Music Notes: The Bangles, All Over The Place

January 13th, 2007

The first Bangles’ album is a pleasure to revisit after many years. All Over The Place has aged well, and it’s a joy to listen to. The most distinctive revelation is that the group was once guitar-heavy — hardly a keyboard, drum machine, or reverb-drenched vocal is found on this disc, and the stripped-down, basic production highlights the band’s sixties roots. Yeah, there are some dodgy, out of tune vocals and a few goofy guitar bends, but these are part of its charm.

The lyrics are also of a different nature than the dreamy, romantic verses of Different Light and Everything. This disc’s running theme seems to be “love me right — or I’m out of here.” Men are warned to be true, and the Bangles dig up the truth regarding sneaky lovers. Other songs document wanting to be free and keeping secrets. The album’s title itself could possibly mean “all over” as in through with — the “place” some lover’s apartment, perhaps.

It’s a safe bet that if All Over The Place had debuted in 1993, the group would have been lumped in the same arena as the Lilith Fair crowd, and possibly the same snarky women’s league as Liz Phair. If only.

Hero Takes A Fall

= 5 stars

Fairly blasting out of the gates, plus the “ohs” delivered by Susanna, well, that’s a hook if I ever there was one. The fish is me. The “hero” being roasted is a former lover.

Live

= 5 stars

Another visit to “hook city.” I love the way Vicki’s voice alternates with some country-esque guitar hooks, splattered everywhere as if they’d be chased off-stage in a moment. It’s also reaffirming the album’s theme of not being chained to a partner.

James

= 5 stars

“James” is being left behind. The song has a goofy, mid Beatles’ groove, littered with choice guitar licks. There’s also one juicy guitar chord near the end.

All About You

= 2 stars

I’m not really into the jumpy pace of this tune. The final drum fill is worth one star, however.

Dover Beach

= 5 stars

There’s a wide-open feeling, plus the awesome back and forth between Hoff’s vocals and Vicki’s guitar licks. And the lyrics? Check out the poems “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (T.S. Eliot) and “Dover Beach” (Matthew Arnold). I’m sure there’s more to this, which I’d dig through… if I had the time.

Tell Me

= 4 stars

This hyperactive Bangle showcase reminds me of a television theme song (along the lines of The Monkees or I’ll Be There For You). I still crack a smile at the instrument trade-off of the solo section and the crunchy guitar chords during the verses that foreshadow Walk Like An Egyptian.

Restless

= 3 stars

Feeling “restless” so one can get out and “live.” This song is a bit more sinister than its sister.

Going Down To Liverpool

= 5 stars

This is a cover of a Waves’ (written by Kimberly Rew) song. The original is more political and cutting, while the Bangles (sung by Debbie) emphasize the dreaming part. There’s an unquestionable romanticizing of Liverpool for Americans because of the Beatles.

He’s Got A Secret

= 4 stars

Susanna sneaks around, figuring out what an unfaithful guy has been up to. One amusing detail reminds me of Elvis Costello’s Watching the Detectives for some reason: The phone always rings at seven-thirty-one every evening.

Silent Treatment

= 1 stars

Definitely not a fan of this one. I think it’s the section blaring “nothing” — repeatedly.

More Than Meets The Eye

= 2 stars

A very pretty, strings, acoustic guitar, and harmonies song, that goes on a bit too long. Still, one is left with the idea of a group with a bright future ahead.

Intra-Album-Rank-O-Rama: 3.727

Wikipedia: All Over The Place

Next Album: Different Light

iTunes Store Link: All Over the Place — The Bangles