Bangles - Everything

Incredible Album

When you get to know the Bangles you realize just how out of place their hits are - and how unrepresentative they are of the band as a whole. "Everything" is quite simply an incredible album from 4 very accomplished (and very different) singer/songwriters. Major highlights include all of Michael Steele's songs, Vicki Peterson's "Bell Jar" and "Watching the Sky", Debbi Peterson's "Be With You" and "Some Dreams Come True", Susanna Hoffs's "In Your Room"...the list goes on and on. This album gets better with age and is a great introduction to their music. July 10, 2006

Nice music, but more of an effort by 4 individuals instead of as a group

Following the success of "Different Light", The Bangles had firmly established themselves as superstars. Expectations would be high for the follow-up album entitled "Everything". "Everything" would mark some changes for The Bangles. On their 1984 album, "All Over the Place" -The Bangles would put together a very non-commercial album that didn't gain much attention, but would be an album that would primarily contain music written by The Bangles. On their follow-up, "Different Light", The Bangles would increase the use of outside songwriters. While most of the songs on "Different Light" would be Bangles' compositions, they would have great success with the third party songs: "Walk Like an Egyptian" and "Manic Monday" (written by Prince under the guise of 'Christopher'). For "Everything", the trend with using third party songwriters continues. While "Everything" contains some good music, I found there to be a lack of cohesion on this album. In fact, I can see how things would implode causing the breakup of the band.

Despite the use of outside songwriters on "Different Light", I always felt The Bangles were their strongest as their songwriters. The good news is that every track on "Everything" features songwriting by at least one member of The Bangles. The bad news is that on the 13 tracks that are included on the collection, only two tracks do not include outside songwriters ("Bell Jar" by Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson and "Watching the Sky" by Vicki and Susanna Hoffs). Basically what you will see is Debbi, Vicki, Susanna, and Michael Steele contributing songwriting tracks with the help of outside songwriters. What I found is that this seemed like an album that was put together as a result of four individuals as opposed to an effort by a group. While The Bangles put together this album gives containing diverse styles of pop music, this approach is typically the sign of a band that is coming apart at the seams. "Everything" would be the last effort for The Bangles as a group until their 2003 "Doll Revolution" reunion release. The other thing that disappoints me is that there are no tracks that have "dual" lead vocals shared by two or more Bangles (such as "Walk Like an Egyptian" did).

In this particular case, it is best to look at each track individually:

"In Your Room": This was a hit song by Susanna Hoffs with the help of acclaimed songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly (famous for Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" and Madonna's "Like a Virgin"). The song is highlighted by some Hawaiian sounding bass drums. Overall it tries to leverage Susanna's sex appeal through her vocals, but I think it's overrated.

"Complicated Girl": Michael Steele's contributions are sometimes overlooked. Her vocals and songwriting are right on-target here. She does a terrific job at delivering "advice" to the boyfriend of a friend named "Valerie".

"Bell Jar": Sisters Vicki and Debbi (Debbi takes a more active role in songwriting on "Everything") collaborate on this, but its Vicki's vocals that shine. A Synth-Pop tune with some nice guitar and drum work.

"Something to Believe In": Dave Navarro (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Inxs Rock Star) is one of the co-writers with Michael. Michael's vocals are very passionate on this one. I particularly like how this song "builds up".

"Eternal Flame": The biggest hit from this album. Hoffs teams up with Steinberg and Kelly again. This one meant to showcase Susanna's talents. My verdict: Nice ballad, but I've heard better work out of Susanna.

"Be With You": Debbi handles vocals and contributes to the songwriting - and really shines. This also showcases her drumming. This one is almost a throwback to the "All Over the Place" days. The other Bangles contribute some great harmonies.

"Glitter Years": Michael handles vocals and contributes to the songwriting. Once again, Michael delivers a strong song and performance looking back to the days of "glitter" in the early 1970s.

"I'll Set You Free": Susanna does the vocals and works with Dave Navarro on songwriting. To me Navarro has a real knack for music - and it's reflected in this song. Again a tailor-made song for Susanna, but this one is on the money.

"Watching the Sky": Vicki and Susanna collaborated on the songwriting on this one. This one shows a more harder-rock edge to The Bangles. This song almost takes on a "Classic Rock" feel. This song is better for Vicki's style.

"Some Dreams Come True": Another song that Debbi contributes to songwriting and vocals. Debbi is strong again here. This one has more of a Go-Gos feel to it and does feature some harmonica.

"Make a Play for Her Now": This is the best song on the album. Vicki contributes to the songwriting and does vocals. Vicki delivers some haunting vocals here with some nice harmonies from the Bangles. This is another "advice" type song along the lines of "Complicated Girl".

