Parallel Lines
Blondie
1978
Album Summary
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American rock band Blondie, released on September 23, 1978, by Chrysalis Records to international commercial success. The album reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom in February 1979 and proved to be the band's commercial breakthrough in the United States, where it reached No. 6 in April 1979. In Billboard magazine, Parallel Lines was listed at No. 9 in the top pop albums year-end chart of 1979. The album spawned several successful singles, notably the international hit "Heart of Glass".
WikipediaI came in heavily biased to this one, and really wanted to let loose with a 5. Blondie is a blind spot for me that's always seemed ripe for uncovering some real tasty gems that perhaps even the most elitist music snobs wouldn't fuck with because they were massively successful and led by a woman. I held my hand out with 5 fat stars. It was there for Blondie to take. Hit play. Blondie didn't want the 5. By the middle of the album Blondie reached in for the stars but I quickly pulled my hand back to my hair and said "too slow!" I gave a star away to my neighbor who stopped by for dinner. I put another star on the WalMart grill and cooked it for 45 minutes. Blondie pretended not to care about the leftover stars. I think we're all just ok with how things worked out. B-
Everyone knows all the Blondie staples, most of us don't realise they all lived on one album. This might be one of the best albums ever created. I forget how great this stuff is, it's not until you sit and pay attention that you realise how awesome it is. Not a bad track in the bunch.
What a terrific album. Front to back, every song on here is worth listening to - Debbie Harry's voice is fantastic and oscillates seamlessly between the punk-ier vibes of a song like 'One Way or Another' to the lighter, airy vibes of songs like 'Fade Away and Radiate' or 'Heart of Glass'. The album ends perfectly with the delightfully melodic and catchy 'Just Go Away'. Worth many, many listens.
What I took away from my most recent listen was irrepresible urgency. If you don't answer, she'll ring your phone right off the wall. To get ya, she'll follow your bus downtown (and spy you in the supermarket buying rat food?!). She'll "wait until morning [to] take tomorrow by the hand" because "today can last another million years". She wants you to make it, but if you do "will anything happen?" For these fatefully spirirted youngsters Something. Must. Always. Be. Happening. We're all dying to live, rushing straight ahead in our own parrallel lines. This catalsym of sexual, intellectual and emotional energy is the sound of those lines converging.
Debbie Harry, the legend! Blondie is cited so often as an '80s staple that I didn't realize they began making music in the '70s. This sounds a lot more rock-oriented than I expected, it makes me wish we'd get some other, older Blondie records on the list. Anyway, I dig this one. It's got two classic hits and plenty of excellent album cuts. Long live Debbie Harry. Favorite tracks: Heart of Glass, 11:59, One Way or Another, Sunday Girl, Hanging on the Telephone. Album art: Iconic. It's black and white without being black and white. Debbie front and center AS SHE SHOULD BE. Perfect color contrast, and the red font is great. This could be an all-timer. 4.5/5
Incredible songwriting, brilliant arrangements, combining punk, pop, disco and a bit of prog. The Strokes were taking notes!
My favorite Blondie album and one of Maya's favorite albums as well. It's in constant rotation at my house. Practically plays like a greatest hits album. Listened to non-remastered version and prefer it.
I really like Blondie. Their lyrics straddle that line between playful, serious, and contemporary commentary. I also think it sounds like they're having a lot of fun when they're making their music. This album has no filler and is a great one.
Was going for 4 stars, then Heart of glass came on late. Also liked Fade away and radiate, I know but I don’t know (Iggy Pop?). Diverse genres that rallies all pen types to write
Disco ameno y entretenido. Muy adelantado en su momento, lo que hace que siga sonando fresco a día de hoy. Incluye canciones que probablemente han sonado sin parar desde que se publicó el disco.
"Picture This" Released: August 26, 1978 "I'm Gonna Love You Too" Released: September 1978 "Hanging on the Telephone" Released: October 30, 1978 "Heart of Glass" Released: January 3, 1979 "Sunday Girl" Released: May 1979 "One Way or Another" Released: May 14, 1979
"I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall If you don't answer, I'll just ring it off the wall" (Hanging on the telephone) "All I want is a room with a view A sight worth seeing A vision of you All I want is a room with a view" (Picture this) "Today can last another million years Today could be the end of me It's 11: 59, and I want to stay alive" (11:59) "Don't be cruel Be a thing - sweet thing As a rule" (Just go away) El meme de Gordon Ramsay diciendo "Finally, Some Good Fucking Food".
El mítico de Blondie. Pop y rock garajero y glamuroso con Debbie Harry en todo su esplendor. Potentísimo y una de las portadas más icónicas.
