This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Concrete Blonde's "Make Me Cry"
Wednesday June 3, 2009
One of the most atmospheric bands of the late post-punk, early modern rock era, Concrete Blonde was blessed with the substantial presence of frontwoman Johnette Napolitano, something that afforded that group a hefty advantage in terms of critical reputation if not record sales. The band's self-titled 1986 debut introduced Napolitano's mesmerizing, husky vocals and also her defiant version of feminine beauty, neither of which easily drew massive audiences for some reason I still can't fathom.Sporting classy, explosive pipes few pop/rock competitors could come close to matching, Napolitano should have become a major star in her own right. But Concrete Blonde's organic and gothic sound on a stirring track like "Make Me Cry" holds too many challenges and emotional mysteries, I suppose, for most pop audiences to embrace. This is the kind of music - in a way that reminds me of a current artist like Neko Case - that sounds like it's just waiting to be discovered even if it feels a bit conflicted about that desire.
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol
Comments
Wow, the things that are stored in my brain. No wonder, I can’t remember what happened to me yesterday! My head is full of all those 80s songs.
I couldn’t agree with you more Steve. Concrete Blonde was a band, for me, that incorporated so many styles over the years that it was never boring. Most of the songs on their albums are timeless and I can still listen to them over and over. “Make Me Cry” is such a bitter-sweet song, it’s heartbraking without trying to be. Johnette remains one of the greatest singers of my lifetime.