"Waiting For You": The third Hoffs, Steinberg, and Kelly collaboration sung by Susanna. For the most part, this is an average song. However, 3 minutes into the song - the song makes a terrific "pause" before going into a reprise.

"Crash and Burn": Vicki handles vocals and collaborates on the songwriting here. This song didn't really impress me. It does feature some of the trademark harmonies of the Bangles. I've heard Vicki do better jobs on songs - this clearly isn't the best stuff.

The liner notes contain all of the lyrics and songwriting credits. I like how they include which Bangle sings lead vocals on the songs. There is some nice music on here. I think Michael and Debbi's work is strong on here. Vicki's work is for the most part good, but it's Susanna's songwriting with Steinberg and Kelly that did let me down. Bangles fans will want this in their collection. Fans of "Eternal Flame" and "In Your Room" may be pleased with many of the other tracks. Overall, it's probably worth picking up. September 2, 2005

A solid album, but it just seems to lack a little something

I hadn't listened to this album in years, but now I'm remembering why I was a big Bangles fan back in the group's heyday. Everything, their third and final album (until their 2003 reunion album Doll Revolution, that is), is a solid offering featuring one big hit, another track that certainly got radio time (and can now be heard, in co-opted form, as the music in some TV commercial), and a mix of tunes showcasing the diversity of the four girls in the band.

I love Susannah Hoffs - heck, I even went to see her film The Allnighter (sadly, I was the only person in the theater), and many folks probably think she was the lead singer of the band. After all, most of the band's hits featured Hoffs on lead vocals. I think it is important to note, however, that all four members of The Bangles made an equal contribution to each album. All four also played their own instruments, which was still something of a rarity among girl groups in the mid-1980s. Hoffs sang lead on four songs on Everything, including Eternal Flame and In Your Room. Eternal Flame was a big hit indeed, and this is probably the group's most familiar song, but I'm more partial to In Your Room and its spirited, up-tempo sound. Hoff's I'll Set You Free is easily the third best song on the album, while Waiting for You closes out the album in fine style.

Debbi and Vicki Peterson made up half of the band and led the way on five of this album's thirteen tracks. They are perfectly good singers capable of delivering solid vocals, but neither of them seems able to inject their songs with the kind of spirit and emotional depth of Hoffs or Michael Steele. I have always thought Steele's contributions to The Bangles were never given their proper due. While Hoff's voice is bubbly and incredibly sexy, Steele's vocals are oftentimes deep and somber. There's usually no trouble identifying Steele's songs because they stand out noticeably from the rest. Complicated Girl seems to misfire a little bit, but Glitter Years is an excellent track, and Something to Believe In gives us Steele at her best.

If you ask me, the essence of The Bangles is still to be found in Different Light, the group's previous album. Everything (referring to this album) seems to wander a little off-course, displacing The Bangles' initial folk rock tendencies with electric guitar and other studio-engendered trappings. This is still a very good album, but a number of these songs really don't connect with me in a way that makes them memorable. I enjoy listening to them, and there isn't a bad song in the bunch, but Everything seems to be missing a little something, when all is said and done. October 27, 2004

Good band, great songs

I loved this album a lot, very romantic and by the campfire songs. The voices of all singers in this group are very sweet to listen to . I dont listen to girl bands a lot , but "something to believe in" and "complicated girl" completely bowled me over. Perfect gift for ur girlfriend i think

September 2, 2004

My favorite Bangles album

When I think of the '80s, one of the bands that immediately pops into my mind is The Bangles. They were one of my favorite bands from the decade of excess and self-indulgence. Their music then (and still is now) was incredibly infectious and difficult not to get stuck in your head. As much as I loved the Go Go's, The Bangles were my personal favorite of the two girl bands. "Everything" is my all-time favorite album by the band. I thought the band's sound really matured after their last two albums. The girls contributed more to the songwriting (although with outside songwriters). I can hear the maturity in the band's choice of producer. They ditched svengali producer David Kahne for Davitt Sigerson. I can't really say that the first single off "Everything" was one of the band's better songs. I didn't think it held up very well next to stronger songs like "Complicated Girl" (one of my favorite songs sung by bassist Michael Steele). For me the strongest tracks on "Everything" weren't sung by Susanna Hoffs with the exception of "Eternal Flame" and "I'll Set You Free", but rather by the Peterson sisters and Michael Steele. Songs such as "Some Dreams Come True", "Make A Play For Her Now", and "Crash and Burn" are so irresistably catchy. The songs never left my head for over a decade now. My only problem with "I'll Set You Free" is the mixing job. I definitely prefer the remastered version that is found on the band's greatest hits cd but it is still a good catchy song to sing along to. After I got "Everything" as a present, I was crushed to find out that the band broke up. Now that they are back together. I hope soon I will have the pleasure of seeing the women perform live in concert. June 12, 2004

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