Excellent first pick. Very catchy, and something I would love if released today. Can see how it influenced some recent indie pop. Stand out track "Heart of Glass".
Didn't realise that this album was from the late 70's, I associated their main singles firmly from the 80's! An all round decent pop/rock album with instantly recognisable classics in "One way or Another" which has been endlessly covered, and "Heart of Glass" which was personally a staple in PlayStation 2's SingStar game. The album takes you on a journey and I think there are no real stinkers on the album which makes for a quintessential pop/rock album. Best: One way or Another; Heart of Glass Worst: no real outliers here!
This is just a really good album. High points include the hits ("One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass"), and tracks like "Hanging on the Telephone" and "Fade Away and Radiate" (I hear Fripp, I like). I've been listening to it repeatedly for several days now and I keep noticing all kinds of great touches and I'm not remotely getting tired of it. Most albums I rate as a 5 really have some aspect that blows me away and I can't say this album has that, but it's just good start to finish. That's worth a 5 also.
The perfect pop rock album. Blondie is mostly seen as the epitome of early New Wave alongside The Talking Heads and Devo, but they were able to blend countless genres in a way that was still consistent and accessible to most audiences. Beyond the synth-heavy New Wave, these tracks are full of power pop, punk, and pure rock. "Sunday Girl" takes inspiration from 60s R&B, while "Heart of Glass" is the perfect disco song despite contemporary resentment, and classic Buddy Holly is covered in the rockabilly "I'm Gonna Love You Too." Blondie would further show later skills in their reggae "The Tide is High" and hip hop "Rapture." One of the best track placements I've ever seen. Starts off with a banger of an intro, which is apparently a cover. It has all punk energy with appropriate synths and catchy lyrics (both chorus and verses). Then it just transitions straight into an even more intense and catchier classic, "One Way or Another" which is more rock and less punk, but matches the first track's strengths in every way. Things tone down slightly in "Picture This." I'm really glad that Debbie Gray is the vocalist of all these songs, she's able to sing to such a range of moods that it keeps the audience looking forward to each track. There is no filler in this album. Sure, there are tracks I'm not a huge fan of, but I still like them all, and in fact, I would listen to the majority on their own casually. That's how great all of them stand out. In case you're curious, the one song I'm indifferent about is "I Know But I Don't Know." I like the wacky vocals and sound that almost reminds me of Devo, but the beginning is a tad bit annoying, and the rock solo is generic, but I really like the last minute. I love how the album ends with two more punk-like tracks, as if there's no need for the full pop facade (excluding the "Just Go Away" rock solo), going back to punk roots. I probably would have swapped these two tracks since the Buddy Holly cover is a slightly better closer. Favorite tracks: One Way or Another, Picture This, Fade Away and Radiate, 11:59, Sunday Girl, Heart of Glass (I had trouble excluding some as my "favorite" cause nearly the entire album would be on here)
This was my fav album in high school and it still slaps. Interesting how so many female vocal led bands still have the same sound.
I had forgotten what a good album this is, even beyond the two hits that I know and love, "One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass". Great guitar work on "Fade Away and Radiate". "I'm Gonna Love you Too" is a short but good song. Great album through and through. Surprised to be giving this a 5, but well there it is...
Had a lot of songs that have appeared in movies and TV shows. Pretty great to know where those soundtracks came from. Partial to hanging on the telephone, one way or another, sunday girl and heart of glass.
I enjoyed this album far more than I expected to. I feel like this album was probably highly influential on 80's pop.
A stonewall certified all-time classic, with one of the best opening tracks in rock 'n' roll history.
With this album, Blondie refined its formula for producing perfect pop songs. It is catchy and flows smoothly. Loved the harmonies and textures. Legendary!
This album is a classic, wide variety in the types of songs, witty lyrics and the best non-disco DISCO track of all-time in “Heart of Glass”. This album is in my top-10 all-time.
Well I had her posters on my wall and the grooves of this record were worn. I thought it was me she loved. What a wonderful album. Blondie is a legend and all the female singers who have tried to emulate her haven't even come close.
Really fun album. Every song is pretty great for the most part. Doesn't really sound dated at all. There's a great balance of guitar and synth here and Debbie's voice is just the right amount of pop and punk. Definitely going to come back to this one.
Auf RYM hab ich 4/5 gegeben aber im Kontext diess projekts und im vergleich zu allem was bisher dran war hat das ganz locker 5 verdient. so ein geiles album, es sind wirklich nur hits. Das ist das was das Pretnders album hätte sein können, wenn es sich auf der zweiten hälfte nicht so krass in belanglosen popsongs verloren hätte. plus ich liebe es wenn debbie harry's stimme so bisschen bricht das ist so geil rockig 🤘
Probably the band's best album. It's got most of the band's hits, and they're great, but it also shines with its lesser known songs. The album is just a great listen from start to finish. Debbie Harry has a wonderful range, from a little rasp that shines through when she gets louder to the soft whispers in the quieter moments.
