Artist: Blondie Album: No Exit

Year: 1999
Duration: 0:0-1

Taking a Closer Look at Blondie's No Exit Album: A Critic Review

Blondie has been a significant player in the music industry since its formation in the mid-70s. No Exit was released in 1999, and it was the band's first album in 17 years. The album delivered a mixture of punk, disco, rock, and hip hop. Despite the continuous evolution of music, No Exit displayed the band's efforts to adapt to the contemporary sound. In this post, we'll be critically reviewing Blondie's No Exit album, highlighting the artist's brief history and the music genre, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts, and a critic to the album.
Blondie's legacy began in 1974, where the band's founder, Chris Stein, met the lead singer, Debbie Harry, in New York's downtown music club scene. Over the years, the band witnessed several changes in its lineup, with some legendary albums like Parallel Lines and Eat to the Beat. The release of No Exit was an opportunity to cement their reputation as music veterans. No Exit features several genres such as pop, rock, punk, and hip hop. Unlike their earlier albums, No Exit intended to appeal to a wide range of audiences. It's a mix of upbeat and mellow sounds and tackles a range of social issues such as drug abuse and love.
No Exit has thirteen tracks with unique sounds. While I enjoy Harry's unique vocal delivery, Maria is one of my favorite tracks off the album because of the energetic melody and taut guitar hooks. The song was actually about a friend of Blondie's band who died from her heroin addiction. Another notable track is Nothing Is Real But the Girl. The track had several remixes and was the only track that Harry wrote independently on this album. The track features a rhythmic beat and layers of harmonics, giving it a unique texture.
In terms of innovation, No Exit showcased Blondie's ability to collaborate with other artists to get the best sounds possible. Tracks like The Dream's Lost on Me features Jamaican singer-rapper, Coolio, and No Exit is co-written by Geraldine Fibbers' frontwoman Carla Bozulich. The album's diversity of collaborations ensured that it delivered an exciting sound to its audience.
Critically reviewing No Exit, the album had a few setbacks despite its refreshing sound. It follows an inconsistent theme, making it difficult for listeners to connect emotionally. Moreover, the album's producers tend towards a more polished pop production style, which removed some of the rawness often present in earlier Blondie albums. That being said, No Exit remains a grown-up counterpart to their earlier albums.
Blondie's No Exit showcased the band's ability to transition into a more contemporary sound while not entirely abandoning its past. Despite its shortcomings, No Exit includes some great and captivating tracks that showcase Blondie's ability to produce an exciting range of sounds. For any music lover who is interested in delving into the band's music, No Exit is a good starting point, and it's an album you'll enjoy listening to.