjoying herself with this one. I highly recommend it!

Debbie Harry has put together a recording that represents her well....downtown, clever, edgey, straight forward, versatile, sophisticated, and fun. This is the best solo material she has stacked together. Needless to Say is beautiful, You're Too Hot over the top, White-Out really driving, Love With Vengence sexy and james bond-like, Two Times Blue soaring, School For Scandal is rocking, Charm Alarm fun as hell, Paradise haunting, I could go on....This music is really Debbie with her funky spirit, beautiful voice, and her artistic style. You deserve to own this....buy it for yourself.

Debbie Harry's last solo release was 14 years ago. In that time she has toured with a jazz band, reformed with Blondie to international acclaim (her home country, the USA, being the least responsive), been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and finally seems to be getting the respect and admiration she deserves as both an artistic genius and a cultural icon. It is now common knowledge that many of today's most popular female stars, like Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Courtney Love were most likely lip-syching in the mirror to Blondie 45's with a hairbrush-microphone, and even pop-tarts like Paris Hilton, Hillary Duff, Pink, Ashlee Simpson and Lindsay Lohan admit to drawing on Debbie for everything from musical style to attitude to fashion. A much more confident woman now than she was 14 years ago, you can hear the difference from her last release, with a strong commanding prescence in every track on "Necessary Evil". Starting off with the radio-friendly "Two Times Blue", the CD continually startles its listener with each track delving into new unexpected genres of music. Some of the tracks are good, some are bad and some are very, very strange. But the fact that she is releasing such a cool, youthful and artistic CD should be cause for you to bow down and kiss the floor Debbie has set her high-heeled feet upon. She may be more confident, but she's still that same beautiful weirdo with the herky-jerky dance moves who appeared on "The Muppet Show" three decades ago.

Deborah Harry of multiple talents has again put her magical spell on "Necessary Evil", This is her BEST album EVER!! I love her creativity on this project and of course everything she does! It's hard to single out my favorite tracks on this because they are ALL good! The youthful, fun and "rappy" -"Dirty and Deep" is fabulous and I LOVE the punk essence of "White Out"..."Needless To Say" reminds me so much of one of the ballads of her Blondie days, feels very retro to me and of course you cannot forget the radio friendly "Two Times Blue"-(the remixes of this are sublime!)and don't forget to listen to the lovelorn ballad "What Is Love", As usual Debbie puts her creative, unique mark on this album and there will be another generation of "Debbie Wannabes" from this...I am sure of it!! Deborah is a trend setter,

Not a follower...REMEBER THAT!