Oh dude, I've listened to this album so many times. It's nice to have a reason to listen to it again. Heart of Glass is just so fucking good. The whole album is.
5 fantastic singles on this album. The other tracks didn't excite me at all and it's not really my sort of music but undeniably a great album.
pretty good, with lots of good songs. the songs have some really good licks, and they sound really good.
Didn't know they covered "keep me hanging on the telephone" - love the cover. Debbie Harry is just excellent.
I mean ... this album is stellar. Do I have to take notes? I saw it come up and smiled, clicked play and away I went. Unlike Eat to the Beat, this is a straight up all killer no filler album - I often find myself randomly singing bits of tunes off this for no reason; somebody saying it's 59 minutes past the hour is enough to get 11:59 firing off in my head.
You know, this was surprisingly enjoyable. Not what I expected. It rides the edge of punk without ever quite getting there but it's entertaining not the less.
I don't have a lot to say about his album either, but it's just really solid. Just when I start to feel like it's bogging down, they drop Heart of Glass, and it's amazing. This album doesn't really feel that dated either. If I didn't know who it was and you told me it was from the 80s or 90s, I would completely believe it.
Excellent pop/rock record. Fantastic melodies and hooks, and the band is superb - really cool guitar parts set against a super tight rhythm section. A classic that still sounds great today.
Pretty great rock+punk (and slightly new wave) sound. I enjoyed this album quite a bit, but not quite enough to give it 5 stars.
Pretty great album, some great summer tappers on there. Check it out for some songs to play in the sun
The album that bridged power pop and CBGBs for the masses. Had two huge hits on it and was solidly produced. The instrumentation on this album is really good for music of this type. Blondie is always really good to come back to at any time. Favorite song: Heart of Glass Least favorite song: Sunday Girl
Why don't people put Blondie on the same type of pedestal they put Madonna? I'm disappointed this was not the album with Rapture. Heart of Glass is the best of the album.
C'mon, it's Blondie! This is the kind of power pop with emotion, and a very distinct voice that I feel deserves it's place on so many record shelves to this day. Favorite song, Heart of Glass.
I don’t have a ton to say about this one, probably should have paid closer attention to it, but a good listen, wouldn’t mind coming back to it.
Damn, these guitar sounds sound fresh. Love her expressive vocals. "11:59" sounded like a deleted scene from Grease. Largely really liked this - more than enough to make me want to listen to more Blondie. That alternate version of Heart of Glass (Once I Had Love) was freaking dope.
I liked this more than Tracy Chapman, and One Way or Another still goes so hard. Did find one or two I really enjoyed.
This was REALLY good. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Classic pop rock I reckon. I think the hits (and there were many on this album) are the hits for a reason... but other other songs were still fun, but didn't necessarily stick with me
Na endlich mal ein Album, das man auch kennt. "One Way Or Another" oft schon mitgesungen. Auch wenns einige leidige Coverversionen gibt. "I Know, But I Don't Know" gibt mir auch etwas. "Will anything happen" beschreibt oft mein Gefühl für diverse Alben, die hier schon rezensiert werden mussten. Aber es passiert irgendwie nicht so viel. Alles in allem: Würd ich mir wohl schon nochmal anhören, aber haut mich auch nicht von den Socken.
4 - Ein Traum, würd eigtl ne 5 geben, aber 5er sehe ich nur bei Ausnahmealben. Trooootzdem so nice. Auch das One Direction cover geht ins ohr.
I once saw Blondie live, I thought It would be interesting but wasn't expecting to know most of the songs and for it to rock as hard as it did... this is a great and entretaining album that slaps
How do you turn off One Way or Another and a Heart of Glass? Though a lot more of the album just sort of passes me by.
Fun album! A couple of hits along with some new ones that I liked as well. One Way or Another and Heart of Glass are both fantastic classics and I enjoyed Sunday Girl as well. After yesterday, this was a welcome change of pace and I'm digging the album cover as well! A beautiful lady surrounded by many similar looking white men. Look at all the parallel lines!
Delightful Punk pop from one of acts that defined the genre. Starts strong, definitely drops off a little and then picks right back from track 9 onward. 4/5 as the good bits are bloody great.
Listening through the whole album made favorites of mine such as Heart of Glass and One Way or Another seem even better. Some other good songs too like Sunday Girl and Pretty Baby.
