Rocktrospectiva: The Tasty "Def, Dumb & Blonde" Turns 35

Released on 16 October 1989 "Def, Dumb & Blonde" was the third solo studio album by American singer Deborah Harry, working with a variety of producers on the album, including Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins and Mike Chapman, who had previously produced the last four Blondie albums. According to the artist, she expressed she wanted to do certain things that were reminiscent of Blondie, the album spawned three singles I Want That Man", "Kiss It Better", "Brite Side", Sweet And Low" & "Maybe For Sure", the first single returned the artist to the big radar in 1989. 

The album is a consistent set, in where there is a enough guitar sound to make it a commercially viable, many critics divided into three parts, obviosly the album stick with that definitive 80's punk & new wave sound, the first four tracks move into a sort of hard rock with a certain "Parallel Lines" album vibe, you have here the magnificent "I Want That Man", "Lovelight", "Kiss It Better", and the rocker "Bike Boys", you can hear that Debbie really can rock and vibe aloud here.

The second part moves into a more synth pop territory with "Get Your Own Way", despite some rocking moments on the song, maybe the main highlight is hearing Debbie doing rap. The track, "Maybe for Sure," does have a little power chord and although most of it sounds like a synthed out version of “Sunday Girl,” guitarist, Christ Stein, plays his best and remarkable solo, we have ahead more 80's curious tracks such as "I’ll Never Fall in Love," and "Calmarie" maybe a pair of filler, next is the danceable "Sweet And Low" and then the rocker "He Is So."

The final part of the album is more driven punk, like in the fast and furious "Comic Books", reinforcing it with "Forced To Live", which seemed like Debbie was trying to get back her roots, and then you have the nice closer "End Of The Run" such a progressive rock tune here, closing with style this nice record.  

Deborah Harry really nailed it on this album, she redeemed of her previous two dissapointing albums, this time, Chris Stein and produced Mike Chapman really flew on their colaboration and production by giving the artist a really nice and outstanding set of coll and nice songs, also the remarkable track "I Want That Man" written by Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie was the impulse Harry needed to make a great comeback, the single was a top 20 in the UK, her biggest solo success in Australia, and propelled the album to reach No. 10 on UK albums chart and No. 12 on Australia albums chart, on the other hand, the album wasn't a commercial hit in her native United States due the lack of good record promotion.

 

Def Dumb And Blonde Track List: 

 

1. I Want That Man

2. Lovelight 

3. Kiss It Better

4. Bike Boy

5. Get Your Way

6. Maybe For Sure

7. Calmarie

8. Sweet And Low

9. He Is So

10. Bugeye

11. Comic Books 

12. Forced To Live 

13. Brite Side 

14. End Of The Run