Deborah Harry - Necessary Evil

Anyone hoping for the 62-year-old Debbie Harry to sit up and act her age will be sorely disappointed by the former Blondie vixen's sixth solo album (and first in 14 years). Viscerally contemporary, Necessary Evil harnesses youthful exuberance from across the charts, and Harry and her team of producers and songwriting partners do radio-ready rock, pop, and soul-lite with à la mode savvy to spare. Big-time sing-alongs ("Two Times Blue," "You're Too Hot") rub elbows with spare, distorted guitar lines piled in arena-sized stacks ("Love with Vengeance," "Charm Redux," and the especially vivacious "Whiteout"). "The Devil's dick is hard to handle," Harry growls in "School for Scandal," encapsulating the attitude of shameless defiance coursing through this and other lean, mean, up-tempo numbers like the half-rapped, full-lipped "Dirty and Deep." Between the reversed hip-hop break bisecting "Charm Alarm," the title track's stolen riff from Rage Against the Machine's "Know Your Enemy," and Harry's bits of Internet imagery, this album won't dare let go of its of-the-moment moxie. Gumdrops like the flaccid "What Is Love" and closer "Paradise" are irrevocable but few; in all, the occasional slice of tripe strangely sweetens Harry's otherwise surprising longevity, ready to rock and salty as ever. --Jason Kirk Amazon.com

A Deeply Satisfying Musical Experience

It's no cosmic revelation that Nancy Sinatra and Deborah Harry broke the ground which Madonna has so successfully cultivated: intelligent off-center sorta-rock with a street-smart attitude, and an all-American rinky-dink voice in the guise of retro silver screen sirens. Which kinda makes Madonna iconic of not much except white-knuckled self-promotion and adherence to an already-established tradition. A marketing triumph of course, but if the subject is actually music then all spoils don't necessarily go to the victor.

With NECESSARY EVIL Deborah Harry articulates a musical vision which is more about sustained excellence than reinvention. She's not only at the top of her game here - she's at the top of everyone elses. As such, her latest album moves seamlessly and seductively around contemporary grooves anchored by deceptively unobtrusive lyrics and oblique ideas. Indeed Deborah's stock-in-trade, but here realized more cohesively than ever before as a solo artist. Or maybe we're just catching up with a girl who's usually been more musically relevant than her times because the new Deborah Harry album certainly stands alongside Blondie's finest moments, past and present.

NECESSARY EVIL is a very strong response to both vacant corporate pop and indie pretensions. The production is really superb inasmuch as it brings out the very best in Deborah Harry, and she has a lot to offer. Figure on mucho bang for your buck if you're looking for equal parts style and substance.

It's undoubtedly a classy piece of work with a lot of musical integrity, and should be listened to (and cherished) as an album. Not because there are no standout tracks, but just because it's a nice long buzz for the soul.

Five outta five cos it's too damned good for anything less. June 26, 2008

Two times Fantastic Necessary 'purchase'

Deborah Harry is a Goddess, an icon, and a legend. This her first solo album in nearly 14 years ranks among some of her best work. If radio stations and dj's werent so 'ageist' Two Times Blue would be a massive hit, its good catchy rock/pop. Elsewhere Harry aims for a combination of styles from ballads, Hip Hop, and Soul. One can never fault Harry for being adventurous, and on Necessary Evil she never fails to impress, Charm Redux, and Naked Eye are both catchy and have choruses that stay in head long after you've heard them - in my opinion the signs of a good melody and song. Jen Jen is an interesting tribal chant but it would have been great to have heard a bit more of Harry's vocals upfront.
Necessary Evil is another achievement for a woman who already has many accomplishments to her name and a necessary addition for and lovers of good solid singing, songwriting and rock/pop. All hail the Goddess! April 23, 2008

Possibly Debbie Harry's Best Work (with/without Blondie)

Having received the new Debbie Harry CD "Necessary Evil" as a birthday gift, five weeks prior to writing this review, I am pleased to say that this is, quite possibly, Harry's best overall album ever! In my opinion, "Necessary Evil" is musically slicker--and more FUN--than anything Harry has done with her band Blondie since their heyday around 1980.
The first 14 tracks of the "Necessary Evil" album were produced by Super Buddha. And, boy, does he bring out the best in Deborah Harry! Vocally, on these 14 tracks she sounds stronger, more confident, and sassier--than maybe ever! The final three tracks--not produced by Super Buddha--almost sound as if they were tacked on to the album, at the last minute, as a bonus.
My take on the best songs from the "Necessary Evil" album (and there are many): "Necessary Evil" (title song, 5 stars), "If I Had You" (current single with a nice video, 5 stars), "Charm Alarm" (5 stars), "What is Love" (5 stars), "Whiteout" (5 stars). All of these sound like they deserve to be BIG commercial radio hits!!
Almost as good are: "Two Times Blue" (the album's first single, 4 stars), "Needless to Say" (4 stars), "Love With a Vengence" (4 stars), "Deep End" (4 stars), and "School for Scandal" (4 stars).
The weakest tracks, although none are terribly bad, are the final three songs: "Jen, Jen" (seems out-of-place on this album, 3 stars), "Naked Eye" (3 stars), and "Paradise" (3 stars).
I hope Debbie Harry will record future albums with Super Buddha or other cutting-edge producers! This album is very highly recommended!
March 16, 2008

DEBORAH MAKES MY DAY - AGAIN!!!!

Well here's another Deborah Harry album that absolutely sends me!!!! Each song on the CD is better than ever.... It's hard to pick a favorite. I really do not understand the reviews that cut it down.. it is almost as if the reviewer were listening to some other album by some other artist!!!! Deborah has always rocked and always will!!!! Each song touches me everytime I play the CD. The Necessary Evil concert was amazing and once again Deborah has rewarded us... her loyal fans.... with another master piece!!!!! Thank You Deborah!!!! January 16, 2008

Deborah Harry

Deborah Harry produces much better music with "Blondie" than as a solo act. I was disappointed with the compact disk. She did better with "Rockbird" and other solo attempts. This one fell flat. January 12, 2008

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