Među najboljim opening songs ikad - Hanging on a Telephone. I upravo sad pročitao da je to cover, sheeesh. Playful album sa odličnim vokalom Debbie. Naravno na albumu su jako poznati hitovi kao One Way or Another i Heart of Glass. Preporuka svi koji vole New Wave/Power Pop žanr, fin album.
clásicos... muchas canciones las había escuchado en mi vida pero no sabia de quien eran
Really good album with a couple of hits. I’ll definitely listen to this again. It had a perfect vibe for driving in the summer.
Several hits are on this album. Other songs I had not heard before and they were also good.
Loved all the hits, and I really enjoy the singer's voice. It was more lively than I expected. There were a couple of songs in there that I didn't enjoy as much, which dropped it from a 5.
Great album! I wish we could hear Heart Of Glass the way originally intended it to sound. Clem is one of the best drummers out there.
It grew on me by the end. Definitely will give it more listens. Of course I thought One way or another, and Heart of glass were already bangers.
surprised how many well know 'hits' were on this albulm, refreshing to hear Blondie on some of the lesser known tracks, you could sense some of those post punk influences
The pop rock style of this albums isn't usually really my cup of tea. But Blondie seem to just do it really well and are on top of the game on this very enjoyable album. I knew One Way Or Another and am pretty sure Heart Of Glass sounds familiar to me. But I didn't know it was by Blondie.
As I'm listening I'm realising more and more how fabulous her voice is and how suited to the genre. She is truly inspiring. The album is so catchy with star hits all over it.
I've know the singles off of this album for years and there's no disputing how good they are. This is the first time I've actually given the album a listen. It's a strong pop, new wave album from start to finish. A fun rocker but intelligent with well-written songs. Deborah Harry's voice is really strong from start to finish. Fripp's guitar on "Fade Away and Radiate' does add some nice color to an already interesting ballad although I did find the bass a little too staccato at times on that track. Even "Pretty baby" (which ironically has the least plays off of the album on Spotify) is a great track!.
Blondie is way better than I thought; I've told myself this a few times over the last year as I listened to more of their songs (going down different rabbit holes). Case in point, the lyrics to Heart of Glass are really good but I always thought it was just a fun disco-fused tune. Check out the Toadies version of it (acoustic and all the disco stripped out) and the words really resonate. And while I may dislike a lot of pop and new wave that was inspired by Blondie, this album is great. Nothing remarkable about their musical chops but the arrangements are fun and catchy and well put together. And Debbie Harris is a commanding presence on vocals of course (cliche maybe but she is just amazing on One Way or Another). They kind of ran out of gas on the last track (Just Go Away). All in all the album still holds up.
About half of this album Is on the Best of Blondie CD I have, and it’s easy to see why. A lot of great tunes here. So I was familiar with the majority of the album. I knew Robert Fripp’s had played on a track, and it wasn’t even a “hit.” Really good stuff, but the filler is indeed filler…
Oh I know some Blondie. Oh, I know lots of Blondie. Oh, actually they are REALLY good. What an album. Would give 4.5. Listened through twice, will listen again many times. This is what albums are for. Could also be a Best Of album!
Surprised me in a good way. Very few swinging strikes, lots of doubles in the gap and homers. Best track: One Way or Another
Fun pop-rock! Still feels good 40+ years later! Several hits I knew but didn't totally realize were Blondie before.
8/10. I forgot how much I liked "Heart of Glass" which is definitely a standout in this otherwise pretty solid album. Stand-out among the tracks I hadn't heard was "Just Go Away"
8/10. Great pop rock with iconic vocals. The main thing that keeps this from a higher rating is quite a few of the hooks fall flat- they don't catch in the way that the singles do and they don't stick in my head the way I want a pop song to.
Great album - full of their classics, but also some new songs I hadn't heard before - the Buddy Holly cover towards the end is great!
Good song writing is good song writing. Post Punk, pre pop, whatever. Like the real thing, not a pain in the ass.
I love Blondie. I find it hard to deny that Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are geniuses, however while there are many classics on this album there are a few songs that kind of plod along. Which had me struggling between giving this 3 or 4 stars. It's highlights are new wave at its finest
14th December 2021 Listened on the morning in the vancouver flat before sorting the flights out to LA to see Guy for Christmas and going to capilana Suspension Bridge! Blondie are the coolest lame band ever.
Listening to a full Blondie record (something I've never done) really allows you to get past the weight of their massive hits and appreciate how fun and tight this band was. The guitar playing on this record is really great. I'm always a fan of a guitarist that can be playing melodies behind the vocals without competing with the main attraction: Debbie Harry. She's the bees knees. As far as single go, I love "Hearth of Glass." But "One Way or Another" is take-it-or-leave-it song for me. So, this record is mixed. But, I really would have liked to be alive in the late 70s when this record and so many other great records from Blondie, Talking Heads, and Bowie were happening. What a moment.
