Concrete Blonde was lost in the shuffle bands clinging to mid-tier popularity in the late 80s, early 90s. Some people might remember the smash hit, “Joey”. A smaller segment of the population might recall the Gothic stomp of “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)”, particularly anyone who frequents a dancing lady establishment. For whatever reason, the band’s name, and their body of work, doesn’t resonate prominently in the memories of many. It’s time to dig into the eclectic brilliance of Concrete Blonde.
Johnette’s Voice Captivates Me
If you are already familiar with the group, then you are aware of the powerful brooding voice of singer/bassist, Johnette Napolitano. She has a rare gift of being able to project power, then throttle down into softer hushed tones with a sultry delivery. It’s all done seamlessly. Her voice is comforting, empathetic and empowering. There are countless times when I just need to hear her sing just to get me through my next mental hurdle.
Sometimes Napolitano talks her way through a song. In these instances, the music is a backdrop for the story. In some of my other writings I have mentioned that I tend to shy away from most “talking songs”. (see my Nick Cave piece). There are always exceptions to every general rule, especially with music. If the ambience of the music compliments a compellingly earnest voice, I can be drawn into the song.
“Roses Grow”, is loaded with interesting characters woven into a commentary about the seedier side of Los Angeles. “I Wanna Be Your Friend Again”, is a clever take on relationship fallouts. Both of these songs have quirky grooves that make their stories even more compelling.
The Sound
Guitarist, James Mankey, provides rich jangly guitar parts and fills. There are some metallic nuances in his playing as well. One of my favorite tunes, “The Sky is a Poisonous Garden”, features solos that have the sonics of Tony Iommi, (Black Sabbath). Granted, Iommi’s midrange heavy solo tone isn’t necessarily as coveted as his sludgy rhythm tone, but the Iommi inspired attack blends quite well with the pounding drums that drive this song.
The Heart of the Band
The heart of Concrete Blonde is the team of Napolitano and Mankey. Napolitano wrote most of the the band’s songs with some cowritten with Mankey. They teamed up to create a refreshing sound that drew on many influences.
A wide pallet of guitar tones, textures and techniques are are prevalent throughout the Concrete Blond catalog. There are a lot of subtle rhythmic touches that add sonic depth over Napolitano’s prominent bass foundation. They also pull out the acoustic guitars for gentler fare such as “Sun“.
Respect Your Elders
I love the homages to their influences. Throughout their discography, they produced incredible renditions of songs by, George Harrison, “Beware of Darkness”, Thin Lizzy, “It’s Only Money”, and Leonard Cohen, “Everybody Knows”. On their 2002 reunion album, “Group Therapy” they name check the criminally underappreciated band Roxy Music with the tune “Roxy”.
Artists that proudly feature their music heroes, always make me happy. It creates the need for the listener to seek out more music and knowledge, two things I value highly.
Artistic Vision
Although there was early record company pressure to have Napolitano focus on fronting the band, she ultimately decided to hold down the bass and lead vocal duties. Certainly, there were additional rumblings in the record label offices regarding how to market the band considering Napolitano’s reluctance to sexy it up.
I recently stumbled across a supposed music writer who stated he was confused by “the multiplicity of musical styles that demonstrated that Concrete Blonde’s main characteristic was ambition, not talent. ”
Well it takes a lot of talent to pull off so many styles. Many faux music scribes want to give a simple “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”. Concrete Blonde challenges any preconceived notions one might have. There are no boundaries.
Eclectic Brilliance
Concrete Blonde is impossible to pigeonhole into a specific genre. Their music is hard rock, alternative, punky, acoustic and Goth. They can also whip out stellar performances of “Little Wing” (Jimi Hendrix) and “It’s a Man’s World” (James Brown).
The band recorded two Spanish songs. “Les Couers Jumeaux” features a French chorus. Clearly they weren’t concerned with fitting a formula. This is the eclectic artistic vision that the money machine executives despise. Somehow, the group still had a couple of radio hits.
Those of us who revere the genre-busting prowess of Concrete Blonde, need to keep on spreading the word. If you are new to the band, or you want to dig a little deeper, I have put together a Spotify Playlist featuring some of my top tunes, including my favorite Concrete Blonde song, “Dance Along the Edge“.
The best way to partake in the unifying force of music is by sharing what inspires you- Cranial Circus
If you don’t have Spotify, You’ll have an option to create an account or enjoy the clips.
Now let’s check out some more cool music together.
Hopefully this will launch you into another quest for more records, CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs or whatever medium you fancy. Happy listening. Happy music hunting. Go out and getcha some.
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