Deborah Harry - Debravation

Deborah Harry - great artist, but not such a great album this one here

After the damn good "Def, Dumb & Blonde"-album (1989) and especially constant years of touring since then you would have thought this album would have a sense of those on-the-road-years....and then there comes a slight-pop-mainstream-album by the lady who actually has a pretty good sense for sharper and harder edges, both lyrics and music.

This is pop, not more, not less....but then even not the best pop. Even the punky "Standing in my way" comes more like a Status Quo-tune...oh god. "Communion" is a throw-away that would've fit into those Stock, Aitken, Waterman-years.... and the ballad "Strike me pink" describes what the word "cheesy" means.

Only at the end DH surprises with an aggressive tune called "The Fugitive" and the dark and moody standout-
track "Dog Star Girl".

Deborah Harry is queen of rock and god anyway, really...but this album is her worst. Too many different producers, too mainstream. But how really good she returned with her 2007-album "Necessary evil"!!!!! January 7, 2008

Great CD From Debbie

Debbie's fourth solo CD is pretty damn good - not as good as Def Dumb and Blonde, her previous solo CD, but still very good. The lead single, I Can See Clearly, is an OK dance pop number that managed to get her played on the radio again, but it's one of the weaker tracks on the CD. Debbie rocks out on Standing In My Way and Dancing Down The Moon, gets all sassy on The Fugitive, slows it down for the excellent tracks Moodring, Strike Me Pink, and Keep On Going, and goes 60's retro for Teardrops and My Last Date With You. Rain is pure pop pleasure, while Debbie's punk roots show on Dog Star Girl. Lip Service is a poppy new wave track, as is Stability. I love the line Don't Orchestrate my Life from this song. The only real bummer on the CD is Communion, her collaboration with R.E.M. I don't know what this song is about, but it lacks melody and the lyrics are lame. But hey, only one bad track out of fourteen? That's quite impressive. This is a great CD. It should have been bigger, I don't think Sire promoted it. If you like Debbie Harry or Blondie, I think you'll like this record. Check it out!
October 22, 2007

Coming from an avid Deborah Harry Fan

Debravation (deprivation) the title should give you a clue as to the sense of humour and brilliance that Deborah Harry as an artist carries.

This album for whatever reason was not taken well by most fans. The record company (Sire records, who was Madonna's label) under promoted and advertised this album as they probably didn't know how to market it.

In a nut shell I'd say it's a very adult contemporary modern album with light appartment jazz influences and dance fare. Far from the power pop that was Blondie this album still shines through the many collaborations.

For those not too sure:

I Can See Clearly - A classic high energy dance oriented track with a smooth velveting voice from Harry from the writer's over her big hit "I Want That Man".

Stability - A rap style ditty done in the fashion only Ms. Harry can get away with since she is the one who wrote the 1st rap song to go #1 in america in 1981. Not too focased on rap and really it's just her talking in a cool way than what most others thingk rap is.

Strike Me Pink - a ballad type jazzy song very cool and very hip.

Rain - One of the collaborations with a future Blondie band member Leigh Foxx. Great guitar solo and great chorus.

Communion - Either you love this one or you hate it. Dancable and tongue-in-cheek campy lyrics she's famous for this album could have gone without it but it holds up for camp style for most fans.

Lip Service - From the same producer of her dance hit "Sweet And Low" this Club dancefare track will have sing along complete with an Edgar Allen Poe excerpt from "The Raven".

Keep On Going - Calypso influenced uplifting track very early 90's and dateable but okay. She switches languages to spanish at the very end.

Mood Ring - More sexy jazzy grooves. Great for night time listening. This track showcases her lyricist abilities and the instument of her voice.

Dancing Down The Moon - Very dance rock very fast paced track with guitar. I like this one a lot.

Standing In My Way - More rock and roll with a punky twist more like her older material Blondie fans are used to. Originally done as a Duet with Joey Ramone but for some reason the record company rejected that version for this album. Still a great great song.

The Fugitive - Another rock track up beat and fun. Great Guitars.

Dog Star Girl - Another of Deborah Harry and Chris Stein's unique collaborations with influenced from H.R. Gieger. Rock acid jazz I think one could try to categorize this song.

Buy this if your into unique stylish rock.

April 3, 2007

Not Bad, but Not the Best

I decided to purchase "Debravation" after I heard "I Can See Clearly." It is a mid-tempo dance song and fun to listen to. However, when I listened to the rest of the album, I was not as impressed as I was with some of Debbie's other solo albums. It is not terrible by any means, but it is certainly not Debbie's best solo album. There are a few standouts though. Of course, "I Can See Clearly" is one of the best songs on the album, and "Standing In My Way" is a standout as well. It sounds much like Blondie's newer material, and it is fun to sing along to! "Strike Me Pink" is a very calm song. "Lip Service" sounds like it could have been a club song. "Dancing Down the Moon" is also upbeat, and "Dog Star Girl" is an usual song, but it is also an album standout. All in all, if you are a Debbie fan, you will probably enjoy the majority of this album! January 26, 2007

High Quality

Debbie's voice just gets better and better as she becomes older. This CD is a fine proof for that. You can hear almost the same voice as in NO EXIT--- very mature, articulate, powerful and sexy. All the songs are surprisingly in such high quality that even now it doesn't sound old a bit. This album will be treasured for decades, as it has been, by all the Debbie fans around the world.

May 4, 2006

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