Has the two hits, Heart of Glass and One Way Or Another. Other than that, nothing grabbed me. Decent.
Fun, uneven, snapping and poppy. The singles on this album dominated the radio in the late 70s and they leave a fun impression. Some of the other songs are a little harder to deal with, but there are at least a couple of others that could have been singles.
"One Way Or Another" the song that really defined this band is here. While this is definitely catchy and has been the theme song for many a brand commercial, listeners would benefit from giving this Blondie album a little more than a nod to pop culture. "Fade Away and Radiate" has a grittiness to it that serves as an artistic contrast to the aggressive angst of "One Way Or Another". The intro seems like something you'd hear if they had done the soundtrack to David Lynch's Dune, but then the lyrics are softly sung almost depressively, and the electric guitar is hauntingly matched to it. From this point forward, Blondie's sound turns gritty yet fun. They are rocking it out, and that's great. The album is strong and straight forward, yet also familiar. While not prevalent, it is noticeable that the guitars have 'djent' (not a reference to the debatble sub-genre, but the sound only) compositions, something more discussed in the 21st century than in the 20th. "I Know But I Don't Know" and "Will Anything Happen" are two of the best examples. Inevitably, we reach "Heart of Glass" and the song sings for itself. The album finishes strong with "I'm Gonna Love You Too" a song no one would be surprised if it had ever been covered by No Doubt, but then it gently fizzles away with "Just Go Away". The interesting thing about Parallel Lines is that we hear a lot of the modern sounds in this 1978 album, but the caffeine and cocaine riddled electronic synth-wave of the 80s made us forget. All that to say, the album ages well.
It's an almost perfect pop album and personally I think Blondies best. With so many known songs songs it's almost a best-off album, and marks the moment where Blondie switched from their punkier side (still to be heard in Hanging On The Telephone) to their poppier side (One Way Or Another) to later do some more disco-ish sounds (Heart Of Glass) Unique pop album that captures the times well.
A great first two tracks had me excited to hear what else this album had. I got a little bored and lost in the middle. The hits I already knew are the only ones that resonated with me - Hanging On The Telephone, One Way Or Another, Sunday Girl, Heart Of Glass.
Such tunes I didn't realize I loved Blondie this much! Gone down to a 4 as there were a couple of songs that I really didn't get on with, very close to giving this a 5
Délice Prefs: Hanging on the Telephone, One Way or Another, Picture This, Fade Away and Radiate, 11:59, Sunday Girl, Heart of Glass Moins pref: I Know But I Don't Know
Feisty 80s pop-rock with a definite punk flavour. Some classic dancy hits here to grace any indie disco
Hey, this was fun. Good tunes, not totally dated, cross between 70s punk and pop with a disco tune (which is the most dated song).
Blonde came out of the CBGB scene in New York City and as such this album reflects the pop rock and nascent New Wave influences of that time. This album is packed full of memorable songs driven by Debbie Harry’s powerful voice. The guitar and synth are both memorable and the melodies are great.
Ich hatte eingangs eigentlich erwartet, dass das einfach das Album ist auf dem Heart of Glass drauf ist und nichts weiter. Aber stellt sich raus ist ein richtig geiles Pop-Album.
Super stabiles New Wave Album. Einfach viele Hits, angenehmer Vibe, gutes Songwriting. Fährt auch die perfekte Linie zwischen unkonventionell und zugänglich. Man würde nicht meinen, dass es 78 schon rausgekommen ist, insofern seiner Zeit auch definitiv voraus. Kann man nicht viel dran aussetzen.
I liked this album. I was only mildly familiar with Blondie aside from the big hits. Listening to this was fun, probably would be better if it was at a party etc.
Listened Before? N This was a great listen! Debbie Harry had great range on this album. Everything from sugar-coated pop, to lounge-singer sultry, to punk rocker aggressive! I highly enjoyed it. Added to Library? Y Songs added to Playlist: Picture This, Heart of Glass
Very good album, Blondie's voice is very similar to Lady Gaga in some of the songs. Enjoyed this!
Absolute classic new wave album. Super solid from start to finish. I love Debbie Harry's growly voice, instantly recognizable. The play between the synths and the punk guitar riffs give these songs a really catchy feel, and the energy here is contagious. I had no idea that Hanging on the Telephone was a cover - neat discovery from this session. Favourite tracks: Hanging on the Telephone, One Way or Another, Heart of Glass and Fade Away and Radiate
I Thought this would be more pop than punk. Was pleasantly surprised. Favourites: "One Way Or Another", "Picture This", "I'm Gonna Love You Too"
This was a really good album, many of the songs I recognized and didn't really notice any "bad" songs. Enjoyed it the whole way through and never felt like I was forcing myself to listen to them. Favourite Songs: One Way Or Another, Heart Of Glass,
I enjoyed this album more than I expected I would. I'd been familiar with the hits from this album and liked them, but I was never interested enough to give this or any of their albums a full listen all the way through. It's a really solid album. Made me realize (or re-realize?) just how darn good Debbie Harry's voice is. Wow. Oh, and Robert Fripp's guitar work is excellent on "Fade Away And Radiate". Glad this showed up. Great listen.
This is a great album that brings together numerous elements of popular genres and makes something entirely unique and special, from parts and pieces of things we've all heard before. Topping it all off is Debby Harry, a powerful and charismatic front woman, which even 40+ years later are still far too few and far between due primarily to the endemically flawed nature of both the music industry and how popularity works in our society. And yet, fortunately for all of us, all of these unlikely pieces fell into place. This album has a couple of new wave classics in "One Way Or Another" and "Heart Of Glass". I also enjoyed the tracks that veered from the formula of those hit tracks, specifically the darker vibe on the track "Fade Away And Radiate" and the ensemble rock sound of "I Know But I Don't Know".
Goddamn, I knew Blondie had a few bangers but I didn't know they were so densely packed onto this one album.
I actually loved it - pretty strong from start to finish with two big hits: "Heart of Glass" and "One Way or Another". 8/10.
1979 - 40 mins. Classics like Hanging on The Telephone, One Way Or Another, Sunday Girl, Heart of Glass. Other tracks had some nice guitars and vocals. Wasn't a big fan of I Know But I Don't Know.
Fun, upbeat, and easy to listen to. Nothing too daring or unique, but quite enjoyable.
What a banger. More pop than i expected, with an occasional flair of punk and rock, but very smooth music and melodies. Easy and enjoyable listen... deborah harry's voice is great.
Pop Blondie is pop but good and fun and damned if you aren’t singing Heart of Glass for two hours after this
super fun album overall. I love the drive of the music, some iconic songs mixed with some unknown gems.
Great guitat album and awesome vocal performance (Fade Away and Radiate is my favorite) but i'm really getting tired of Heart of Glass. Some tracks are a bit skippable and are not that unique.
blonde is a very talented song writer. This album has heart of glass. Other than that, a very average album.
Recognized one song, and liked that one the most out of the bunch. Not my cup of tea though
Better then I thought it would be. Lots of songs on there that I knew of but didn't know they made. Lots of classics on it. Some songs were a bit dated/weren't my style but most of them still bangs.
Enjoyable. Little too "pop" for my tastes for the most part. Heart of Glass really hard carries this album.
Stylistically inconsistent and occasionally annoying, but hasn't aged poorly and was still quite fun.
Klassiker! Låtarna man inte känner igen är väl inte king direkt, men fortfarande godkända.
Some high highs and low lows on this album. The Blondie hits on this one are good, but there are a lot of songs that don't really need to exist on the album as well.
Looking at this bbn playlist I wondered if I was going to recognize anything other than One Way or Another. Heart of Glass was the only other familiar song. This album came out considerably earlier than I would have thought. The musical style of many of the songs I didn't particularly recognize surprised me
First album on the list, hard to rate. Enjoyed it, interesting history to heart of glass (disco vs original). One way or another most recognizable track.
I always thought that One Way Or Another was a one hit wonder. It was interesting to hear their other songs
I didn't mind this, but I still would change the channel I think if it was on the radio. its 2.5 stars for me but ill give it three because its one of the more different sounding 80's albums I have heard.
Well produced, diverse set of tracks that I'd be happy to hear on the radio, but would never feel like putting on myself.
The very best songs are some of the best pop songs ever which makes some of the weaker songs stand out like a sore thumb.
Oldies but goodies - heart of glass & one way or another . Great upbeat voice and good lyric writing
I really want to like Blondie, and I think I do, but it just feels so time bound. Have to be in the right mood for this.
Extra points because I’ve always had a crush on Debbie Harry. Heart of Glass has been on repeat for me for years. Solid album. Very digestible. Somehow it all feels 80’s vital, maybe not hits, but all contributing to the sound of the era, well produced and technically sound. A genre mashup between pop, punk and reggae. It’s the missing link between the talking heads and Ramones on the way to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Great drumming throughout. There are a few meh songs and every song is about love. Pretty good. B
Liked picture this, hanging on the tele. A bit repetitive on the instrumentals and underwhelming lyrics.
You just feel cool when listening to this album. It's in your face and a wave of excitement. A great "cruise with your windows down" record.
3/5 I would've enjoyed this 5-10 years ago when I used to listen to classic rock all the time.
lol @ the hair on this album cover. I thought "I Know But I Don't Know" was going to be an underrated favorite until 56 seconds in and then it fell off; that guy coming in to harmonize sounds horrible
Really great had a lot of some of my favorite songs in one album. Outside of the top songs was a bit mediocre but very enjoyable
A few songs missing from Spotify. Overall a really enjoyable listen. Pretty poppy but with some good punk vibes at times.
3.7 + A fun, light-hearted blend of new wave, surf, disco and punk digested for a pop audience. Out of context, it's a little dull and suffers from filler tracks. But Debbie Harry remains a template for pop starlet and she brings the vocals to back the look. \"Heart of Glass\" by itself could carry this record, it's a forever favorite of mine, but there are a number of other highlights - \"Fade Away and Radiate\", \"Sunday Girl.\" Definitely overrated as an album but good nonetheless.
Do I not like Blondie that much? It's too much basic standard pop for me. I think I enjoy covers of the best known songs of the album a lot more than the originals. Other than Heart of Glass, that song is great!
The highs are smashing but the lows are disappointingly bland on this one. 'Heart of Glass' still slays though
Fun album that besides a few songs, sounds a little ahead of its time. It reminds me of a female led Clash before the Clash. Favorite Tracks: "One Way or Another" "Pretty Baby" "Heart of Glass"
Not generally something that I would listen to but I’ll admit that it was a lot more fun than I was expecting
Ooh nice. Heart of Glass and One Way or Another are quite catchy songs. The rest was fine, too
Pretty good. Some of these are pretty recognizable, but I wouldn't think of these if someone asked me for a good song
Somehow much more post punk than I expected. Nice moody songs as well as the big ones like heart of glass. I liked opening of "fade away and radiate" and there were songs like "I know but I don't know" and "will anything happen" where I thought I'd really grown to like the album as a whole. But songs like "I'm gonna love you too" and "picture this" kinda tainted it for me. There's something about the slickness and upbeatness that maybe inherently puts me off. I think a lot of the lyrics felt a bit surface level as well and slightly derivative compared to songs like "one way or another". Maybe I'm just in a grumpy mood. I still like the big songs on this album and found some new ones to enjoy, but very much don't feel the need to listen to it all the way through.
I think that this sat in an overall mediocre position, great singles, consistent sound, but samey, and not a ton of interesting stuff going on.
Some of it was great, particularly the classic singles, but other stuff just didn’t do much for me. A classic 3 star if I ever heard one.
I actually knew a couple songs from it, which is a testament for something so old! Album was diverse and had a decent sound to it, not my cup of tea though
I want to like this more than I do. It's like a mish-mash of 70s and 80s and it doesn't work quite as well as you remember.
Not sure the context of Blondie’s Parallel Lines in the pantheon of rock and roll but as a punk new wave band I can see why she’s still relevant today.
I love "One Way or Another" but it is (objectively) not a great song. I could say that about most of the songs on this album. They're fun. They kinda sound like they were written by a band of middle-schoolers - both the music and the lyrics. Blondie seems to me like the No Doubt of the 70s-80s. A female lead singer who is versatile enough (Debbie Harry strikes me as a poor-man's Stevie Nicks - with a little bit of Joan Jett mixed in there), but is definitely the selling point of a mediocre backing band. Everything in me says this is a 2, but I'm going to give it a bump because I can definitely hear how Blondie's sound (especially on this album) likely influenced a lot of 80s pop - as well as several female-fronted bands that would follow. So, Kudos.
Probably a 3.5. There were a lot of tracks I liked but probably an equal amount that I was pretty meh on. The time changes on Heart of Glass are always welcome though.
'One Way or Another' and 'Heart of Glass' doing some supremely heavy lifting here. Most of the rest isn't something I'd choose to listen to again but those two tracks alone raise it from a 2 to a 3.
Pop with a little rocky edge, not bad but just a bit too generic. Besides the big hit, no song really stands out nor is of hit material
I'm honestly a little let down. Debbie Harry is a great singer, and there's a couple really good songs (I'd probably say that the first and last songs were my favorites), but it's mostly pretty bland. Not bad, just forgettable.
Getting away from the recognizable hits like Hanging on the Telephone, One Way Or Another and Heart of Glass, Parallel Lines by Blondie spans the multiple genres that came crashing together during this era. When you blend Post-punk, new wave and disco to make it work, it works. Sadly, filling an album with songs that don't make this sound work gets a little repetitive. This is a very good album and does what every Blondie album needs to do, blend a few of the recognizable hits with the sound currently working its way through the NY clubs. 3.5/5
I enjoy the attitude and quirkiness that Blondie carries throughout this album. The guitar playing is super tight, and the vocals compliment that sound well. Fun, poppy, dancey tracks front to back on this one. There are a plethora of genres that serve as inspiration for this album by the sounds of it. Not a standout selection for me, but it is a very solid collection of songs. Fave tracks: Fade Away and Radiate, 11:59, Heart of Glass
Thought this album started strong, but about 3 or 4 songs in it really fell off for me. Still, not bad; it's a serviceable rock album.
Tof! Dit album blijkt meerdere nummers te hebben die ik kende maar de rest was ook meer dan goed te pruimen! En na het zien van de tv serie The Deuce (aanrader!) kan ik Blondie daar niet meer los van horen (wat een goed iets is 😊)
Zo’n vergeten artiest voor mij; cool om eens te horen, vermakelijk plaatje met een paar bekende nummers.
it's fun! it's cheesy! it wants you to sing along! it's not going into my collection, but you can have a good time working with this in the background, especially around folks who love the album
Good but I've heard some of these songs quite a bit already on the radio which kind of diminishes enjoyment for me. Great songwriting/arranging.
Not bad at all but I feel like this album came out during a time where it was a bigger deal and the sound was newer and fresh. As of now it sounds like most pop rock artists so I don’t really get it.
I am unfamiliar with Blondie besides they biggest hit "One Way Or Another", which is such a classic song. "Heart of Glass" is another song that I recognize and that I appreciate. Overall the album is alright, I'm happy to have listened to it, but I don't think I will add it to my regular listening rotation.
Some very strong songs here and excellent moments – starting with the very promising opener. But despite a decently high level of quality throughout, there’s a vintage quality to this, a feel that makes it seem more of its time than truly timeless. Debbie Harry has a very distinctive voice, without necessarily being a great singer (one finds her a bit all over the place, excessively talky one moment and then given to yelping the next). “Fade Away & Radiate” and “Pretty Baby” are both interesting without quite being fully affecting. “Picture This” has a great (if too short guitar solo) and “Sunday Girl” and “11:59” are engaging. “Heart of Glass” is pure pop-disco fun. Still this is mainly enjoyable rather than inspirational. One wonders if maybe they were better live and figures that this might be just about the replacement level for deathbed records.
One Way or Another and Heart of Glass are such great songs and showcases of this genre and Debbie Harry's voice, but the rest of the album kind of underwhelmed me.
Overfamiliarity with the (admittedly great) singles added to some fairly meh album tracks means an entertaining-enough but ultimately pretty shallow experience.
Honestly, despite the hits like Heart of Glass and One Way or Another, not that good of an album. Was disappointed:/
knew like 2 songs. cool sound. not fitting for doing art. too hectic and gives off socialising vibes
I don't like pop music. Ein paar songs kennt man wohl. Finds aber ehr mittelmäßig alles. Brauch ich nicht nochmal. Aber es war jetzt nicht bodenlos. Deshalb 2*
A couple of classic tracks, but it's mostly pretty dull. My dad likes blondie for some reason
Meh. Some good hits that are super catchy, but also a bunch of really bad songs. I certainly wouldn't go so far as to call this Punk either. Def new wave. There are some hints of punk. But really, I find it far too poppy. Has no edge. No angst. No anger. I'll be fine hearing the 2 hits on classic radio. No need to hear this again.
One Way or Another ist ein Banger my Memes become Dreams I'm gonna love you too lowkey banger
Heart of Glass is the only reason this album is not getting one star. Not a fan of Blondie.
Je pense que ça a été un album influent: il y a one way or another et heart of glass, deux classiques pas fan mais très respectable
If you had asked me a year and a half ago, I would have told you that Blondie rules and that Cyndi Lauper sucks. This was based entirely on a general feeling and not actual experience. Well, if the albums featured here are any indicator, I was completely wrong! This album is pretty soulless and feels very perfunctory.
I can see why it was recommended but it’s not my cup of tea. Had a few good songs that I decently liked but nothing amazing.
2 hit wonder. Pass
Hh
Little not to like here. Blondie displays a great homage to the rock acts that came prior (Patti Smith for sure), but there's the gentle push toward new wave, or at least an 80's pop rock sound -- almost dabbling in punk territory. Interesting guitar work, great vocal performances, lyrics have a deceptive depth. Fade Away offers a dark, somewhat unsettling vibe that I wish was present more, somewhat continued by I Don't Know and Will Anything Happen (the latter of which is probably my favorite on the record). One can only dream of being able to listen to this album outside of time, as certain Swiffer commercials render a certain song laughable... but that's just my being a product of my generation. Overall a great balance of radio friendliness and original intrigue.